Today (26th Dec), the Church celebrates the Feast of the Holy Family. I want to take this moment to wish you a wonderful and happy time together with your family. I'm taking my family out for an ice-cream treat this evening.
Below is a short reflection I found on the Internet to share with you.
We always adore Jesus as the Son of God, we reverence Mary as the Mother of God and Joseph as the guardian and protector of Jesus and Mary. But today we celebrate them as a family, as an ordinary family just like ours.
Surely that family was not exactly like ours; they were better, more perfect, more loving. But not impossible to imitate. Impossible to match, of course. But not impossible to imitate. Someone once said to me that the idea of imitating Jesus is absurd; it is far beyond our human capabilities. I do not agree: to imitate in the sense of being equal to, is clearly impossible for us. But to imitate in the sense of trying, making a sincere effort, to model our conduct upon that of Jesus is not impossible; indeed, it is something that we should always try to do.
Source: HomiliesAlive.com
For the Lord honoured the father above the children, and he confirmed the right of the mother over her sons.
Whoever honors his father atones for sins, and whoever glorifies his mother is like one who lays up treasure.
Whoever honors his father will be gladdened by his own children, and when he prays he will be heard.
Whoever glorifies his father will have long life, and whoever obeys the Lord will refresh his mother; he will serve his parents as his masters.
O son, help your father in his old age, and do not grieve him as long as he lives;
even if he is lacking in understanding, show forbearance; in all your strength do not despise him.
For kindness to a father will not be forgotten, and against your sins it will be credited to you. - Sirach 3:2-7, 12-14