The Catholic Calendar for Friday, December 30, 2005
Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Sirach 3:2-7, 12-14
Psalm 128:1-5
Colossians 3:12-21
Luke 2:22-40

A reflection on today's Scripture. . . .

"...my eyes have seen your salvation, a light, to the Gentiles
and glory for Israel." (see: Luke 2: 30 and 32)

With a divorce rate approaching 60% of marriages, we may ask the reason for its great rise over this past century. The answer is the ever growing secularization of society, a systematic disposal of the truths inherent in God's love. We now worship a perverted freedom that rationalizes and accepts the destruction of innocent human life. By so cheapening ourselves, we have lost our ability to truly love; for who can love persons considered to be disposable lumps of flesh, accidents of nature, as some Darwinians claim. With God "out of the loop" we eliminate human dignity and worth; we reduce ourselves to beasts centered on self-preservation, comfort and pleasure. With family structure destroyed, we spawn an increasing societal disorder.

Today's readings should alert us to turning away from our suicidal course. Sirach expresses God's way of maintaining peace and unity within families, a mutual respect and committed love between their members. St. Paul reminds us of those traits that promote unity and harmony within family and community--being kind, humble, forgiving, generous and wise in our relationships. Essential is our accepting Christ as the living Word of God and adopting as our own His revealed love and truths. Faith in Him strengthens our will and ability, and by the grace imparted to us through the Holy Spirit, we become God's holy people. The chaotic state of this world's morality and ethics is the result of our refusal to live in God's "light" by coming to know and obeying the Source of all "good."

Almighty Father, open our hearts to receive Christ's new life that you have offered to us. May we then live in His glory and peace, united in mind and heart with our Savior. Amen.

- Marie Bocko, OCDS
(mlbocko at earthlink dot net)

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