The Sunday after Christmas Day is kept as the feast of the Holy Family. The celebration of the birth of Jesus, of God taking flesh is not sufficient to itself but includes humankind indeed is intended to extend to all humankind.
You are God’s chosen race, his saints; he loves you, and you should 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. Over all these clothes, to keep them together and complete them, put on love. And may the peace of Christ reign in your hearts, because it is for this that you were called together as parts of one body. Always be thankful.
Let the message of Christ, in all its richness, find a home with you. Teach each other, and advise each other, in all wisdom. With gratitude in your hearts sing psalms and hymns and inspired songs to God; and never say or do anything except in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.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.
Colossians 3:12-21
The Holy Family formed on earth, the first community of love to form around Jesus here, is an echo of that profound communion of love in heaven that is the Holy Trinity.
- What are the communities of love of which you know yourself to be a privileged part of?
- To whom can you extend the call of love today?
The painting of the earthly and heavenly trinities is by Murillo and in London’s National Gallery. For more information click here.
Living Eucharist 