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Feast of
the Holy Family |
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This is from the
St. Vincent de Paul website, on the
Gospel
of
Mt
2:13-15, 19-23, for
The Feast of the Holy Family |
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Reflection:
As
parents, Joseph and Mary, were not preserved from
hardships. These simple parents surely had
apprehensions as they traveled to Egypt. Yet they
responded faithfully and obediently to God’s
messages. They trusted God’s ways. We too all face
challenges in responding to God faithfully and
obediently.
The holiness of a family is not dependent upon
perfection or an easy road. Whether we are a
traditional family or a single parent family,
whether we have biological or adopted or foster
children or no children, whether we live in an
expensive home or a subsidized rental unit makes
no difference for living as a holy family. What
does make a difference is hearing God’s messages
and doing God’s will. Trust in God’s ways.
You, too, are a holy family.
(Living Liturgy: Spirituality, Celebration, and Catechesis for Sundays and Solemnities, Year A, 2008,
p.28) |
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Vincentian Meditation:
In his faithful response to God’s commands, Joseph
also knew how to “listen to the word of God and
act on it.” Joseph stands with eager expectation
at the threshold of transcendence. From the
darkness of his own limited understanding, he is
continually peering into the mystery of God.
Surely he cannot fathom the mystery of God’s plan,
but with loving compassion he bows in reverence to
God’s incomprehensible ways. There is something
very beautiful about Joseph’s contacts with the
transcendent mystery of God. He was not a monk. He
was a carpenter, and he raised his son in the same
trade. Yet in the midst of his daily manual labor
and family life, Joseph was surrounded by the
mystery of God and he penetrated it with faith. He
trusted in God’s daily providence. When he read
the signs of God’s will, he rushed to put them
into practice.
(Robert P. Maloney,
Seasons in Spirituality: Reflections on Vincentian Spirituality in Today's World ,
p.52-53)
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References:
Seasons in Spirituality: Reflections on Vincentian Spirituality in Today's World,
1997, by Robert P. Maloney
Deep Down Things: Selected Writing,
1995, by Richard McCullen
Living Liturgy: Spirituality, Celebration, and Catechesis for Sundays and Solemnities, Year A, 2008 ,
by C.PP.S. Joyce Ann Zimmerman (Author), Thomas A.
Greisen (Author), S.N.D. de N. Kathleen Harmon
(Author), M.S. Thomas L. Leclerc (Author)
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In These
Times |
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One sign of healing is acceptance that there is a
problem.
Believe it or not, no matter how one shies away
from it, we are in one very political culture
intent on not just the separation of Church and
State, but also on eliminating the Church. What
can one do? Be informed through the guidance of
the Church. I agree some of our Catholic leaders
do not have the fire-and-brimstone charisma of the
Protestant preachers, and will most likely put one
to sleep.
But
out many, there is bound to be a diamond!
The
following is an excerpt from an address given by
the
Most Rev. Charles J. Chaput,
Archbishop of Denver, in St. John’s University
School of Law in Queens, NY, on Friday, October
26, 2007, on our role as Catholics in these times.
As you will see in his writings, Archbishop Chaput
IS a very readable writer, as well as an
encouraging speaker on current issues affecting,
generally the Church, and most specifically, us.
I
encourage you strongly to read the whole article
and let
Archbishop Charles J. Chaput know what you
think about the article. |
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"... one of the distinguishing marks of debate
both outside and within the Church over the last
40
years is how uncivil the disagreements have
become. Being a faithful Catholic leader today -
whether
you're a layperson or clergy -- isn't easy. It
requires real skill, and in that regard, I've
admired the
great ability and good will of Bishop Murphy for
many years. So it's a special pleasure to be
with him
tonight. New York's Cardinal Edward Egan is
another leader who's given extraordinary and
sometimes
difficult service to the Church.
...
It's time for all of us who claim to be
"Catholic" to recover our Catholic identity as
disciples of Jesus Christ and missionaries of
his Church. In the long run, we serve our
country best by remembering that we're citizens
of heaven first. We're better Americans by being
more truly Catholic -- and the reason why, is
that unless we live our Catholic faith
authentically, with our whole heart and our
whole strength, we have nothing worthwhile to
bring to the public debates that will determine
the course of our nation.
Pluralism in a democracy doesn't mean shutting
up about inconvenient issues. It means speaking
up - respectfully, in a spirit of justice and
charity, but also vigorously and without
apologies. Jesus said that we will know the
truth, and the truth will make us free. He
didn't say anything about our being popular with
worldly authority once we have that freedom. In
the end, if we want our lives to be fruitful, we
need to know ourselves as God intends us to be
known -- as his witnesses on earth, not just in
our private behavior, but in our public actions,
including our social, economic and political
choices.
If pagan Rome could be won for Jesus Christ,
surely we can do the same in our own world. What
it takes is the zeal and courage to live what we
claim to believe. All of us here tonight already
have that desire in our hearts. So let's pray
for each other, and encourage each other, and
get down to the Lord's
work.
