Families can provide the nurture and love which promotes holistic well being and launches us into life.

It is to our detriment as individuals and to the world when family living is dysfunctional according to the loving plan of God.

Families can be the building blocks of a caring, well ordered and peaceful world where the needs of all are met. But what should good family life look like? Or to put it another way, what is God’s plan for family living?

In Genesis we read

“God created man in the image of himself,

in the image of God he created him,

Male and female he created them.” Gen. 1:27

And again, “This is why a man leaves his father and mother and joins himself to his wife, and they become one body.” Gen: 2 24

Jesus refers to these verses when questioned about divorce in Matthew’s Gospel. Matt: 19. 4-6 and concludes, “They are no longer two, therefore, but one body. So then, what God has united man must not divide.”

 And so we see marriage in God’s plan is between one man and one woman in a lifelong and exclusive loving union which welcomes children.

In a loving stable family children grow and start out in life to become all they can be with a good sense of their personal self worth.

In the Gospel this Sunday after the baptism of Jesus we catch a glimpse of the Trinity.

 “While Jesus after his own baptism was at prayer, heaven opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily shape, like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, You are my Son, the Beloved: my favour rests on you.” (Luke 3:15-16, 21 -22)

Christians become members of God’s family through baptism with the pouring of the water and the words, “I baptise you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

When we receive the Holy Spirit at Baptism and are made adopted sons and daughters of God.

Baptised members of families are animated by the Holy Spirit, fully functioning and life transforming – and world transforming.  

The sense and reality of belonging to the divine family is shown by Christians in making the sign of the cross. The most powerful sign of love there is. The cross makes authentic family life and marriage possible and is a pathway to the heavenly family to which all who profess the name of Jesus are bound.

Today we celebrate the Holy Family of Jesus. In the Gospel we hear, “Three days later, they found him in the Temple, sitting among the doctors listening to them, and asking them questions; and all those who heard him were astounded at his intelligence and his replies.”(Luke 2: 46-47)

Mary and Joseph had travelled to Jerusalem as they did each year for the Passover. This was a three day journey and they travelled with a large group of relatives and acquaintances. On their way back they found Jesus was missing, so they returned to Jerusalem to look for him.

“And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, ‘Son why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” Jesus replied, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know I must be in my Father’s house?” Then we hear Jesus went back with them and lived under their authority.

Mary and Joseph did what any good parents would do.

Jesus was questioning and looking for answers which is what all teenagers do.

Our concern for our own families should extend to other families in difficulties; struggling with poverty abuse and alcohol addiction. Society has a duty of care.

Jesus was part of an extended family and leading a normal life.

Joseph was a carpenter or builder and Jesus learnt the trade while Mary did what all mothers did, caring for the family and the home.

These days families are fortunate if the mother can fulfil her primary role of nurture and care for the family and home, at least while the children are young albeit with possibilities for personal development in working part time or full time later on. Fathers living with their families fulfil their primary role as protectors and providers but with ‘hands on’ in the family ideally. Job shares, part time working and variable hours can help a great deal with family cohesion.  

Free enterprise economics often give little or no consideration to the family.

The Holy Family account gives us the Judeo-Christian family model which harmonises with nature.

In a Pastoral letter from Bishop John Wilson, Archdiocese of Southwark he reminds us; “See what kind of love the Father has given us to us that we should be called children of God.”(1 John 3:1) He continues, “Our identity as the beloved children of God is the foundation of our discipleship as the family of God. The Lord Jesus came into the world in the embrace of a family. Through him, we are drawn into the very life of God as brothers and sisters in Christ”.

In the Gospel reading for the fourth week of Advent (last Sunday) we hear the words spoken by Elizabeth the cousin of Mary. “Of all women you are the most blessed, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” (Luke 1.42)

God’s plan for saving humanity depended upon Mary’s “YES” to God’s messenger, the angel Gabriel.

“Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be according to your word.” (Luke1: 26 – 38)

Creation was waiting to hear these words.

Each of us is unique. There has never been anyone like us and there never will be again. Our gifts and talents; our personality, equip us for a vocation and mission which is irreplaceable.

But how do we discover our calling? By looking to God. We are his beloved children. Our loving Father God desires our happiness and fulfilment and that we should play our part in society and the world.

We are called and chosen like Mary and have our YES to speak. This begins in the here and now – the ordinary everyday circumstances and situations of daily living. The teaching of Jesus and of his Body the Church, show us how.

