This week we shall recap and reflect on the “Homilies on Family” shared by “sons of our parish” during the Novena and Feast of St Joseph, the Worker (24th April – 3rd May, 2015).
We long to live in a perfect family setting but families today are facing major challenges, trials and tests of faith. The institution of the family is in danger today. Many families are finding themselves fragmented, hurting, depressed and in danger of breaking up. Divorce is on the rise, affecting society and the community. Family members are hurting in silence.
Why do today’s families go off-track? Some areas to ponder and re-examine:-
* Are we committed to slow down, to listen, to reflect on the Word of God, to re-examine our conscience; to take time to come together as a family to pray?
* What is our identity as a Christian family? There are times we lose our identity as children of God. We forget our Christ-centred roles as husbands and wives, parents and children to build up family, church and the community; may lead to rebellious tendencies and even separation! * Family members find it increasingly hard to talk and to enjoy each other’s presence; not even during meal times (be it only once a week!), as the use of modern day gadgets has crept into family life, threatening to disrupt the bond and sanctity of family life.
* Lack of charity, compassion and understanding. We gossip and point out the wrongdoings within family members and neighbours to justify ourselves. It is hard to love our spouses, our children, our neighbours when we insist on being right; we react, with dire consequences!
* Married couples are not serious when it comes to marriage promises. Spouses fail to be content with the ten good qualities they see in their spouses and children and are tempted to be unfaithful.
* Many of our families do not take their faith seriously – e.g. parents of Catechism students are not serious in ensuring proper attendance during Catechism classes; Ensuring family participation in the Eucharist will help uphold the sanctity of the family.
Today, more than ever, the Church needs “genuine Christian families” as role models and examples of Hope and Perseverance to weather these challenging times. We must stay together as a church (BEC) community rooted in Christ - for today’s family to emerge strong and purified in these trying times.
Even though there was a special grace about them, the Holy Family themselves were not perfect. They too had their share of troubled moments, doubts and misunderstandings. Being human, Joseph and Mary also failed in some way as parents but they remained faithful. We can’t expect to be a perfect family, but like the Holy Family, we can pick ourselves up again and journey on.
Because of Joseph’s and Mary’s love for Jesus, they went against all odds, suffering and persecutions and yet lived a holy life. Let us never tire to follow in the footsteps of the Holy Family and make our families to be truly strong and holy today.
Part II:
Part II:
A challenging question: Do we agree with the title, “Jesus, the Heart of the Family”?
For many of us, going to church has become routine. Is Jesus the one attracting you to church? Why do you go to church? There’ll be many varied answers because each one has his/her own reason.
Has Jesus become personal to me, or is He just a ‘weekend Jesus’? To be in church means to be in touch with Jesus. I am living a cut-off life if I only live secure in the comfort of my home. To be fully alive in Christ, I must live within the family of Church. The challenge for families/communities today is this – Jesus says, “If you are Mine, I want to break your walls.” I want you to make me known to all peoples around you. Let them know what you believe in, what you are prepared to give. When we begin to isolate ourselves as individual families, we cannot experience the fullness and joy of what it means to be truly family, to belong to the family of God.
Most of us do not know what Jesus said, because we are reluctant to read the Word of God. If we ignore God’s Word, then what do we live by? Is this what God called us to? We come to church but do we know what Jesus said in the Gospel, what St. Paul said in the Readings? What is Jesus asking me to do and not to do? The Word of God is meant to touch me, to re-examine my life within the family. Our religious practices have become routine and we do what we want to our satisfaction. Then, we complain: God, why are you not listening to me? Why is it that we are resisting to read, reflect and internalize the Word of God? What is holding us back from listening and knowing God more intimately.
Vatican II says, “A family is a mini Church” – yes, we must be open to other families, to give and to receive with love. For families to find joy, Jesus must be the centre of that family. The family unit is the best institution God has created. Jesus asks: Am I there in your family? Bishop J. Fulton Sheen wrote the book, “Three To Get Married”. Is Jesus part of our good times and bad times? See what sufferings Joseph and Mary had to go through because of their love for Jesus.
What is important is the Person whom we believe in. Do we allow Jesus to emerge as the central figure in my life? Why do we feel perturbed when our world seems to be crumbling? We ask: Why are these things happening in my life? Where is our faith? Remember always that Jesus’ total trust and abandonment to His Father gave us salvation and new life!
For many of us, going to church has become routine. Is Jesus the one attracting you to church? Why do you go to church? There’ll be many varied answers because each one has his/her own reason.
Has Jesus become personal to me, or is He just a ‘weekend Jesus’? To be in church means to be in touch with Jesus. I am living a cut-off life if I only live secure in the comfort of my home. To be fully alive in Christ, I must live within the family of Church. The challenge for families/communities today is this – Jesus says, “If you are Mine, I want to break your walls.” I want you to make me known to all peoples around you. Let them know what you believe in, what you are prepared to give. When we begin to isolate ourselves as individual families, we cannot experience the fullness and joy of what it means to be truly family, to belong to the family of God.
Most of us do not know what Jesus said, because we are reluctant to read the Word of God. If we ignore God’s Word, then what do we live by? Is this what God called us to? We come to church but do we know what Jesus said in the Gospel, what St. Paul said in the Readings? What is Jesus asking me to do and not to do? The Word of God is meant to touch me, to re-examine my life within the family. Our religious practices have become routine and we do what we want to our satisfaction. Then, we complain: God, why are you not listening to me? Why is it that we are resisting to read, reflect and internalize the Word of God? What is holding us back from listening and knowing God more intimately.
Vatican II says, “A family is a mini Church” – yes, we must be open to other families, to give and to receive with love. For families to find joy, Jesus must be the centre of that family. The family unit is the best institution God has created. Jesus asks: Am I there in your family? Bishop J. Fulton Sheen wrote the book, “Three To Get Married”. Is Jesus part of our good times and bad times? See what sufferings Joseph and Mary had to go through because of their love for Jesus.
What is important is the Person whom we believe in. Do we allow Jesus to emerge as the central figure in my life? Why do we feel perturbed when our world seems to be crumbling? We ask: Why are these things happening in my life? Where is our faith? Remember always that Jesus’ total trust and abandonment to His Father gave us salvation and new life!
We should not allow the world to tell us how to live as family. We must allow Jesus the Word, to be Life in us and through us. Let us pray and ask God for the grace and strength to say, “Thy Will Be Done.”
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