Dear Parishioners and Visitors,

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day were just wonderful here at Saints Simon and Jude! It is great to have so many people here, all of us celebrating, praying, and singing together. Many people in our parish helped to make it friendly, festive, and faith-filled. (See how I did that alliteration there?) With all our hearts we are grateful to all of you!

We are also especially grateful to all the visitors who came here to worship with us. It was a joy and an honor to have you! We hope you felt welcome, because you are always welcome here; and we hope you will continue to come here to worship the Lord with us.

As the Christmas season continues, this weekend we have the Feast of the Holy Family. This feast reminds us of the fact that, when the Son of God became one of us, he spent the vast majority of his earthly years living in the immediate context of family life. Jesus, Mary and Joseph experienced the joys, the sorrows, the rewards and the challenges that come with family living. Our families can look to them—the Holy Family—for inspiration and help.

There are a couple of things about the Scriptures we will hear this weekend that appeal to me in a special way. One is our Gospel (Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23); here we do not see the idyllic scene of Jesus, Mary and Joseph living in holy peace. Instead, we see the Holy Family on the run: fleeing to Egypt so that Herod can’t kill Jesus; then after Herod dies, being afraid to go back to Judea because Herod’s son is ruling there; and for this reason going to Nazareth in Galilee.The Holy Family knew what it’s like to be threatened, fearful, displaced and under all kinds of pressure. I’m glad they know what it’s like because this helps me relate to them when I experience difficult times.

The other special Scripture passage this weekend is our second reading (Colossians 3:12-17). St. Paul writes to the Colossians about how good Christians should live; he lists the dispositions and actions that should characterize our lives. In a nutshell, he speaks of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness, love, peace, and gratitude; but be sure to read St. Paul’s own words, because he gives a lot more than just a list of words.To be sure, the virtues he lists are a great recipe for good family life; but they are also a good program for the human family as a whole.

Imagine how our world would be transformed if everyone lived in the manner that St. Paul describes for us!Of course, you and I don’t have control over the way other people live; but we do have control over the way we live (at least I hope we do!). And every time we choose to live with the qualities listed and described by St. Paul this weekend, we are doing something concrete to make this world a better place.

Blessings,

Fr. Philip