Feast of the Holy Family

Our readings for the Feast of the Holy Family are:

1. Genesis 15: 1-6, 21:1-3
2. Psalms 105: 1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8-9
3. Hebrews 11: 8, 11-12, 17-19
4. Luke 2: 22-40

1. God promises a son
• What are you believing God for these days?
• How certain are you of that?
• Does that certainty say more about your beliefs or God's faithfulness?
2. Great is His name
• What are you grateful for these days?
• Where was God in each of those events?
• What do those things tell you about God?
3. Power of faith
• Do you have any stories to tell of events or happenings that came about because of faith, yours or others?
• What do those tell you about God?
• How have those changed your life?
4. Looking forward
• What are you hoping for in the future?
• Within your life?
• Within your family?
• Within this parish?
• What are you doing to bring that piece of God's Kingdom to earth?

Preparation for Reconciliation:

1. Do I have the courage to "let go and let God" in my life?
2. Have I told God how grateful I am lately?
3. Have I shared my fears with God?
4. Do I see myself as someone with a unique purpose in life, that no one else can fulfill?

But I was just learning how to relate to him

When God called Abraham to sacrifice Isaac,

You have to wonder what thoughts were going through his mind.

I know that I would have thought it mean spirited of God,

To first give me this miracle son, so late in life,

And then snatch him away with no warning.

This same God who called me from my kinsmen

To a lonely and strange place.

All so that I might receive a promise of a horde of descendants,

Apparently just to see whether I'll do anything for Him.

I thought my God was bigger than that.

The gods that others worship, they are capricious and cruel.

They get away with it because they can.

But this one seemed so different.  At once larger, transcendent.

And at the same time more intimate, as close as my very breath.

Mount Moriah looms in the distance.

This God of mine has given me purpose, adventure even.

Through Him I met Sarah, and continued this journey with her.

Through Him I became a child of promise, 

With more purpose than merely greater flocks and wealth.

Somehow, I must journey on, just to see what's next if nothing else.

Peace to all of you this Christmas season!