I hate New Year Advertising -There are so many ads about Diets & Exercising equipment - it makes me feel like a failure!!! I find myself getting depressed! I don't feel like doing anything! (Which isn't really like me at all, well maybe a little! LOL!). I don't want to see anyone or do anything. I don't even want to go to church.
But thanks be to God, my habit of going to Mass won over my desire not to attend Holy Mass! (Thanks be to Holy Catholic Guilt!!!).
Once I came into the church for mass and listened to the readings and received Jesus I felt renewed and encouraged, I felt loved by God! The Holy Family Sunday readings were written just for me! Also, the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God readings were also encouraging and empowering. Can you imagine being the Mom of Jesus? She taught Him his prayers and taught Him about God (think about that one!). She kept all these things reflecting them in her heart!
So the bottom line for me this New Year-2019: I want to focus on becoming more Holy, in ordinary, everyday ways. The Holy Family Mass - 2nd reading (below)....teaches us how!
I can do these things! No matter how I "feel" about myself - God is calling me to Love myself and others! I can do this, you can do this, we can do this! This is all we need to do to teach our children, just like Mary taught Jesus!
So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.
Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.
Let us take one step at a time in 2019 to become more Holy, to follow Jesus' example of LOVE!!!
Nancy Longo
Director of Religious Education
562-822-8779 (cell)
512-759-3712 (office)