Almighty God, who hast given us thy only-begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and as at this time to be born of a pure Virgin; Grant that we being regenerate, and made thy children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by thy Holy Spirit; through the same our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Spirit, ever one God, world without end.

FAITH IN FOCUS: FAMILIES

No two families are the same and each of us has to work out how best to function in our own family. The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph are put before us as models for us to emulate. But how do we do that in the twenty-first century? Perhaps with three simple ingredients, the three Cs:

Commitment: JosephÆs trust was stretched when it came to committing himself to Mary and her unborn child. It goes without saying that families need commitment. Casual groupings of adults and children find it harder to provide the necessary stability. Families only exist because people have a ôno matter whatö attitude to their wives, husbands, children and parents. We donÆt give up when things get tough. But commitment has other natural consequences. If youÆre committed to someone then you have to convince them of the fact. When did you last tell your child, wife etc that they really mattered in your eyes? How quick were you to forgive them when they did something that displeased you? What do you bring to your family to show your commitment?

Communication: The greatest danger to married life is not infidelity but lack of communication. Many people survive long years of marriage but never get to know the mind of their partner because they simply donÆt talk about things that matter to them both. Many parents find their childrenÆs behaviour puzzling but donÆt know how to sit down with them and talk things through. And so the children never expect their parents to understand, especially when they really need them to. ItÆs just easier to talk to the computer for hours on end.

Common Activity: When a survey asked children what single thing they would most like to change in their family, the answer came back that they would like to do more things together with their parents. Being part of a family means sharing time, experiences, hopes, joys, tears and dreams. Building a family means planning common activity, going out together, doing things together.

Just as human beings need to grow and develop, so do families. We really know very little about how the Holy Family functioned, but you can bet that the three Cs were there somewhere.

WORD OF GOD

Joseph settled in a town called Nazareth. In this way the words spoken through the prophets were to be fulfilled: He will be called a Nazarene.

(Matthew 2: 23)

WORD FOR TODAY

Jesus, Mary and Joseph are put before us as models for our family life. They had more than their share of ups and downs yet their faith in God and each other kept them safe. In times of trouble today whom do we turn to and who can turn to us?

WORDS FOR WORSHIP

Let us pray for the families of our community that each member may value the others so that, in an atmosphere of mutual respect and trust, all may feel esteemed and loved. Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

Let us pray for the family of nations throughout the world that peace may reign in places that are ravaged by civil and religious dissent, by war, violence and tyranny. Lord in your ...

Let us pray for those, like the Holy Family, who are forced to become refugees and asylum seekers due to the harshness of conditions in their own country. Lord, in your ...

Let us pray for those who do not know the love of a family, particularly for orphans, and for those who are separated from their families due to working away from home, serving abroad or spending time in prison. Lord, in your ...

I DON’T CARE HOW POOR a person is. If they have a family they are rich. (Ellen Jordan)

THE FAMILY. We were a strange little band of characters trudging through life sharing diseases and toothpaste, coveting one anotherÆs desserts, hiding shampoo, borrowing money, locking each other out of our rooms, inflicting pain and kissing to heal it in the same instant, loving, laughing, defending, and trying to figure out the common thread that bound us all together.

(Erma Bombeck)

NOWADAYS the family requires special consideration and concrete policies aimed at promoting and protecting its essential nature, its development and its stability. Among other things, I am thinking of the serious problems associated with housing and employment. It must not be forgotten that in helping the family we also help to resolve other important problems, such as providing assistance to the sick and the elderly, stopping the spread of crime, and finding a remedy to drug use.

(Pope John Paul II)

THIS WEEK’S BIBLE READINGS:

Mon: Jonah 3 & 4, Col 1:24 - 2:7, John 1: 29-34

TUE (CIRCUMCISION OF CHRIST): Numbers 6:22-end, Galatians 4:4-7, Luke 2:15-21

Wed: Ruth 1, Col 2: 8-end, John 1: 35-42

Thu: Ruth 2, Col 3: 1-11, John 1:43-end

Fri: Ruth 3, Col 3:12 - 4:1, John 2:1-12

Sat : Ruth 4: 1-17, Coloss 4: 2-end, John 4:7-26

NEXT SUNDAY (EPIPHANY): Isaiah 60:1-6, Ephesians 3:1-12, S. Matthew 2: 1-12