Archive for December, 2010

Feast of the Holy Family

Thursday, December 23rd, 2010

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14                Colossians 3:12-21                 Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23

The Feast of the Holy Family was instituted by Pope Leo XIII in 1893. It is a liturgical celebration in the Roman Catholic Church in honor of Jesus of Nazareth, his mother the Blessed Virgin Mary, and his foster father, Saint Joseph, as a family.

As I was preparing to write about this feast, I was trying to wrap my head around the words “Holy Family.” What does it mean to be a holy family? These two words conjure up images of very pious people who live exemplary lives. These images, for most of us, are probably not in sync with our own experiences. We all try to live good lives, but we generally would shy away from using the word “holy.”

So what does a holy family really mean? In the second reading St. Paul says, “And over all these put on love, that is the bond of perfection.” In the relationships within our families, are we able to strive for that goal? What might that look like? According to St. Paul, if we put on love, we are able to show heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience to one another. And if can do that, we are better able to bear and forgive each other. Easy to say, but hard to live by.

I’ve yet to encounter a perfect family. There are many things that challenge us when trying to live out St. Paul’s words. Many families struggle with very real difficulties such as mental health or substance abuse issues, broken relationships, family turmoil to name a few.

So how are we being called to change as we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family? As spouses? As parents? As sons and daughters? As significant partners? Each of us has our own story. That story holds its joys and sorrows, trials and rewards. As we face all these times, are we able to put on love? When we can, we draw closer to being a holy family. When we are unable to put on love, can we forgive one another?

In a broader sense, as part of the St. Mary’s Health System family in serving our patients and residents and in working with each other, do we put on love by showing compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience? Are we able to bear and forgive one another?  Whether it is within our personal family or work family, we are called to be a holy people, a holy family.

Dan Doyon
Pastoral Care

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Fourth Sunday of Advent

Thursday, December 16th, 2010

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Isaiah 7:10-16          Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19            Romans 1:1-7      Matthew 1:18-26

Joseph’s Yes

        “Somehow in the midst of our tears, a gift is hidden.
         Somehow in the midst of our mourning
         The first steps of the dance take place.” 

Henri Nouwen

Welcome to the final week of “waiting time” on the journey to the stable and the wondrous gift that our generous God chose to send us in order that we may find our way home.  Some of the themes common to the readings as I discern them are: seeking, cleanliness of heart, weariness, and God’s dependability.
For this week’s reflection I have chosen to focus on Matthew’s Gospel 1:18-26:
       
This is how the birth of Jesus came about.  Mary was engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.  Joseph, a righteous man, unwilling to expose her, decided to divorce her quietly.  While asleep, an angel of the Lord came to Joseph in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife into your home.  It is through the Holy Spirit that the child is conceived in her.  She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”  All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:  Behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a son and he will be called Emmanuel, “God with us.” When Joseph awoke he did as the angel bid and took Mary into his home.

The woman you are about to marry suddenly turns up pregnant, and you know you didn’t do it.  What do you do?  Smile and say, “It’s okay”?  Perhaps you pack up your things and head out of town?  Your culture does not smile on this kind of thing.  You could turn her over to an angry crowd to be stoned.  Word will get around and it will not go well will family or friends, and surely not with authority.  You find prayer difficult.  How could God let such evil happen to you?   What about the schmuck who did this to her?

Joseph is facing life-and-death decisions, character testing decisions. Joseph knows the law, but
he also still cares greatly for this woman.  His character shines through.  There will be no violence done to her or to the man.  Perhaps he will send her quietly away where no executioners can reach her; far enough and lonely enough away to remind her of what she has done.
Joseph is weary.  God hears him.  An angel brings the answer.  His reaction to this messenger also requires character.  He could have been angry with God.  After all, why is God interfering with his wife and how easy is it to believe that you have what it takes to raise God’s son?  What will that involve?  He would not have been the first Jew to wrestle with an angel!  Instead Joseph gave a “Yes.” It was a difficult and important yes to make.  The son of God would have an earthly father, a just man who would raise that son with the depth of character that he showed in this traumatic situation.  Joseph chose compassion over the letter of the law.  Mary’s yes and Joseph’s yes pleased God and serves as an example for us in our everyday professional and personal lives.

Go Well and Gently with Joseph into Christmas!

Elizabeth Lowe
Chaplain

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Third Sunday of Advent

Tuesday, December 7th, 2010

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Isaiah 35:1-6,10      James 5:7-10        Matt. 11:2-11

The Third Sunday of Advent is traditionally called “Rejoice Sunday.” For those of us who live in anticipation of good times and good things, it’s like saying: “Christmas is almost here!” For us who are Christians, it’s also saying: Rejoice, because the Messiah has already come and “God is with us… Emmanuel.”

Advent readings are often picturesque. This week, the first one from Isaiah describes an arid desert that begins to bloom with beautiful flowers. The prophet reminds us that God strengthens the hands of the feeble and makes strong the knees of the weak and says to frightened hearts “Be strong and fear not.” These are words of encouragement that each one of us needs to hear at one time or other in our life. As Chaplain, I often use these words when I pray with patients who are feeling weak and who are anxious and fearful…

In the second reading, a letter from James, who never minces words but says things the way they are, we hear “Be patient, brothers and sisters… Do not complain…” How easily we do lose patience and how frequently we do complain! So this might be good advice during these days before Christmas. Let’s not be frazzled by too many things to do and too little time to do them. We might consider keeping our Christmas celebrations simple and meaningful rather than extravagant and complicated. This is just a suggestion to make the Christmas season more peaceful and joyful for ourselves and everyone around us.

The Gospel presents the eccentric prophet, John the Baptist, in jail and soon to be executed. He hears things about Jesus and wants to know from his disciples if He is really the one who is to come, the Messiah. Jesus has an answer. “Go tell John what you hear and see. The blind see; the lame walk; lepers are cleansed; the deaf hear; the dead are raised; the poor have the Good News preached to them.”

As healthcare workers we see these miracles that God performs through our doctors, nurses, medicine, and therapy. I often mention to patients that Jesus continues to perform miracles through modern medicine, technology, and health care. Just think of cataract surgery, the replacement parts that are available for ailing bodies, and the miracles that often happen in the ICU when someone seems to come back to life after having nearly died. Jesus has indeed come and is with us, continuing to heal and strengthen us every day.

Concerning the poor who hear the Good News, I am reminded of the Marguerite d’Youville Fund which has rescued people in dire need by providing a prescription, a bus ticket, heat, electricity, or food. I think of St. Mary’s Food Pantry which rescues people every day by giving a bag of needed groceries. My last suggestion is that we not forget the poor this Christmas. Rather than buying useless gifts for people who have everything, why not a donation to the Marguerite d’Youville Fund, to the Food Pantry, or to Haiti in the name of this person we love and want to honor. It’s called “alternative gift giving.” Rejoice, Jesus has already come!

Sr. Suzanne Beaudoin, SSCh
Director of Pastoral Care

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