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Word To Life
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Sunday Scripture Readings: Dec. 30, 2007
By Jeff Hedglen
Catholic News Service
December 30, The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph
Cycle A Readings:
1) Sirach 3:2-7, 12-14
Psalm 128:1-5
2) Colossians 3:12-21
Gospel: Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23
When I was 16, I shared a car with my 19-year-old sister. We split the cost of the car payment and insurance down the middle. The plan was that we also would have equal use of the vehicle. She was older and had a job around the corner; I was younger and had a girlfriend who lived 30 minutes away. Naturally this caused a lot of problems.
Nothing in my life with four other siblings could compare with the fights we had about the use of that car. Doors would slam; very un-Christian words would fly; and feelings were shredded.
One day, after a typical display of mutual selfishness, I slammed the door to my room and said to no one in particular: "Why won't she even try?!"
A few minutes later after the steam stopped billowing from my ears, I heard a small voice in my head say: "Are you trying?"
God in his fashion had challenged my self-righteousness -- and I lost. When I came out of my room, my sister was in the bathroom. I wrote her a note that simply said: "I'll try if you will."
From that point on I don't think we had another fight.
On the feast of the Holy Family, the church gives us a passage from St. Paul that calls us not just to put up with each other but to bear with one another in compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
It was only when God's prompting toward these graces broke through my bitter, angry resentment of my sister that peace came to our relationship.
Being a family of holiness takes work, prayer, submission and selfless behavior. It is not unlike the family that had a virgin teenager say yes to God; a fianc, who initially wanted to cut and run but submitted to God's plan; and a son who had no idea what lay ahead of him, but when his hour came took the cup his Father handed to him.
One of the steps to holiness is to take our eyes off of ourselves and put them on those we love. It is this kind of action that paves the road to being a holy family.
QUESTIONS:
What are some ways we can "bear with one another" when the other is hard to get along with? Do you have a story that shows how you or someone you know has grown in holiness?
SCRIPTURE TO BE ILLUSTRATED:
"Put on, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another" (Colossians 3:12-13).
END
Copyright © 2006 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS Word To Life column may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service.
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