He did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him

December 18, 2015 6:00 am

“All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’ When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home.” (MT 1: 23-24)

God’s will and our response go together. The more we are connected with God, the more we listen to Him, and the more we respect Him, the better we answer. God invited the most holy people to the most blessed mission —Our Lady and St. Joseph fulfilled His plan to “rescue us with His mighty power.” The answer of St. Joseph was so simple—“he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him.”

“O Leader of the House of Israel, giver of the Law to Moses on Sinai: come to rescue us with your mighty power!” (Gospel Acclamation) 

Go to Joseph

July 8, 2015 10:12 am

“Pharaoh directed all the Egyptians to go to Joseph and do whatever he told them.” (GN 41: 55)

Pharaoh directed the Egyptians to Joseph, but we know that Joseph only prefigured Jesus Christ. We know it but let me mention also another person, also named Joseph, St. Joseph, who is protector of the Church, who took care for the Holy Family and who also takes care of us. The most obedient and modest person waits for us and will tell us how to love Our Lady and Our Lord, how to admire Them and how to serve Them.

“The Kingdom of God is at hand: repent and believe in the Gospel.” (Gospel Acclamation)

He did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him

March 19, 2015 9:00 am

“‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.’ When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home.” (MT 1: 20.24)

This amazing saint was so close to the Mystery of the Holy Family, true father to Our Lord and husband to Our Lady and at the same time so far from himself. Never concentrating on himself, he always focused on others—the perfect example of the gift of self. He is called in the Litany by many different names: Joseph most just, most chaste, most prudent, most strong, most obedient, and most faithful. St. Theresa of Avila used to say that we should “go especially to Joseph, for he has great power with God.” He is never forgotten in the Church but always hidden; there is nowhere his words are written in the Bible, but the lives of Our Lord and Our Lady depended on him. He is regarded as a very special protector not only for carpenters, home buyers, workers and patron for the dying, but also especially for families.

“Blessed are those who dwell in your house, O Lord; they never cease to praise you.”

To present Him to the Lord

February 2, 2015 9:04 am

“When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, Mary and Joseph took Jesus up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, just as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord, and to offer the sacrifice of a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons, in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord.” (Lk 2: 22-24)

The Holy Family has been respecting the law, and “according to the law of Moses,” when “the days were completed for their purification,” “Mary and Joseph took Jesus up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, just as it is written in the law of the Lord, ‘Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord.’” Thanks to this, Our Lord was recognized by Simeon and the prophetess Anna, and His appearance brought consolation to them. Our Lord was not only recognized but also proclaimed as the Messiah of the Lord, and the Holy Family was blessed by Simeon. So many benefits from … respecting the law.

“A light of revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.” (Gospel Acclamation)

Love is the bond of perfection

December 28, 2014 7:00 am

“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,  if one has a grievance against another;  as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do. And over all these put on love, that is, the bond of perfection.” (Col 3: 12-14)

The virtues listed above are important in every relationship, but absolutely necessary in family life: “heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience”… We have some idea of their importance and life changing role after the Love and Life Programs. When forgiveness and tenderness complement each other, love is “the bond of perfection.”

Today we celebrate the feast of The Holy Family, which is our model of the family as the domestic church, where everybody is concerned with the happiness of others and everybody is a total and sincere gift of self. We can invite the Holy Family into our families and our homes and ask them to help us to be like them.

“Let the peace of Christ control you hearts, let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.” (Gospel Acclamation)

For nothing will be impossible for God

December 20, 2014 1:14 pm

“And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God.” (Lk 1: 36-37)

God started His mission of humankind’s redemption with the most beautiful miracles within the family: first Elisabeth and her “impossible” pregnancy and later Mary, Our Lady. The family is the first place of redemption and the first place to receive the real presence of God. He chose the family for His Son, who spent 30 years with Mary and Joseph to prepare Himself for His mission.

