Feast of the Holy Family

December 29, 2013

 
  
Below you will find a short reflection for today, the Feast of the Holy Family, December 29. We encourage you to share this reflection by forwarding this email to others who you think might appreciate it. 

 

Feast of the Holy Family, December 29

  

by Megan McKenna

 

Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14 | Colossians 3:12-21 | Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23

 

"Who are we drawing into the circle of God?"  

 

For us, just days after the child is born, danger appears. Oh, the book of Sirach seeks with folk wisdom in the culture of the Jewish family to teach what the commandment "Honor your father and mother" looks like in practice. Do not grieve your parents. Care for them in their old age, be considerate of them, even if their minds fail, revere them. But this is the old way, with this respect limited to blood ties. Now the family has extended out into time and space.

 

Paul reminds us that we are all now God's chosen ones and we are to care for all and love each other with "heartfelt mercy, kindness, humility, meekness (nonviolence) and patience, bearing with one another, forgiving as God has forgiven us, and over all, bind ourselves with the swaddling cloths of love and Christ's peace." Because now the Word dwells within us. Now we are the living, breathing, singing gospel...

 

To read this entire reflection, click here.

In Christ's peace,

 

Johnny Zokovitch

Director of Communications, Pax Christi USA


P.S. To see more reflections from the beginning of Advent through the Christmas season, click here.