Dear Parishioners,
I hope you all had a nice Christmas with family and friends reconnecting after time apart as you gathered for dinners and other social gatherings, and especially Mass. I am sure most experienced great joy not only in “getting” but more importantly in “giving.” As Jesus said, “There is more happiness in giving than receiving. “ (Acts 20:35). Hopefully, we will keep that in mind during the coming year. It will make for a Happy New Year.
There’s an old expression when you haven’t seen a young person for a long time, “How quickly they grow up!” Yesterday we encountered Jesus as a newborn baby; today we see him grown to be a boy of twelve with intelligence beyond his year. “All who heard him were amazed…” And what’s more? He had not finished growing. The gospel tells that after returning to Nazareth, “Jesus progressed steadily in wisdom and age and grace before God and men.”
We can’t help growing in age. There’s no such thing as a “fountain of youth.” But we can stop growing in wisdom and grace before God and men. That’s easy; all we have to do is be satisfied with ourselves and stop trying to grow.
As we begin a new year, let us ask what we need to do in order to progress in wisdom and grace both personally and as a member of our immediate families. How can I a better husband or wife, son or daughter, brother or sister? As we celebrate the Feast of The Holy Family, let us ask “What can I do to help make my family a more holy family?”
Fr. Carl
