Sometimes we treat others in our family with less respect than we know that we should. This could be due to stress and busyness, having a bad day, or because of something we feel they did to us. Regardless of why we do it, I think we have probably been on both ends of this. So what can we do?
Thankfully, there is plenty of inspiration around us this weekend.
Our first reading offers practical teaching that is truly timeless. The charge from this reading is to have every member of a family develop concern, respect, honor and kindness within the relationships that constitute the family.
In the second reading, St. Paul is writing from jail to the Church of Colossae, encouraging them to live with fervor and passion. He challenges them to put on heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another.
Our final reading, the Gospel, is centered on the Holy Family; Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Each member of this Holy Family offers us an example of patience and kindness.
Over Christmas, you may have picked up one of our Christmas Watch Party Gift Bags (If there are still bags left in the lobby, please take one home!). If so, you would have found Matthew Kelly’s book, I Heard God Laugh. In it, he provides a practical process to apply prayer in our life. Using his practical guide, we can grow closer to Christ who can ultimately equip us with more patience and kindness.
Whether you take direction from timeless advice that was written thousands of years ago, or take a modern look on the application of prayer in today’s world, there is a lot of inspiration to choose from. Which area we choose to draw from is entirely up to each of us.
