| Over the past 27 years, Christmas has been our family’s favorite time of year. The decorating, baking and watching movies by the fire. Our favorite decoration to adorn our home is our Advent wreath.
We rotate who lights and blows out the candle and reads the special prayer after grace. Our greatest tradition is resting in the middle of our Advent wreath. It is a figurine of the baby Jesus, nestled atop hay. We place the baby Jesus in our view every day to remind us what Christmas is all about: the True Love that God has for us by sending His only Son to be born in a manger to save us from our sins.
The Bible is a Love story from beginning to end. We are taught through Scripture that “God is love” (1 Jn 4:8, 16). “God who created man out of love also calls him to love” (CCC 1064). God meets us in many forms of love and one of those is through marriage. In the sacrament of marriage, we are called to be partners for life and to help each other attain holiness by growing and serving others more deeply than we could have on our own. It is this love that binds us together to build a family and serve others through our actions and faith.
Immerse yourself in Joseph’s and Mary’s roles before and after each had experienced the visitation of an angel. In the history of their marriage, we learn that it is during times of immense opposition and tribulations that we find the love of God. Through faith, hope, and love, Joseph and Mary were able to obey the will of God. Filled with the Holy Spirit, they emulated God’s devotion, commitment, selflessness and, above all, love, to raise Jesus and become the Holy Family. As Joseph and Mary acted as good shepherds to Our Lamb, Jesus, perhaps we can all strive to act as they did, by showing charity, sharing love and treating others as if they were our own sons and daughters.
This reflection is written by Debra & Carl Foriero, parishioners at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in Baldwinsville,
NY
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