Holy Family

Sunday, December 26th Readings

Feast of the Holy Family

Opening Prayer

Jesus

I pray with great anxiety

for there are times when I cannot find you.

I search and I search

and often overlook Your presence.

May I be calmed by Your Word

May I be settled by the sound of Your voice

You are there, calling out to me when I am lost

You will never leave!

AMEN

Journal/Reflection Questions

Sirach 3 :2-6, 12-14

  • 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? Explain

Colossians 3:12-21

  • Where to do you see compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience at work in the world? Give an example of each.
  • 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 welcomed 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 or your words express your feelings? Explain.
  • 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 was it and what did you do? How did you feel?  Were you able to recover it?  Where did you find it?  Who helped you?
  • Describe what you remember of yourself as a child. What did you look like?  What were some of your favorite things?
  • How are the things you loved as a child, the same or different than now?  Is that good or bad? Why or why not?

Closing Prayer

Leader:  Father God, You gave me my first breath

ALL:  because you love me!

Leader:I listen to and follow Your Word

ALL:  because I love You!

Leader:  I learn to accept and forgive

 ALL:  because You ask me to love others!

Leader:  I hold You close

 ALL:  because I love you!

Leader:  I am blessed

ALL:  because you love me!

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!

GET CONNECTED DAILY!  Find more reflections and prayers at Making Scripture Relevant on Facebook and Instagram.  Join the Weekly Scripture Journal email list by contacting heather@makingscripturerelevant.com

Sunday, December 27th Readings-Sirach

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!

Sunday, December 27th Readings/Genesis

Feast of the Holy Family

(Genesis 15:1-6, 21:1-3/ Hebrews 11:8, 11-12, 17-19/Luke 2:22-40)

Opening Prayer

Lord,

How do I know you are near?

Is it in a kind word of a stranger?

A random act of kindness?

You are everywhere I turn!!!

What can I do to draw you closer?

Let me find you in my daily routine.

Teach me Lord,

so I might find you in the simplicity of my day!!!

You are there,

may I always reach out to find YOU!!!

Journal/Reflection Questions

Genesis 15:1-6,21:1-3

  • Share how a child is a gift from God and list at least 10 ways you can honor this gift.
  • What does this scripture teach you about God’s nature?

Hebrews 11:8,11-12,17-19

  • What inheritance has God left for you? Have you accepted it?
  • How do you explain how Abraham’s descendants are as vast as the stars?

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

  • Can you see salvation in the eyes of newborn child? What is it that you see?  Describe what you see in the eyes of a baby?
  • What do you believe Simeon saw in Jesus? How did Simeon know Jesus was born to do great things?

General Questions for Journaling

  • Describe your relationship with your parents. How is it similar or different from your relationship with your children?
  • Have you ever prayed for your parents specifically? Do you believe they have prayed for you specifically?
  • What traits did you get from your Father? Are they good? How do you use them?
  • What traits did you get from your Mother? Are they good? How do you use them?
  • Describe your parents in 10 words or less. Describe your Mother. Describe your Father.
  • How would you describe your parent’s relationship? Do/did they have a relationship with God? How would you describe their relationship with God?
  • What do you believe your parents said when they heard you were joining their family?
  • What did you say when you learned you would be a parent?
  • Do/did you turn to God for parenting advice? Share a time when you did and what you heard in response.
  • Are you open to the promises of Christ? Why or why not? What is the promise Christ has given?
  • Is there someone in your family whom you wish you could speak to? Who is it and why?
  • How do you honor life given and live taken away? Do these things mean something or are they simply things which happen? Explain.

Closing Prayer

Leader:  Jesus, I recognize you…

ALL:  in my sins, forgiven and healed!

Leader:  Jesus, I recognize you…

ALL:  in the miracles that happen each day!

Leader:  Jesus, I recognize you…

ALL:  when people come together to pray!

Leader:  Jesus, I recognize you…

ALL:  in the beauty which surrounds me!

Leader:  Jesus, I recognize you…

ALL:  in the eyes of strangers and in my family!

Challenge for the Week:  Have you seen the “I am Second” signs and bumper stickers?  This message is out there for us to remember that we are asked to put God above all things in the 2nd Commandment.  This means even our own needs or the needs of our spouse/significant other and/or our children/family.  This is contradictory to the messages we hear in media.  Reflect on how you can put God first in your life from the moment you wake up until the moment you lay your head to rest.  Is this a difficult request?  Why or why not?  If God is not first in your life, where do you place God’s needs on your list of priorities and responsibilities?  How can you shift your thoughts into place God’s needs above our own?  Find a friend or family member to talk to about this change so you can help each other put God’s needs, wants and desires above those of others.