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Dear Friend, It is said ‘Home is
where your heart is!’ Everyone enjoys feeling at home in places where they
can be themselves and with people who accept them and love them as they are.
We do not choose our family, we are born into a family. We can make it a
happy family by the role we play and the contribution we make to make
everyone feel respected, cared for and loved. Christmas reminds us that God
comes to us in the family and He is at home with us. Are we at home with God?
Have a homely week-end! Fr. Jude Botelho |
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This first reading is a commentary on the fourth
commandment: ‘Honour your father and your mother.’ We often think that this
commandment in terms of obligation of younger children to obey their parents.
But there is another essential part of it: the obligation of grown up
children to ensure that their aged parents are able to live out their final
years in comfort and dignity. This is of great relevance today. The author of
Ecclesiasticus asserts that kindness to parents is especially pleasing to
God, who accepts it as atonement for one’s sins. He also adds: “Whoever
respects his father will be happy with children of his own.” The second reading from
Paul’s letter to the Colossians describes the cordial atmosphere that should
reign in a Christian community, and in a Christian family. Fraternal love has
to be the hallmark of the Christian community and every family is a small Christian
community where love must prevail. In order that love might prevail in a
Christian community and family ever member has to do his or her bit; it is
not the task only of the parents or the onus of the children alone to
contribute to the family spirit. A harmonious atmosphere in the family can be
maintained by the practice of the virtues of kindness, gentleness, mutual
respect, patience and above all forgiveness. Parents should set an example
for their children by the way they live their Christian lives. Play your role in life In today’s reading of Matthew’s Gospel, we are told how God watches
over the family of Jesus Mary and Joseph, guiding, guarding and protecting
them from all harm. What he does for the family of Nazareth he does for every
family for He is the giver and protector of all life. His care is seen in the
wondrous way he inspires Joseph to rise and flee from the clutches of Herod.
Joseph on his part implicitly trusts the divine inspiration he receives
without questioning or trying to understand God’s plan. He is unmindful of
the hardships he and his family have to endure. He is faithful to his task of
guarding and nurturing the divine life entrusted to him. After he has settled
down in Egypt and the child is growing up, once again he is told to move and
return to his former home in Nazareth. Joseph and Mary silently obey God’s
plan. In the gospel we see exemplified the primary obligation of parents,
which is to love, care and protect their children. We see what Mary and
Joseph did in order to ensure the safety of the child Jesus. As soon as they
learned that his life was in danger, they uprooted themselves and went into
exile. And when the danger had passed years later, they uprooted themselves
again and returned to their native country. Many parents are called to make
enormous sacrifices for their children. All parents can draw inspiration from
the example of Mary and Joseph. In her footsteps It was a busy day in Costa Mesa, a Californian home. But then, with
ten children and one on the way, every day was a bit hectic for Davida
Dalton. On this particular day, however, she was having trouble doing even
the routine chores-all because of one little boy. Len, who was three at that
time, was on her heels no matter where she went. Whenever she stopped to do
something and turned back around, she would trip over him. Several times, she
patiently suggested fun activities to keep him occupied “Wouldn’t you like to
play on the swing set?” she asked him. But he simply smiled an innocent smile
and said, “Oh, that’s all right, Mommy. I’d rather be in here with you.” Then
he continued to bounce happily along behind her. After stepping on his toes
for the fifth time, she began to lose her patience and insisted that he go
outside and play with the other children. When she angrily asked him why he
was acting this way, he looked up at her with sweet green eyes and said,
“Well, Mummy in the school my teacher told me to walk in Jesus’ footsteps.
But I can’t see him, so I’m walking in yours.” She gathered him in her arms
and held him close. Tears of love and humility spilled over from the prayer
that grew in her heart prayer of thanks for the simple, yet beautiful
perspective of a three-year-old boy. John Rose in ‘John’s Sunday Homilies’ "We
celebrate the mystery of the child Jesus living with his parents. The tone of
the celebration is a meditation wholly centered on Christ, from which all
Christian families can learn. ‘Where does the Messiah come from?’ asked the
contemporaries of Jesus of Nazareth. They knew nothing of his birth in
Bethlehem of Juda and they were amazed that one who claimed to be the Messiah
should come from Galilee (Jn 1: 46: 7:41). This is why Matthew goes over the
journeyings of Jesus while a child: his career as a displaced person. As a
result of the menace of Herod his parents were forced to take refuge in
Egypt, where Jesus re-enacted the history of the chosen people. Afterwards
the family settled in Nazareth hence the surname ‘Nazarene’. From the time of
his birth, Jesus was under the shadow of the cross. The Holy Family had its
problems. Mary and Joseph wished to share the lot of this perplexing child,
whom they follow, step by step, in the unfolding of his mystery. Our
admiration should be awakened by their complete submission to God’s will.” - Glenstal Bible Missal Film -Shane The movie Shane starring Alan Ladd has become a
frontier classic. Shane is a mythical American hero who fights for the rights
of defenseless homesteaders being terrorized by a lawless cattleman and his
hired gunmen. Shane himself is an ex-gunslinger who is searching for
something to give meaning to his life. At first he merely befriends the Start
family, who take him in as a hired hand for their farm. But when trouble
begins, Shane becomes their defender and savior. He risks his life for Joe and
Marion Start and their son Li’l Joe in order to save their pride and property
from the ruthless cattleman. The movie Shane is more than a cowboy
legend. It is also a modern parable about a Christ-figure and about family
life. Shane is a Christ-figure in the story, not in the sense of his use of
guns and fistfights, but in the sense of a celibate man who defends the
powerless, risks his life for them, and then rides off alone to help someone
else. Albert Cylwicki in ‘His Word Resounds’ Don’t humiliate them! As a student, Daniel Webster (author of Webster’s
Dictionary) was particularly marked for being untidy. Finally the teacher, in
exasperation, told him that if he appeared again with such dirty hands she
would thrash him. He did appear in the same condition. “Daniel”, she said,
“hold out your hand.” Daniel spat on his palm, with an intention to clean it,
rubbed it on his trousers and held it out. The teacher surveyed it in
disgust. “Daniel”, she said, “if you can find me another hand in this school
that is dirtier than that, I will let you off.” Daniel promptly held out his
other hand! –Many children with an eccentric trait blossom into geniuses. The
teachers and parents should not underestimate them or humiliate them. G. Francis Xavier in ‘The World’s Best Inspiring Stories’ May we discover our God
Emmanuel in our homes and in each one dwelling there! Fr. Jude
Botelho |
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Other Sunday Homily Websites Daily Reflections Immaculate Heart Retreat Center Gospel Commentary from Ireland Daily Scripture |
Recent
Sunday Reflections Fourth Sunday of Advent 23-Dec. 2007 Third
Sunday of Advent 16-Dec. 2007 Second Sunday of Advent 09-Dec. 2007 First Sunday of Advent 02-Dec. 2007 Thirty-Fourth Sunday of the Year 25-Nov. 2007 Thirty-Third Sunday of the Year 18-Nov. 2007
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