Gulf Pine Catholic

Gulf Pine Catholic • December 27, 2019 5 9274 Hwy 49/Airport Gulfport, MS 39503 228-863-5525 1-800-880-2446 FAX: 228-863-9612 www.butchoustalet.com 1260 Ocean Springs Road, Ocean Springs, MS 39564 Ph: 228-818-0650 For more information, contact Jody Ellis Stoddard, Executive Director or email her at gardensED@BlueHarborSL.com Web Address: www.gardensseniorliving.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheGardensSeniorLivingOceanSprings THANKSGIVING NOVENA TO ST. JUDE O Holy St. Jude, Apostle and Martyr, great in virtue and rich in miracles, near kinsman of Jesus Christ, faithful intercessor of all who invoke your special patronage in time of need, to you I have recourse from the depth of my heart and humbly beg to whom God has given such great power to come to my assistance. Help me in my present and urgent petition. In return I promise to make your name known and cause you to be invoked. St. Jude pray for us and all who invoke your aid. Amen. Say three Our Fathers, Hail Marys and Glorias. Publication must be promised. This Novena has never been known to fail. I have had my request granted. Publication promised. JB Prayer to St. Joseph of Cupertino for Success In Examinations O St. Joseph of Cupertino who by your prayer obtained from God to be asked at your examination, the only preposition you knew. Grant that I may like you succeed in the _________________ (here mention the name of Examination eg. history) examination. In return I promise to make you known and cause you to be invoked. O St. Joseph of Cupertino pray for me. O Holy Ghost enlighten me. Our Lady of Good Studies pray for me. Sacred Head of Jesus, Seat of divine wisdom, enlighten me. JB My early childhood understanding of the Holy Family came from a holy card that pictured three people who lived a worry-free life of piety and tranquility. It was unlike anything that resembled my family or any other family I knew. I later learned that Jesus grew up in a family and a world that had far more difficult conditions and experiences than mine and most of my contemporaries. Add- itionally, Jesus’ Genealogy (Matthew 1:1-17), described a heritage of not only patriarchs, prophets and saints, but harlots, adulterers, murderers, and deceivers of all sorts. Mary, Jesus’ mother, an unmarried teen who had no sexual relations with Joseph, her fiancé, lacked complete understanding of how she was to become the mother of God, yet she unconditionally accepted God’s will and wisdom for her life. Joseph, too, who although was distraught to learn Mary was pregnant, obediently followed God’s plan to marry her and be Jesus’ father. The Gospels describe additional hardships the Holy Family endured but despite these stressful and difficult circumstances their unconditional love for each other and for God, expectant faith and submission to the will and wisdom of God kept them unified and helped Mary and Joseph grow in holiness. The Book of Sirach, our first reading, was widely used in the early Church to present moral teachings to catechumens and to the faithful. The Book is in the Wisdom tradition and contains well-crafted maxims dealing with the individual, the family, and the community in relationship with one another and with God. The words, Lord and God are used interchangeably throughout the Book. (Sirach 1:1) begins; “All wisdom is from the Lord…” The opening words in today’s passage reads, “God sets (establishes)…” (Sirach 3:2). These statements and many others throughout the book declare that all things relating to the moral law are ordered by God and imply that a violation of the principles laid down amount to a rejection of God and God’s plan and purpose for the well-being of our lives. Pope Benedict XVI just prior to his election noted that toleration is valued more than truth and coined the term, “Dictatorship of Relativism” to describe a disordered creativity born of arrogance and a false sense of enlightenment that drives mankind’s understanding and behavior. Today’s failure to identify and affirm truth doesn’t mean that everything is okay and there are no harmful consequences. On the contrary, the harm to souls in need of sanctification and salvation becomes greater to the extent that people believe it doesn’t matter if they do not adhere to true beliefs and practices established by God. Nothing is more common in contemporary thinking than the denial of sin, which has led to a whole range of disordered behavior particularly on matters of sexual morality. We often do not recognize or take seriously the damaging effects stemming from what is erroneously thought to be sexual liberation. But, ignoring the will and wisdom of God has brought about harmful consequences that are obvious to anyone who looks at today’s distortion and reconfiguration of “family” life, the contemporary acceptance of homosexuality as a normal condition, an alarming divorce rate, the casualness of cohabitation, pre- and extramarital sex, teenage pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and abortion (terminating the life of a child in the womb). God has given us a better way. Our Psalm response, “Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways” is followed by verses that expound on the benefits of doing so. Read and meditate on Psalm 128. Paul, in today’s second reading addresses his hearers as “God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved” and exhorts us to, “Let the peace of Christ control your hearts…” Literally, he is saying if we are pulled in two directions to make choices for or against God’s word and will -- let Jesus, his life and his word, be our guide to right action. Today’s Gospel describes just one of the dilemma’s facing the Holy Family. Joseph had a choice to listen to or ignore the words of the angel of God when the life of his child and wife were in danger. Without hesitation in this situation and others, Joseph was obedient to God and thereby Scripture calls him, “A righteous man” (Greek: dikaios Hebrew: zadek = just, righteous, holy) -- thinking correct thoughts (using the divine standard in judging human affairs). Mary and Joseph were ordinary people that God chose to do extraordinary things. They did exactly what the Lord wanted them to do in every event in their lives. You and I may never duplicate their holiness, but we can imitate their example. God gives light and understanding to those who act in an upright way and who trust in his power and wisdom when faced with situations that call for courage to know and live His truth. Being obedient to God’s will, wisdom and truth and acting accordingly is a good first step in our quest for holiness. Deacon Ralph Torrelli lives in Hattiesburg and is assigned to St. Thomas Aquinas Parish. Visit his web- site: www.homilypearls.com. First Reading: Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14 Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 128:1-5 Second Reading: Colossians 3:12-21 Gospel: Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23 Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph Will and wisdom of God Deacon Torrell i Sunday Scripture Commentaries