On this Christmas day made possible by Mary’s YES we celebrate the birth of Jesus who has come to show us who we really are in God’s plan, in the present time and for eternity.

Nothing will ever be the same again.     

What a wonderful day.

In the Gospel for this Sunday, the third week of advent, we hear about the powerful proclamation of John the Baptist the last and greatest of the Old Testament prophets.

“I baptise you with water, but someone is coming, someone who is more powerful than I am, and I am not fit to undo the strap of his sandals; he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Luke3:16)

In the Gospel reading last week we heard how John called people to repentance meaning a complete change of heart. We hear in this Gospel people asking what must they do. Share with those in need says John and he tells the tax collectors and soldiers to be honest and just in their dealings with others and be content with what they have.

People were so impressed by John’s teaching that they thought John might be the Christ but John tells them no. I baptise you with water but the one who is coming will baptise you with the Holy Spirit.

John shed a light on the way many were living. The greed of the tax collectors and the cruelty of the Roman soldiers. They recognised the truth of what John was saying.

To be close to God means to be happy. They were not happy. They were faced with a decision. John’s baptism was a sign of a repentant heart and a new beginning; they were washed clean.

But John was preparing them for the arrival of Jesus. Advent is a time of preparation for the birthday of Jesus which changed everything.

Jesus by his death and Resurrection opens the way for a new life in the Holy Spirit for those baptised in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

What can we do to be closer to God this Advent? An Advent gift to those in need through an agency such as CAFOD perhaps? To be kinder, more gentle with those around us? To forgive anyone we have not yet forgiven?

Peace on earth and goodwill to all is a fitting way to describe the Christmas message.  

What must WE do?

“A voice cries in the wilderness: Prepare a way for the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley will be filled in, every mountain and hill be made low.”

These words from Isaiah are part of this Sunday’s Gospel and describe the mission of John the Baptist, the last and greatest of the Old Testament prophets. Luke 3:1-6

John proclaimed “a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.”

The Gospel opens with the historian gospel writer Luke, outlining the political situation at the time of Jesus.

Jesus lived at a particular time in a particular geographic area in a particular social and political setting.

But was Jesus not only a real historical figure but the Son of God? This is the all important and key question?

If Jesus was a good and wise man who cared for the poor and those looked down upon in his day; a man who did amazing things, then we can move on with our lives. There have been many such people.

But if Jesus was the Christ, the anointed sent by God as Saviour of humankind, whose birthday we celebrate at Christmas, then this changes everything for the world for all time and is totally life changing for each person individually.

Understanding what Jesus said and did while on earth is essential, indispensable and crucial for our lives. Namely the gospel teaching, healing and other miracles, and the death of Jesus on the cross and above all his Resurrection from the dead.

God has a plan for our eternal destiny, that we should be with him forever.

It all starts with repentance as John the Baptist taught. Metanoia – a complete change of heart; becoming who we are truly meant to be in God’s sight; the Father’s plan for us since the beginning of time and from our mother’s womb.  

Dear Jesus may I see more clearly who you really are this Christmas and in so doing discover who I am.

Amen

Advent comes from the Latin word Adventus meaning coming or arrival.

The arrival of a Saviour has been predicted over millennia. Much can be found in the Old Testament especially in the book of Isaiah (7.14).

Fantastic, unbelievable. This is the story of Christmas; that God our Creator sent to earth a Saviour Jesus who would totally change everything for all time.

This is worth celebrating and Advent also reminds us of the second coming of Jesus which is what this Sunday gospel is all about.

“Stay awake, praying at all times for the strength to survive all that is going to happen, and stand with confidence before the Son of Man.”  (Luke 21 :36)

This is not what the shops or media tell us – or the endless back to back American films on TV all of which have the same template for the Christmas story most without Christ.

Peace and goodwill on earth are hard won as is also peace within ourselves. Only Jesus can deliver and we need to turn to him for our hope to be realised. It cannot happen without a Saviour.

God sends his only begotten Son to bring new life to all.

A time of preparation, a new beginning starting again, a way forward.

It starts with peace offered to all.  

Who or what is king in your life – what is most important to you;

money, power, a person, entertainment idol?

For Christians, Jesus is King. This is what Catholics celebrated this Sunday and what the readings at Mass were about.

Pilate asks Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?”

Jesus replies, “Yes I am a king. I was born for this, I came into the world for this: to bear witness to the truth; and all who are on the side of truth listen to my voice.” (John 18:37)

Jesus wants to be king of our lives. What does this mean? It means having Jesus as first our lives. – our relationships, our work and study, our family, our friends.  

