Prayer-Soldier
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 Posted: Mon Dec 27, 2010 12:11 am Post subject: Reflections on the Holy Family |
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“For the LORD sets a father in honor over his children; the authority of a mother he confirms over her sons. He who honors his father atones for sins; he stores up riches who reveres his mother. He who honors his father is gladdened by children, and when he prays he is heard. He who reveres his father will live a long life; he obeys the LORD who brings comfort to his mother. He who fears the LORD honors his father, and serves his parents as rulers.” (Sirach 3:2-7)
As God set the generations in motion, children would become parents and parents would beget children. In these relationships the bonds of love are sowed or shattered. It is through the family traditions are born and preserved or allowed to be discarded. It is through the family values are formed which guide us in what do we do and what we fail to do. The desire of the Lord is that parents should care for their children and children for their parents.
When they had departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him.” Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt. He stayed there until the death of Herod, that what the Lord had said through the prophet might be fulfilled, “Out of Egypt I called my son.” (Matthew 2:13-15)
A father is not made through blood alone, but sometimes it comes through the responsibilities placed before him. Joseph was such a father. His betrothed was chosen by the Lord and through the holy Spirit she became with child, a child for which Joseph would be called upon to care. Joseph fulfilled his calling to care for this child; a child who is, was and always has been the Savior of Joseph and his betrothed.
“Put on then, as the chosen ones of God, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if one has a grievance against another; as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do. And over all these put on love, that is, the bond of perfection. And let the peace of Christ control your hearts, the peace into which you were also called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Wives, be subordinate to your husbands, as is proper in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and avoid any bitterness toward them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, so they may not become discouraged.” (Colossians 3:12-21)
That to which all the children of God are called is love and all that love brings. The perfection of love is what should lead our hearts. Love begins in the family and as it flourishes it flows to all around us. As it flows to our communities, it flows to the world. When love fails in the family, it fails elsewhere as well. It is for this reason that parents are called to love one another, to love their children and their children are called to love them.
Love begins with selfless caring; for through selfless caring, one does not create expectations for self, rather one takes joy through the happiness and welfare of another. Expectations for self give root to selfishness which opens the door to conflict, divisions, jealously, envy; the fertilizer of hate and evil. The tragedies of mankind are all rooted in forms of selfishness.
When the family nurtures love, it removes the soil in which selfishness may take root. When love is abundant within the family, the family spreads it abundantly to others as well. When love departs from a family, the hurt is equally spread. Let us then seek to nurture love within our families, selflessness which begins between father and mother, selflessness which raises children in love, love which children return to their parents, love which extends beyond the family and throughout generations, love which fulfills the commandments of the Lord.
May the Lord be with you always,
Prayer Soldier
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