The Passionists of Holy Cross Province

The Love that Compels

Daily Scripture, December 26, 2010

Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

 Scripture:

Sirach 3:2-7, 12-14
Colossians 3:12-21 or 3:12-17
Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23

Reflection:

"He went and dwelt in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled."

It is December 26.  Christmas Day is over. Presents are opened. Families have gathered from near and far and the good news of the Christ child’s birth is known worldwide. All of our anticipation and hope for a happy, peaceful, holy Christmas as we await the birth of Jesus is set aside until next year.

But, today we celebrate the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph.  The baby who would be our salvation is born into our world and completes a family.  I often look at the different artistic depictions of the Holy Family, mother, father and child, and wonder: did Mary know the hurt and agony that she would endure watching her son being beaten and crucified?

When a child is born either at the start of or an addition to a family, there is so much hope, so much anticipation, so many good wishes for a happy, healthy child; a fresh start.

I remember when my children were born; it seems like yesterday.  I look and see what fine young men they have grown in to and think: was it really that many years ago?  Something happens when people become parents.  Suddenly you are responsible for a whole other life beyond your own.  It is a huge weight of responsibility.  However, with this responsibility is an instant love and a fierce, fierce feeling of having to protect this innocent helpless baby.

I think it is this instant love and protection that Joseph experiences and with the help of the Angel of the Lord, he takes Mary and Jesus in the night to keep them safe, to protect them from harm.  "He went and dwelt in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets
might be fulfilled."

A blessed Christmas season to all, and may the New Year bring you good health, happiness and peace.

  

Claire Smith is on staff at the Province Development Office in Chicago, Illinois.

 

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Ash Wednesday

On March 2, the Church celebrates Ash Wednesday. 

Most of us learned early in our Catholic lives that Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent, and that is a time of special sacrifice in preparation for the Easter celebration of Jesus’ Resurrection.

Dear brothers and sisters, every moment of our lives is a time for believing, hoping and loving…. These words of Pope Francis, taken from his Lenten Message of last year, 2021, and echoing the virtues of Faith, Hope and Charity, can still inspire our answer to the question: “What am I giving up for Lent?” 

We can draw our Lenten sacrifices out of our daily life: 

Share our faith in God’s presence by sharing in prayer with our family or with those in our parish community.
Share our hope in God’s promises by encouraging positive and respectful dialogue in our family circle and among our friends. 
Share the charity God has bestowed on us in the Passion of Jesus, with those whose sufferings are ignored or aggravated.

Let us pray for one another as we enter the season of Lent. Our Passionist “motto” can be our daily prayer during Lent, “May the Passion of Jesus Christ be always in our hearts.”