Do we ever stop and ask when faced with a decision big or small, “what would Jesus do?”

Many may shy away from asking this question because we go it alone. Or perhaps we know little about Jesus or about his life portrayed in the gospels?

For catholic Catholics, welcoming Jesus in the readings at Mass and in Holy Communion is paramount.   

This is why there are so many who throughout the history of the Church have sacrificed their lives and many have died in horrific circumstances to celebrate Holy Mass.

To be true to Christ the King, everything and everyone must take a back seat or we cannot be who we really are and what God has called us to be for others. This is the path to true happiness right now and in eternity which is forever and for which this life is a preparation. In baptism Christians become prophet, priest and king with Christ; called to build that city of love, the Kingdom of God.

Our real life in the Kingdom of God in heaven is more wonderful than words can express and all that may prevent us from our final destiny is to be discarded as rubbish.

Pope Francis had a message for young people at the World Youth Day in Krakow in 2026. “(Jesus) wants to enter your homes, to dwell in your daily lives: in your studies, your first years of work, your friendships and affections, your hopes and dreams.”

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Will the world last forever or will it come to an end and if so, when?

Jesus speaks of the end of the world in the gospel this Sunday and in doing so, his second coming;

“They will see the son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory; then too he will send the angels to gather his chosen from the four winds, from the ends of the world to the ends of heaven.”

Mark 13: 16-27

Jesus gives the example of the fig tree which comes to life in spring to tell the disciples about the importance of seeing the signs of the times.

But Jesus concludes that only the Father knows the day and the hour.  

However, it is much more certain that we will see Jesus on our last day rather than in a catastrophe when “the powers in the heavens will be shaken.”

We have no idea when our last day will be. When we are young we think we will live forever but as we age and see those we know killed in road accidents or dying with cancer we know how fragile life really is. When we wake up in the morning we have no certainty that we will see our bed in the evening.

So we must seize the moment – but how? By fulfilling God’s loving plan for our lives which in essence means to grow to know, love, and serve God.

God is love and we should become like him – to be people of faith – faith in Jesus; faith in who Jesus is and why he came. To see the world through the eyes of faith is to appreciate what a wonderful gift this life is – a life which is meant to be a preparation for eternity.

Let us begin with this present moment.

Dear Jesus, please be my guide, my inspiration, my way to the Father.

In this Sunday’s Gospel we hear;

“This poor widow has put more in than all who have contributed to the treasury; for they have put in money they had over, but she from the little she had has put in everything she possessed.”(Mark 12: 43 -44)

Jesus had been watching those contributing the Temple treasury and gave an important teaching about what he observed.

What message is here for us? What does it tell us about the woman’s faith? Surely trust. She had faith in a loving God. She didn’t have to worry about tomorrow. God will take care of her. Her faith meant everything. God is number is one in her life.

What or who do we put first in our life? What would we give up?

This is Remembrance Sunday. Young men gave up their lives. But also did those who refused to fight and suffered terribly as a result, especially in the first world war.

This gospel and about trust and sacrifice, not just money, but time and effort for what we believe?  

How can we make a difference to others? What will it take?

Dear Jesus everything I have is a gift. Help me to be generous?

Amen

What do we live by?

In the gospel reading for this Sunday, (Mark 12: 28 – 34) one of the Jewish leaders, a scribe, asks Jesus which is the most important commandment that we should live by. Jesus replies with the answer the scribe knew well.

“Listen, Israel, the Lord our God is the one Lord, and you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: You must love your neighbour as yourself.”

This commandment is part of a traditional Jewish prayer called the Shema and goes deeper than observing laws. You can’t love someone you don’t know so it’s about having a relationship with God.

Loving God is bound up with loving your neighbour.

How is it possible to love God while hating and mistreating others who are sons and daughters of God?  Here we are reminded of the parable of the Good Samaritan which is about loving even foreigners.

Parents love their children and would do anything for them so when a mother or father sees one of their children harmed they grieve and feel it in their hearts and emotions. Think of the harm done to children by on line abuse for example and how this affects the parents.

Jesus called God Abba or Dad. God is our big Dad.

Wherever war takes place, it is sons and daughters of God who are killed. In the parable of the last judgement (Matthew 25. 40) we read about how we should treat others whatever their needs may be; “in so far as you did it to one of the least of these bothers of mine, you did it to me.”

If everyone lived by the great commandment, the world would be completely different.

Dear Lord, may I spread your peace