Are you weighed down by your family problems such as wayward or stubborn children, nagging wife or husband, cheating spouse, jealous and aggressive spouse, financial issues and the inability to pay your bills, sick child or spouse, lack of trust among siblings, etc and you have reached that point whereby you can’t bear anymore? Listen this message is for you! Do you realize that Jesus’ family is called HOLY FAMILY not only because of the presence of Jesus? And even with the presence of Jesus, they had their own problems but overcame them? If you want to know how they did it then read slowly…
| C.f. Luke 2:22-40 |
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
When the day came for them to be purified as laid down by the Law of Moses, the parents of Jesus took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, – observing what stands written in the Law of the Lord: Every firstborn male must be consecrated to the Lord – and also to offer in sacrifice, in accordance with what is said in the Law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons…As the child’s father and mother stood there wondering at the things that were being said about him, Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, ‘You see this child: he is destined for the fall and for the rising of many in Israel, destined to be a sign that is rejected – and a sword will pierce your own soul too – so that the secret thoughts of many may be laid bare.’
POINTS FOR REFLECTION
1. There is no family without problems! There’s no perfect family! Jesus’ family also had their share of hardships and problems! From the outset, beginning from the betrothal to the birth of the Child Jesus and now to his presentation in the temple, we see trails of problems both in the present and in the future prophesied by Simeon. Do you remember when the child Jesus was lost for three days (Lk.2:21-52)? All these are problems that were capable of tearing Mary and Joseph apart but it did not. Why did these not destroy the family, you ask me?
2. Jesus’ family stood firm because Mary and Joseph made efforts to live Holy lives. Holiness is the ability to LOVE AND FEAR GOD, LOVE OTHERS, RECONCILE AND FORGIVE, UNDERSTAND, TOLERATE, RESPECT, and PRAY FOR OTHERS. Their love and fear of God were demonstrated when in obedience to the word of God, they presented the child Jesus in the temple. Their life of loving, reconciliation and forgiveness, understanding, tolerating, and respecting one another is demonstrated in their maturity to handle rough moments in their marriage: in times of danger, fear, need, homelessness, migration, and confusion.
3. How do you handle your family problems? Do you handle it with maturity and fear of God or you take it to the streets or to the courts? As far as life is concerned we cannot evade problems hence members of families are called to develop virtues of coexistence within the family. Hear what the word of God tells us about developing this family virtue, it says in (Col. 3:12-21):
Be clothed in sincere compassion, in kindness and humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with one another; forgive each other as soon as a quarrel begins. The Lord has forgiven you; now you must do the same. Overall these clothes, to keep them together and complete them, put on love. Wives, give way to your husbands, as you should in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and treat them with gentleness. Children, be obedient to your parents always because that is what will please the Lord. Parents, never drive your children to resentment or you will make them feel frustrated.
TASK: What’s the problem in your family? What do you think is the cause? Mention it now and say 7 times: I surrender (mention it) to JESUS
I pray for you: May every yoke of affliction causing unrest in your family ceases now in the name of Jesus! Amen.
MARRIAGE HELP DESK: READ AND SAVE A MARRIAGE
A. If you think your husband is not measuring up to expectation in your marriage, CLICK HERE NOW, to read and send to him. It may transform his life.
B. If you think your wife is not measuring up to expectation in your marriage, CLICK HERE NOW, to read and send to her. It may transform her life
©Fr. SimOne Madu, OSJ
