Today is the feast of the Holy Family in the Extraordinary form of the Roman Rite.
The "Alleluia verse" for today's Mass is "Verily, you are a hidden God, the God of Israel, the Savior, alleluia".
This is the "masthead" of our community's blog.
The Holy Family is such a rich treasure; so deep, so meaningful.
Jesus, our Lord, lived thirty years in his "hidden life", with his Holy Mother, Mary, and St. Joseph, His Guardian (although the tradition of the Church indicates that St. Joseph died before He began His public ministry).
The awesome reality that God made Man lived in the midst of a family, that He was subject to them as a child and as a young man, is revealed in this feast.
The Epistle from Saint Paul exhorts us: "Whatever you do in word or work, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, while you give thanks to God the Father through Him."
That is the vocation of the members of the Institute of Saint Joseph, our pubic association of the faithful. Family life, religious life, the life of the diocesan priest, the life of consecrated single person must reflect the "thanks" to God the Father, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
We are called to live the life of Nazareth: silence, contemplation, poverty, chastity, obedience, prayer, study, work and charity. These are the nine elements of our charism. And it is to strengthen the Church, the lives of families, religious and priests, the lives of single men and women consecrated to His service.
Mary contemplated all these things in Her Heart; this is the contemplative vocation of a member of our Institute.
He is truly a "hidden God": hidden in the Most Holy Eucharist; hidden in the daily duty of our lives; hidden in His presence within our souls.
May we love the home of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph; the home of Nazareth, that gives us the inspiration to "be" for God; to love Him in every instance and circumstance of our lives; to know Him, hidden, yet present, in the struggles, crosses, and tribulations of life.
This is the challenge: to love Jesus even when He is hidden; to know He is present even when our senses tell us otherwise; to see His every Word, His every action in the joys and sorrows of life.
This, then, is to live at Nazareth.
God bless you!
7 comments:
A Jewish friend and I were reading Genesis in hebrew (he was reading, I was listening). He told me that the hebrew word for 'world' and 'hiding place' are the same. Which I thought fascinating.
Stay warm. It's 32 or so tonight here in Sarasota, FL, I'm sure much colder where you are.
Pascendi: Beautiful meditation! Thank you!
And yeah, it's colder. But it's supposed to warm up this week.
Thanks for enlightening me about your community and the work you do, nazareth priest.
I love the story of St. Joseph and his role in the life of Jesus. The quiet protector, strong and yet silent and respectful. On my desk next to my computer I have a little statue of St. Joseph holding the baby Jesus. I often pray to him when I need help with family issues.
Padre: I would like to ask, unabashedly, for prayer. I am an unemployed social worker X 4 months. The good news is that, without unemployment, I would not have discovered so many wonderful Catholics on-line. Would you be kind enough, please, to put me on your list? I would be so very grateful.
Many, many thanks.
Thanks, Mary Ellen! God luv ya!
Maria: Absolutely. I will enroll you in our St. Joseph Novena which includes Mass and prayers by our community every Wednesday. May you find employment, soon (I know you will; St. Joseph is so good and loving; he provides for every need!)
Padre: Thank you so very much...God Bless You and your confreres..
Great to be back to reading your reflections, Father - think I'll write a post on 'His hidden life' too ...
God bless you.
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