“O Root of Jesse’s stem, sign of God’s love for all his people: come to save us without delay!” (Gospel Acclamation)

The Feast of Annunciation

March 25, 2014 7:46 am

“…name him Emmanuel, which means “God is with us!” (Is 7:14)

From today on He will be with us. Hidden in His Mom’s womb, under Her heart. At this moment, only she knows about Him. Nine months later He will appear to the world.
The most intimate relationship between the mother and child. This is His beginning in this world. God, who came to meet us and save us, came in the most spectacular way. As a child, as a member of the family.

Every mother knows how unique and special this time is. And today we are invited to keep Him in our hearts, to let Him grow in me and show Himself through my life.

“The Word of God became flesh and made his dwelling among us; and we saw his glory.” (Verse before the Gospel)

 

The Feast of St. Joseph

March 19, 2014 5:17 pm

“…took his wife into his home” (Mt 1:24)

Simple words and a simple action. “Took his wife into his home”. Such a special moment in every couple’s life. New beginning, new responsibility, new identity. His home will be home for the Holy Family, a place where Jesus spend 30 years enjoying simple family life based on love, respect, devotion and work. Celebrating feast of St. Joseph we think about simplicity, dedication, humility and closeness beyond imagination. The Holy Family life. Home, where we are invited.

I found in my “Magnificat”: “To other saints our Lord has given power to help in one sort of need, but this glorious saint, as I know by experience, helps us in every need” (according to St. Teresa of Avila).

“Blessed are those who dwell in your house, o Lord; they never cease to praise you”. (Verse before the Gospel)

You belong

December 30, 2013 11:02 am

“…they returned to … their own town…” (Lk 2:39)

My own town, my home. These words are very special for people who travel a lot. Or are on a one-year trip abroad. Here, in Mexico, I have slept in twelve places. And it is not the end.

I like the idea that the Holy Family called one place in the world – “their own town”.

It sounds very similar to our families from Wrocław, Poland, always proud of their City – “in our city…”

And I think that the Holy Family is very close to anybody who is alone. Because they know how important it is to have one’s own place, own town. They spent some time as refugees, they were emigrants, so they understand perfectly anybody who is alone, not in his or her “own town”, who is coming back to a rented room or apartment, where no one is waiting for them.

From the moment when the Holy Family found “their own town”, no one is alone, no one is without a family, no one is forgotten. Because … “the Son of man came to save that which was lost.” (Mt 18:11). And the best idea with the “lost” is to bring them back to the family, remind them – you belong, you are a part of us. This is that kind of message, which should be repeated all over again to our kids:  I love you, you are our beloved daughter/son, I am so proud of you, etc…

When we have more people with “their own town”, there will be less broken hearts, wounded by people who used us as a hotel for one night.

If you will feel homeless at your place, where nobody takes care of you, immediately visit the Holy Family home, feel the atmosphere where you are loved and always welcomed, and go back to your home knowing how to share your love with the others. Simply “return to your own town”.

With a special prayer for all of you who are in need.

Fr. Jay

The Holy Family

December 29, 2013 10:06 pm

“And be thankful” (Col 3:16)

The life of the Holy Family, very private life, hidden life. Thirty years in silence. We know only about the beginning, escape to Egypt, episode in the Temple when Jesus was twelve years old and … nothing more.

We can say that Jesus wasted thirty years of His life doing nothing. Meaning: nothing important for God, like for example saving this world. But no.

This part of His life is so important for us. He chose to spend all those years in the family, with Mary, His mother, and St. Joseph – and only three years outside. The mission was the same: God “gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life” (J 3:16). In the family and outside the family.

That is why St. Paul wrote in such detail: “Wives, be subordinate to your husbands, as is proper in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and avoid any bitterness toward them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, so they may not become discouraged” (Col 3:18-19.21).

This is still the same mission, Good News: “so that everyone … may have eternal life” (J 3:16).

And today is a very special day to “be thankful”. For the Holy Family, for the beauty of family life, which is a very special and personal way to sanctification: “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, if one has a grievance against another; as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do. And over all these put on love, that is, the bond of perfection” (Col 3:12-14).

O God, who were pleased to give us the shining example of the Holy Family, graciously grant that we may imitate them in practicing the virtue of family life and in the bonds of charity, and so, in the joy of your house, delight one day in eternal rewards. (Collect)

Keeping all of You in my prayer

Fr. Jay