Feast of The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph
Col 3:12-17
As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God.
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.
Love and Forgiveness
How appropriate that on the Feast of the Holy Family the readings promote not only love but forgiveness. For most of us, over the course of a lifetime, who will we need to forgive most often? And whose forgiveness will we most need to seek? Those closest to us can inflict the deepest hurts; if we did not care so much, we would not feel the pain so deeply. We who rejoice in God’s mercy have no choice but to forgive others. And when is there a better time than today?
—Jesuit Prayer team
Prayer
Our Father, Who art in heaven,
Hallowed be Thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come.
Thy Will be done,
on earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. Amen.
—Our Father