Today we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family. I like to think that we are all parts of holy families. We hear about the struggle of Jesus’ family and hope to be strengthened in all our family struggles, too.
We hear good advice in the Old Testament reading (in the Books of Wisdom) from the Book of Sirach─for all the members of a family─younger or older. St. Paul gives the Colossians, and us, great advice. “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…put on love, that is, the bond of perfection.” This is one of my personal favorite writings of St. Paul, because he also tells us to teach and admonish one another, “singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. (I admit to especially loving that part about singing…)
The Psalm for today is: “Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in His ways.” and pairs well with the Psalm for the New Year, “May God bless us in His mercy.” We celebrate the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, “The Mother of God” on New Year’s Day (and Eve). This is one of her oldest titles and designations.
We sing today that those who love God will be blessed; and then we ask God to simply bless us in the New Year. The Feast of the Holy Family, and the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, revolves around the true blessing that is a family. My prayer is for all families, however you define them─nuclear, blended, adopted, invented─to be blessed by God, and to be a blessing for those around them. God bless the parish family of St. Aidan!
Keep singing!
Elizabeth Dyc
We hear good advice in the Old Testament reading (in the Books of Wisdom) from the Book of Sirach─for all the members of a family─younger or older. St. Paul gives the Colossians, and us, great advice. “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…put on love, that is, the bond of perfection.” This is one of my personal favorite writings of St. Paul, because he also tells us to teach and admonish one another, “singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. (I admit to especially loving that part about singing…)
The Psalm for today is: “Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in His ways.” and pairs well with the Psalm for the New Year, “May God bless us in His mercy.” We celebrate the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, “The Mother of God” on New Year’s Day (and Eve). This is one of her oldest titles and designations.
We sing today that those who love God will be blessed; and then we ask God to simply bless us in the New Year. The Feast of the Holy Family, and the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, revolves around the true blessing that is a family. My prayer is for all families, however you define them─nuclear, blended, adopted, invented─to be blessed by God, and to be a blessing for those around them. God bless the parish family of St. Aidan!
Keep singing!
Elizabeth Dyc
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