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Be informed through the Church. Read the complete
transcript of this speech and other
address by the Most Rev. Chaput
by clicking here.
This
is the link to the
book The Rise of Christianity: How the Obscure, Marginal, Jesus Movement Became the Dominant Religious Force ,
referenced by Archbishop Chaput in the article. |
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Holy Family, 2007
“Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to
Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. Herod
is going to search for the child to destroy
him.” Matthew 2:13 |
December 30,
2007:
Feast of the
Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph
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First Reading From
the Book of Sirach: |
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Sir 3:2-6, 12-14 |
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God
sets a father in honor over his children; a
mother’s authority he confirms over her sons.
Whoever honors his father atones for sins, and
preserves himself from them.
When he prays, he is heard; he stores up riches
who reveres his mother.
Whoever honors his father is gladdened by
children, and, when he prays, is heard.
Whoever reveres his father will live a long life;
he who obeys his father brings comfort to his
mother.
My son, take care of your father when he is old;
grieve him not as long as he lives.
Even if his mind fail, be considerate of him;
revile him not all the days of his life;
kindness
to a father will not be forgotten,
firmly
planted against the debt of your sins
- a house raised in
justice to you. |
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Responsorial From the Book of Psalms:
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Ps
128:1-2, 3, 4-5 |
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R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in
his ways.
Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, who walks
in his ways!
For you shall eat the fruit of your handiwork;
blessed shall you be, and favored.
R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk
in his ways.
Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine in the
recesses of your home;
your children like olive plants around your table.
R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk
in his ways.
Behold, thus is the man blessed who fears the
LORD.
The LORD bless you from Zion:
may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the
days of your life.
R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk
in his ways.
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Second Reading from the Letter to the
Timothy |
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Col
3:12-21 or 3:12-17 |
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Brothers
and sisters:
Put on, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved,
heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility,
gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another
and forgiving one another, if one has a grievance
against another; as the Lord has forgiven you, so
must you also do.
And
over all these put on love, that is, the bond of
perfection.
And let the peace of Christ control your hearts,
the peace into which you were also called in one
body.
And be thankful.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as in
all wisdom you teach and admonish one another,
singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with
gratitude in your hearts to God.
And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do
everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving
thanks to God the Father through him.
Wives, be subordinate to your husbands, as is
proper in the Lord.
Husbands, love your wives, and avoid any
bitterness toward them.
Children, obey your parents in everything, for
this is pleasing to the Lord.
Fathers, do not provoke your children, so they may
not become discouraged. |
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or |
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Brothers and sisters:
Put on, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved,
heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility,
gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another
and forgiving one another, if one has a grievance
against another; as the Lord has forgiven you, so
must you also do.
And
over all these put on love, that is, the bond of
perfection.
And let the peace of Christ control your hearts,
the peace into which you were also called in one
body.
And be thankful.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as in
all wisdom you teach and admonish one another,
singing psalms,
hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your
hearts to God.
And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do
everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving
thanks to God the Father through him. |
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Reading From
the Gospel of Matthew:
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Mt
2:13-15, 19-23 |
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When
the magi had departed, behold, the angel of the
Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said,
“Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to
Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. Herod is
going to search for the child to destroy him.”
Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by
night and departed for Egypt. He stayed there
until the death of Herod, that what the Lord had
said through the prophet might be fulfilled, Out
of Egypt I called my son.
When Herod had died, behold, the angel of the Lord
appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said,
“Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the
land of Israel, for those who sought the child’s
life are dead.”
He
rose, took the child and his mother, and went to
the land of Israel.
But
when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea
in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go
back there.
And
because he had been warned in a dream, he departed
for the region of Galilee.
He
went and dwelt in a town called Nazareth, so that
what had been spoken through the prophets might be
fulfilled, He shall be called a Nazorean.
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References |
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The Rise of Christianity:
How the Obscure, Marginal, Jesus Movement Became
the Dominant Religious Force .... (Paperback)
by
Rodney Stark (Author)
From the Publisher
"... this account of Christianity's remarkable
growth within the Roman Empire is |
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already the subject of much fanfare. "Anyone who
has puzzled over Christianity's rise to
dominance... must read it," ...
Read
the first page. |
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Living Liturgy: Spirituality, Celebration,
and Catechesis for Sundays and Solemnities, Year
A, 2008 (Paperback) by C.PP.S. Joyce Ann
Zimmerman (Author), Thomas A. Greisen (Author),
S.N.D. de N. Kathleen Harmon (Author), M.S.
Thomas L. Leclerc (Author) |
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"Perfect for home use or to prepare for weekly
liturgy . . . It includes help for the
celebration, ideas for catechesis on the
particular event, and ways to understand the
readings more deeply. Finally, it includes
sample questions from which priests, deacons,
lay groups, ministers and others can jump off
into deeper discussion." |
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Straight Answers, Answers to 100 Questions about
the Catholic Faith
by Ph.D Rev. William P.
