Had the 7:30am Mass. There was no snow! In my homily, I “borrowed” some words that Pope Paul VI used in a talk he gave on this feast in 1965. He said there were three special things we could learn from the family at Nazareth. First to love the silence. there were no TVs, or radios, or noise except the occasional humming of Mary or Joseph at their work, and the “chatter” that a small child makes as he or she entertains themselves.
Being one of those who turns the TV or computer on as soon as I’m in the room, I need to seek that quiet – much of which I lived in during Advent.
The second lesson was community. How the holy family loved and shared with one another and that such sensitivity to each other’s needs is the hallmark of the family with love in its center
The last was the appreciation of work. That in the home at Nazareth, which was probably also a workshop, one seens each member of the holy family contributing by their work.
I said that often in hearing children’s confessions, (which I love to do) they might tell me they don’t do what their parents ask them to do until they nag them. As a penance, I say, “between now and next week, as you go to bed and look over your day, you might be able to say ‘today, I did what my parents asked of me, the first time’. You can say ‘today was my penance day’ but if you have to say’ oh, no, they had to ask me twice to feed the dog’ then you start over tomorrow until you have a night that you can say ‘ that was my penance day and I did a good job of obeying’.”
Teaching the young that they have a contribution to make to the harmony of the family is one of the privledges and duties of parents. I think the Pope was right on and I pray every day for my own family and all the families of the world that they will be happy, cared for, and holy.
After the 12:30 Mass, I looked up and my cousins, Rick and Peg Jensen were at Mass. They live in Alexandria and looked up on the parish web site and saw that I had those two Masses. Since it was already 1am in the morning, Rick said, “I think we can make the 12:30”. We had a great visit and went out to lunch together.
There is still no snow to speak of but since I cancelled out on a visit to the Rosenberger’s family party thinking the snow would be a hindrance, I think I’ll go over to the rectory, watch some TV and go to bed early.
I think tomorrow is a holiday here but am not sure. I know I have the 11:00am Mass but I’ll have to check and see if it is the feast of St. Stephan or the feast of St. John.
After 3 days of a full schedule of Masses I think the staff NEEDS a day off!
Don’t blow away…..brrrrrrr