Feast of the Holy Family

(Sirach 3:2-6,12-14/Colossians 3:12-21/Luke 2:22-40)

Opening Prayer

Rejoice in the Lord, Rejoice!

Give thanks to God in all things!

His wondrous deeds never cease!

Sing shouts of JOY throughout the earth!

God’s love reigns forever!

Journal/Reflection Questions

Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14

• What does this scripture say about the love of a mother and a father? 
• Take time to imagine what this scripture looks like and draw a picture to express your interpretation of it.

Colossians 3:12-21

• Saint Paul says to “let the peace of God control your heart”.  This is a beautiful image but how is this possible?  How can you learn to allow God’s peace into your heart?
• Just as you would put on your Sunday best, Saint Paul says to “put on…heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience”.  How can you wear these?  Is there a greater need for you to wear some of these with specific people?  Write a prayer to God asking Him to grow these gifts in you this Christmas.

Luke 2:22, 39-40 (full reading Luke 2:22-40)

• Even as a baby, Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit.  Describe how you feel when you see and hold a newborn baby.
• List 3-5 qualities of Joseph.  List 3-5 qualities of Mary.  Do you share any of these qualities?

General Questions for Journaling

• Reflect on your relationship with your father and mother, each individually.  Consider the ways in which they showed love to you.
• Reflect on your role as a mother or father.  What qualities of God do you express to your children?
• What season are you in with your parents or as a parent?  What are some of the lessons God might want to teach through these different seasons?
• What is different about the Christmas holiday season compared to other holidays?
• Make a list of all of the holiday decorations, ie. lights, wreath and reflect on how each item is a reminder of Jesus.
• What is so appealing about Christmas music?  Is it the words of the songs?  The feelings you feel?  The memories?  How can you make that peaceful, joyful feeling last longer than the Christmas season?
• What traditions do you still keep Holy in your life which have been passed on from previous generations?
• Imagine the kind of parents Mary and Joseph were.  Did Jesus ever need to be disciplined?  Do you think Mary scolded Jesus?  Consider what their everyday life looked like.  Write down your thoughts.

Closing Prayer – (inspired by Psalm 105)

Leader:  A holy promise for all ages…

ALL:  God’s covenant is faithful;

Leader:  Faithful through the fire and through the rain…

ALL:  God’s covenant is true;

Leader:  True as the morning sun and the stars at night…

ALL:  God’s covenant is strong;

Leader:  Strong and precious like silver and gold…

ALL:  God’s covenant is unbroken;

Leader:  Unbroken for generations, binding in everlasting love…

ALL:  God’s covenant is forever!

Challenge for the Week:  A thing called the Baltimore Catechism was the old way of teaching the Catholic faith for everyone to know the “rules”.  Teaching the faith was about memorization instead of being an example…more about knowing the right answer than living it out.  There may or may not have been a person who modelled for you a strong faith but somehow you “caught” the faith otherwise you would not be reading this right now.  Matthew Kelly, a Catholic evangelist believes each faith-filled family requires a “prayer warrior”; someone who is a good model of a faithful person.  There are Christians who talk the talk but don’t walk the walk; it’s like memorizing the Baltimore Catechism but not putting what you know into action.  Your family and friends may not attend Sunday Services each week or spend time in prayer each day but when they think of you do they think of you as someone who is strong in their faith like Abraham?  Someone who is not wavered in what they believe and lives a life of virtue, committed to God and the promise of His love?  Instead of trying to “teach” the faith, model it for others by praying that God will make you a better example of a disciple so others can “catch” the faith from YOU!