THE FEAST of the HOLY FAMILY (FIRST SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS)
The Feast of the Holy Family (First Sunday after Christmas)
Jesus parents were upset when he was missing and when they found him were astonished but it didn’t diminish their anxiety. It was interesting that in the Mediterranean culture the father would have been the one to speak. Yet it was Mary who spoke, and Jesus answer was not what was expected of a child at that time. They didn’t understand his answer and yet treasured in their heart his answer until they would understand that doing what God was asking is always to be first not what we want.
The radical commitment that Jesus teaching will later demand of his hearers he as the child Jesus enacts. He lets us know at this young age that listening to God is the priority. Despite this event Jesus had love and respect for his parents and is an example for all of us when we think we might “know it all”, but he was always open to Gods leading.
God didn’t create our differences by accident, it is to learn how to listen to those differences and be able to compromise, tolerate, honor God and each other and unite us all in this love.
We have to get our ego’s out of the way and truly humbly do what God is asking. This is hard because we always think we are doing the “right thing”.
God created us to be a community, we are all equal. Yes, we may have “titles” such as president, spouse, lay leader, priest, bishop, child, and the titles go on.
But the most important is that we are all different but that does not make us better than the other or higher than the other, we are all equal. We all have gifts that are needed for true community. Truly listening with the ear of our hearts to one another, no matter who is speaking is what God is calling us to do.
God has infused all of us with divine love, it is within all of us. We have the power to live in family and community in spite of our differences. We have been infused with the wisdom to overcome our pride and ego’s. We have that divine power within not to turn our backs on those who do not think as we do.
We can welcome them with patience and love.
God is for everyone and wants us to be one.
Mary and Joseph whose lives in the beginning was very normal but soon was changed. We too have to realize that life is constantly changing, and nothing stays exactly the same. Learning to adapt and think outside the box is a gift. That is the only way we can grow as a family, a community.
We are so blessed with this loving giving community and that is our treasure and we have demonstrated that we receive new ideas with that same love and giving.
God is radically inclusive not looking at our actions but our commitment to God’s will. It is not always perfect, it is about our love and concern for one another. When in conflict we listen to one another with honest input love and understanding and are able to come to a consensus. Fear of something different is a danger in our growth as community. Out of love we learn how to make the best of all situations, and this will unite us. This will bring us closer.
Like the Holy Family we too will continue to grow in wisdom age and favor .
We are blessed. AMEN!
+Michael Theogene
SATURDAY OF THE THIRD WEEK OF ADVENT
SATURDAY OF THE THIRD WEEK OF ADVENT
Inclusive Lectionary reading: 1 Samuel Chapter 1 verses 24-28 / 1 Samuel Chapter 2 verses 1, 4-7, 8ABCD / Luke Chapter 1 verses 46-56.
Today’s readings have revealed to me that I cannot take those entrusted to me as my property. Each person in my life, my spouse, my children, my family members, friends, church family, every person I am responsible for in some way are gifts from God. It is my job to lead them to the realization of how much God loves them. Be blessed!
(rev.) Michael Theogene
FRIDAY OF THE THIRD WEEK OF ADVENT
FRIDAY OF THE THIRD WEEK OF ADVENT
Inclusive Lectionary reading: Song of Songs Chapter 2 verses 8-14 / Psalm 33 verses 2-3, 11-12, 20-21 / Luke Chapter 1 verses 39-45.
How much do we love God? Why do we sometimes find it easier to love others around us, who are in the flesh instead of loving someone who is not present to us in physical form? I am reminded of two former co-workers who were from Yemen and were practicing Muslims. They both were introduced to their respective spouses at about age 5 or 6 years old. They both never saw their spouse again until they walked down the aisle to profess their wedding vows. My co-workers were in an arranged marriage, orchestrated by their parents at early ages. Fast forward to the present, they both continue to speak of how in love they are with their spouses. Yes, they may have been a physical beauty, but both continue in their marriages of many years with grown children. What were their thoughts of their supposed beloved who they would not have seen for close to twenty (20) years? What might have they been thinking for so many years, who they knew who they were going to marry, by name perhaps, but no contact? Any courtships, were photos shown how their future wives would look like?
Friends, I am not advocating for or against arranged marriages, but the ability that we have to love, fall in love and keep falling in love with a Creator God who first loved us even before we were formed in the womb. Well maybe God is allowed to cheat since God had a first glance before our physical existence. The same way parents fall in love with a child before physical birth or the arrival of a child that is being adopted, the parents are slowly, steadily falling in love.
Let’s us not only fall in love with who we see but fall in love with those who are not in front of us. Loving the beauty of their souls not their physical looks. Seeing God within them and cherishing the gift they are in our lives.
