A Message from Fr. Jay
Dear Friends,
In one of the recent Men’s Gospel Forum meetings, a discussion came up about the customs and cultures of marriage betrothal, celebrations in Jewish culture, the betrothal of Mary and Joseph and how different other cultures are today. Some of the men remembered how they had to get permission from their spouse’s father, compared to the cohabiting of our culture today. Men’s Gospel Forum provides men an opportunity to grow in their faith and deepen their relationship with Jesus Christ. All men of the parish are welcome to join these meetings. They meet every Monday morning from 7:00am-7:50am in the Parish Life Center.
I have been at our parish almost three years and I see an increasing trend of Church marriages or sealing the civil marriages into sacramental marriages through convalidation. But still, the numbers are very low. The topic of sacramental marriage continues to be topped down by modern culture. The meaning of family is minimized to being mere companions, partners or contractual. Family created through marriage and sealed as a sacrament is the only right way to promote individuals and communities in holiness.
Today, we celebrate the Holy Family which was created by God as Mary, Joseph and Jesus. Through the human eye it may look like a family of imperfection – a betrothed virgin Mary found pregnant and overwhelmed by the sudden gift of God Himself, and her husband, Joseph racking his brain to take on the shame. With his ego fighting his conscience, probably seemed shocking and confusing in the beginning…but all become clear and they grew in strength once they found themselves part of the divine plan of God.
Through every marriage, the divine plan is continuously shared among spouses so that they can also become part of the ‘Holy Family’. Let us also make our family holier. It would be very fulfilling if we could navigate our family into holiness. Holiness is gained incrementally with the grace of God and our rightful actions. Any modern culture that collapses family needs to be fought severely. Just as we proclaim during the Christmas season to “Keep Christ in Christmas”, we are called ‘to keep Jesus as the head of our family’. That is what makes every family a Holy Family. May God bless you and your family!
Please remember to reflect on what is the divine plan of your marriage and this weekend, attempt to call everyone in your family and wish them holiness.
God Bless,
Fr. Jay Raju
- Reading 1: Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14
- Reading 2: Colossians 3:12-21
- Gospel: Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23
