PROMISES

Feast of the Holy family

 

PRomISES

 

… to fulfill his vows… – 1 Samuel 1:21

 

My friend met a man on a tour. They became prayer partners, remained close even outside community activities, then fell for each other. But fear kept them from divulging their real feelings.

I knew how much they cared for each other and longed to grow old with each other. But the man had a serious issue. Years before he met my friend, he had consecrated himself to the Lord, much like what a priest vows at his ordination — celibacy, poverty, obedience. How could he marry her?

One Sunday, after giving a seminar to a group of nuns, they went home. She rode a taxi; he crossed the street and waved a hand in goodbye. She never saw him again.

My friend grieved over him. I believe the man did, too. But fulfilling his vows to the Lord was more important than any earthly vow he could make.

In life, we make promises — some we keep, some we break. But nothing should get in the way of fulfilling our promises to the Lord. In a few days, it will be 2009. Are there any promises you have yet to fulfill to God before the year is over? Tess Atienza

 

REFLECTION:

“Losers make promises they often break. Winners make commitments they always keep.” (Denis Waitley)

 

Lord, help me fulfill my promises to You.

 

fAmily custOms

 

We notice a curious little detail in today’s Gospel on this Feast of the Holy Family. It says that “[t]he parents of Jesus used to go every year to Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover... as was their custom.”

Apart from a plain statement of fact (in keeping with the typical Jewish tradition), we see here a point for reflection, which can serve as a lesson for us, too, in our families today. A family which truly desires to be strong in moral formation and spiritual development must develop habits and customs which help bring these about. We must carry out repeatedly those activities which build character, family life and a closeness to Jesus. Such constantly repeated activities can become good habits, which in turn will become virtues. The family is indeed a very good venue for this, because there is a mutual positive effect of each member upon the other (as in for example, the parents vis-à-vis the children and siblings vis-à-vis one another). And of course, family activities foster togetherness.

At the same time, there is also a formation in the family which allows the young to mature into adults. There is a time to be together, yes, but also a time for independent action. “Let there be spaces in your togetherness,” advised the Lebanese writer Kahlil Gibran. The prudent parent does not want to control and enslave the child. Rather, wise parents provide abundant examples of good moral living and know how to measure amounts of freedom and responsibility.

Jesus returns to Nazareth with His earthly parents out of loving obedience. He grows in wisdom and age and grace. But there will come a time when Jesus will indeed be away — not just because He gets lost and left behind in the Temple — but to be about His Father’s business: to proclaim the Kingdom. Mary and Joseph, with their humble resignation, are helping Jesus to prepare for this day. Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB

 

Reflection Question:

What activities do we engage in as a family that help us build good habits and values?

 

Heavenly Father, help us to care for our families so that we may nurture and raise children who will work for Your Kingdom.

 

St. John Apostle and Evangelist, pray for us.