+Michael Theogene
THURSDAY OF THE THIRD WEEK OF ADVENT
THURSDAY OF THE THIRD WEEK OF ADVENT
Inclusive Lectionary reading: Isaiah Chapter 7 verses 10-14 / Psalm 24 verses 1-2, 3-4AB, 5-6 / Luke Chapter 1 verses 26-38.
Friends, what are the blessings have we had among ourselves? What specifically can you recall, the choicest blessing that was bestowed upon you or someone you know? Were you able to recognize it as a blessing?
When events such as these have taken place in our lives, what was our reaction? Did we tell anyone else about it? Did we display an attitude of gratitude?
We prayer thanking God for the many wonderful blessings for those things seen and not seen. Amen.
(rev.) Michael Theogene
WEDNESDAY OF THE THIRD WEEK OF ADVENT
WEDNESDAY OF THE THIRD WEEK OF ADVENT
Inclusive Lectionary reading: Judges Chapter 13 verses 2-7, 24-25A / Psalm 71 verses 3-4A, 5-6AB, 16-17 / Luke Chapter 1 verses 5-25.
Silence! Friends, what a great gift silence can be. I am always admired by the Benedictine Monks of Weston Priory who seem to always enter into silence when it comes to times of prayer, work, conversation and when making big decisions that effect the community.
Sometimes I feel, for myself, when I don’t take the time to pause prior to speaking or praying and rush into hasty choices, not giving the due time needed to do so, it becomes a recipe for disaster, like Zechariah who was silenced. I know that there are times when we need to make quick decisions on a spur of the moment, but when we have that opportunity to truly did deep and allow God to work through us, it is then we can hear God speaking to us.
Sisters and brothers, we may not necessarily have the freedom as those in religious life, living in community who may have the ability to wait several months or a year to decide, or listening to someone in need and knowing that the best thing to do at times is not speak, giving advice, but to simply listen. Just listen! As the saying goes, ‘Silence is golden!’ Be blessed!
+Michael Theogene
TUESDAY OF THE THIRD WEEK OF ADVENT
TUESDAY OF THE THIRD WEEK OF ADVENT
Inclusive Lectionary reading: Jeremiah Chapter 23 verses 5-8 / Psalm 72 verses 1-2, 12-13, 18-19 / Matthew Chapter 1 verses 18-25.
Friends, in my immediate family, a family member and his wife had just recently given birth to a baby girl. The baby was named after his mother-in-law who is at present seriously ill. I think back to looking at the meaning of our names. The names we are given do not necessarily define who we are, but in some way shows the character of what our family would like to attribute to the child’s upbringing. They can be religious connotations or secular. We also take into consideration not only attributes in the meaning of our names (first name) but also our last names which would have our cultural heritage which may denote where or what family tribe we have stemmed from. For instance, I am stemming from a Caribbean Haitian background, with my name, ‘Theogene’, meaning ‘tribe or family of God’. Haiti in its history was visited by Greek sailors, hence the many Greek sounding names among Haitians, even with the French, African, & Spanish influences.
Sisters and brothers, Jesus healed people in many ways but also in the way of simple acknowledging them as a person, as a human being. This was not done to control as Jesus did when dealing with healing those who were probable possessed but the beauty and sanctity of showing people that, yes, you too are a child of God. A person on a journey, like everyone else who is called as priest, prophet, and royal child. No different, and no less. We are spiritual beings having a human experience.
What is in your name?
What have you been called to?
What do you believe that you are birthed to do?
Have you been consistent with what you feel you were called to?
Have you completed it, or do you still have more to do?
Have you been called to do more, elsewhere?
Be blessed!
(rev.) Michael Theogene
MONDAY OF THE THIRD WEEK OF ADVENT
MONDAY OF THE THIRD WEEK OF ADVENT
Inclusive Lectionary reading: Genesis Chapter 49 verses 2, 8-10 / Psalm 72 verses 1-4AB, 7-8, & 17 / Matthew Chapter 1 verses 1-17.
Friends with all the recent surge of tracing back our heritage (Ancestry.com, 23 and me, etc.), going back before we were born to our ancestors, not only of our heritage but our practices.
Sisters and brothers what are the number of generations in our families from a particular point of history of how long we have followed God?
Are we able to pin point from our parents and grandparents how long we have followed God? What was the path of your family’s religious experience? Were they different Christian denominations or religions?
Who most in your family helped shape your faith? Who helped lead you to God? Who continues today to be the role model of bringing the face of God to those they encounter?
Are we the face of God?
+Michael Theogene
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