AW0504
Peace be with you. This is A Word on the Word from Saint Gregory the Great in the Diocese of Bridgeport - Danbury, Connecticut USA for the Feast of the Holy Family 2006.
Let's start out this week with I Will Follow You by Megan Pettengill. Music can be found at http://music.podshow.com. There is more to learn at http://meganpettengill.blogspot.com
The readings for this week are from cycle "C", - First Book of Samuel, Letter of Saint John with the Gospel from St. Luke. If you would like to hear them stop by at Verbum Domini.com
This week's homily is by Father Angelo, recorded during the 4:30 vigil Mass at Saint Gregory the Great - Danbury, Connecticut for December 31, 2006. Thank you Father.
Announcements from the bulletin can be found at http://www.danbury.org/stgreg/bulletin.pdf
Additional information from Saint Gregory the Great can be found at danbury.org/stgreg
We are a part of God’s Family. Family life is rooted in the unconditional love of God, as witnessed by the Holy Family.
At the crossroads CROSSROADS this week for the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph the question for Adults & Teens is: How does the Holy Family’s experience shed light on the relationships in your life? And for Children: Why is it important to obey our parents? Why is it important to obey God?
In our gospel today, we hear the story of Jesus remaining in the temple in Jerusalem to listen and teach learn from the temple instructors. His parents left the city to journey home to Nazareth thinking Jesus was with the group. When they realized that Jesus was not with them, they returned to Jerusalem to find Him.
In reflecting on this incident, the virtues of forgiveness and patience are evident. Mary and Joseph displayed patience and forgiveness with the young Jesus as they sought and found Him in the temple and tried to understand why He stayed behind. They are examples for us to follow.
Forgiveness and patience are very much needed virtues for family life. We all need patience to bear differences in personality, preferences or habits. Forgiveness is needed when a family member hurts us or we are the one who does the hurting.
In practicing these ordinary family virtues of patience and forgiveness, we do much more than overlook the faults of others. We are introduced to a wonder hidden within them and within all of us together. When we reflect on these relationships-family, neighbors, friends we notice God’s presence in our midst. Together, we grow in wisdom and grace before God and the special people He has put in our lives.
* Spend extra time this week to strengthen family relationships by sharing activities together.
* Reach out to someone who has no family or no family nearby. Perhaps invite him/her to share a meal with your family.
* Pray for the virtue of patience in all your relationships.
* Practice patience with one person or throughout one experience this week.
Remember, Christmas begins on Christmas Day. It ends with the feast of the Baptism of the Lord on January 8th. Continue to celebrate Jesus throughout this time.
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News from Vatican Radio can be found at http://www.radiovaticana.org/inglese/enindex.html.
For Christians, Christmas is not over. We continue to celebrate Christmas through the Feast of the Epiphany.
Additional music in the Podcast is Family by Rob Costlow found at http://music.podshow.com
For the daily readings listen at http://www/VerbumDomini.com
Morning and evening prayers can be found at PrayStation Portable, located at http://www.SQPN.com
Comments and suggestions are always welcome. Drop us a line at AWordOnTheWord@gmail.com
The Saint Gregory Home page is http://www.danbury.org/stgreg
