Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

 

Opening Prayer

Jesus

We pray with great anxiety

for there are times when we cannot find you.

We search and we search

and we often overlook your presence.

May we be calmed by your Word

May we be settled by the sound of Your voice

You are there, calling out to us when we are lost

You will never leave us!

 

Journal/Reflection Questions

Sirach 3:2-6

• Are there those whom you have trouble loving? How does knowing God loves them, help you love them too?
• Does the love you have for God look the same or different than the love you have for others?

 Colossians 3:12-21

• Where to do you see these qualities (compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience) at work in the world?
• How do you express these qualities? How often and to whom?

 Luke 2:41-52

• Can you relate to Mary and Joseph in this reading? Can you also relate to Jesus?  What is the difference?
• Where do you feel welcome and accepted? What does it look like?  Who is also there?

 

General Questions for Journaling

• Where does family rate in your life?
• How do you express your feelings toward your family? Do your actions express your feelings?
• What is the purpose of a family? Do you think your family fulfills its purpose?
• Does God get center reign in your family? Why or why not?  How do you know?
• What do you present to God as an offering for your commitment to Him?
• Have you ever bargained with God? What happened?
• Recall a time when you lost something of great value to you…what did you do? How did you feel?  Were you able to recover it?  Where did you find it?  Who helped you?
• Describe what remember of yourself as a child. What did you look like?  What were some of your favorite things?

 

Closing Prayer

Leader:  We are given our first breath

ALL:  because you love us!

Leader:  We serve in YOUR name

ALL:  because we love you!

Leader:  We accept and forgive

 ALL:  because you love others!

Leader:  We hold YOU close

 ALL:  because we love you!

Leader:  We are blessed

ALL:  because you love us!

 

Challenge for the Week:   +The Holy Family was not perfect in the eyes of the world.  Instead, it was made perfect through the eyes of God.  Think about how your family is also made perfect through the eyes of God.  How does this cause you to see others differently?  Are there people whom you will treat differently with this new perspective?  Perhaps there are some whom you need to forgive and welcome back in.  Allow God to make your family perfect J