Saunders (Author)
Review by:
Reverend William G. Curlin Bishop of Charlotte
Straight Answers offers Catholics a simple and
direct response to the many questions concerning
the Catholic Church. It spells out profound
truths in very |
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simple language for all who seek a better
understanding of their Faith. I highly recommend
it for Catholics, both young and old. |
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The Power of Intention: Learning to Co-create Your World Your Way
From Amazon:
After years of spiritual study and reflection,
inspirational speaker and |
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bestselling
author Wayne Dyer has emerged a highly esteemed
teacher. His current message about tapping into
the power of intention may sound like good old
positive thinking: just stay focused on what you
want, rather than focusing on the lack of having
what you want. But the teaching here goes deeper
than just controlling thoughts (although he does
acknowledge that thought control is a
surprisingly challenging and significant
endeavor).
This book might
help readers land a better job, but it's more
relevant for those who are ready to detach from
an ego-driven life filled with quick fixes of
happiness and step into a more authentic,
joyful, and spiritually fulfilling life. His
core teachings speak to tapping into a universal
source of energy that can also be called the
"power of intention." |
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The Chariot of Israel: Exploits of the Prophet of Elijah
THE CHARIOT OF ISRAEL: When Elijah was caught up
to heaven, his disciple Elisha cried out, "the
chariot of Israel, and its horsemen." Elisha was
referring not to the chariot but to the prophet.
This study of Elijah’s life will captivate you
as it walks you through a pivotal period in
Israel’s history, and illustrative maps will
give you a better picture of the physical
geography of this ancient land. |
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Read more about the Liturgical Year |
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The Origins of the Liturgical Year (Pueblo
Books)
by
Thomas J. Talley (Author) The Rev. Dr.
Thomas J. Talley, Professor of Liturgics
at the General Theological Seminary in New
York, is one of the leading liturgists in
the country. He gives us a fresh
examination of the complex history of the
Liturgical Year. |
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The Cultural World of Jesus: Sunday by Sunday, Cycle C. (Bestseller! the Cultural World of Jesus: Sunday by Sunday)
by
John J. Pilch (Author)
Reader
Review: The book by Pilch provides
those who not only fill the pulpits across
this country but also all interested in
the cultural world in which Jesus lived
with a lot of pertinent information that
sheds light on a lot of areas that have
been "muddled" in the past. Yes, I highly
recommend this book. - James Mauldin |
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Learn more and read the Old Testament. |
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Preaching from the Old Testament
by Elizabeth Achtemeier (Author) Reader
Review: The author of these
thirty-two short chapters begins and ends
with the assumption that problems we
experience with the Old Testament are our
problem, not the Bible's. This
subordinating of the Bible reader to the
well-weathered book he holds in his hand
opens doors, not to forced harmonisations
of problematic passages, but to fresh
reappraisal of difficult texts on their
own terms. -
David A. Baer |
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The Navarre Bible: Pentateuch (The Navarre Bible: Old Testament)
This volume helps you make the first five
books of the Old Testament a vital part of
your spiritual reading and practical
growth in the Christian life. It contains
the full English and Latin texts of these
books, along with extensive and faithfully
Catholic commentaries. Like other volumes
in the world-renowned Navarre Bible
series, these commentaries draw on Church
documents, the exegesis of Fathers
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and Doctors of the Church, and the works of contemporary
spiritual writers — particularly St. Josemaría
Escrivá, who initiated the Navarre Bible
project. |
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Comments and
Suggestions are Most Welcome.
If you have any
comments or contributions, please
use the form in this link.
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OLD TESTAMENT
PARENTING I
“Lamentations of the
Father” by Ian Frazier |
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Laws of
Forbidden Places |
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Of the beasts of
the field, and of the fishes of the sea, and
of all foods that are acceptable in my sight
you may eat, but not in the living room.
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Of the hoofed
animals, broiled or ground into burgers, you
may eat, but not in the living room. |
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Of the
cloven-hoofed animal, plain or with cheese,
you may eat, but not in the living room.
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Of the cereal
grains, of the corn and of the wheat and of
the oats, and of all the cereals that are of
bright color and unknown provenance you may
eat, but not in the living room. |
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Of quiescently
frozen dessert and of all frozen after-meal
treats you may eat, but absolutely not in the
living room. |
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Of the juices
and other beverages, yea, even of those in
sippy-cups, you may drink, but not in the
living room; neither may you carry such
therein. |
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Indeed, when you
reach the place where the living room carpet
begins, of any food or beverage there you may
not eat, neither may you drink. |
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But if you are
sick, and are lying down and watching
something, then may you eat in the living
room. |
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Recipes |
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Haddock with
Fennel Butter |
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Comments and Suggestions are Most Welcome.
If you have any comments or contributions,
please
use the form in this link.
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Our Engine |
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This
volume of commentary on the New English Bible text of the First Book of Kings
follows the pattern of the now well-established series on the Old and New
Testaments. The main divisions of the text are those provided by the New English
Bible itself, but these are further subdivided for the purposes of the
commentary, which is printed in short sections following the relevant portion of
the text.
