Gospel for December 27 2020 – Luke 2:22-40
Gospel Reflections for December 27 2020
Back in Church soon!
Today celebrates the persons of Mary and Joseph who had just welcomed the child Jesus into their family.
God decided to send Jesus, the very essence of love, directly into the experience of a human family in Bethlehem.
This also affirms that Jesus arrives as the presence of love into your world as well. What does that mean?
Above all, it means that love requires you being in the actual physical presence of other people. You can only grow in love with someone who is with you in the same room! God designed us to be the most intensely and mentally focused when we are with someone else. You can see more clearly the expressions and body language of the other person in your back and forth of conversation. That deepening of conversation with someone next to you is how love starts, and grows, and will endure if that kind of conversation continues every day.
A ZOOM event just cannot measure up! A ZOOM event cannot recognize all the dynamics that happen when we are actually in each other’s presence. Social Media actually isolates us by replacing physical presence and interaction with the impersonal distance of texting or messaging. Both are certainly good for brief communications but cannot replace the power of the personal and physical experience of another person.
This Sunday celebrates how these dynamics happen within a family. Look how stimulating that can be. A family could include a mother and father, brothers and sisters, and perhaps even grandparents. This means men and women, boys and girls, older people, and maybe even a few pets are gathered together inside one home. Children learn how to talk to adults and adults how to talk with children. Young and old slowly learn how to connect with each other. A family is actually a kind of “School of Love” where very different people learn to understand the experiences of each other.
Sometimes people ask me what is the one best suggestion I have for families. I think it is to schedule as much as possible a family dinner, where all the different people in your family are sharing a meal together. Perhaps it is no accident that this was what Jesus had in mind when He instituted the Mass.
I am glad that we will soon be physically together again for Mass in the church and opening our hearts to God, and each other.
This is what makes any family …holy!
God Bless!
Fr. Dave
Fr Dave,
How very true your words are. Having experienced a lot of alone time these last few months, I value more than ever time spent with my family, my parish family & my friends!
Blessings,
Sherrie
Well said!
Beautiful words!! Love our precious holy Family, love our beautiful family love our loving Church family, love life, love living and making the world beautiful and loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee our Jesus who said” Love one another as I have loved you “and we must all reach out to our world and transform it with our Jesus’ love!!! Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee the love and we all loveeee you Father Dave for giving us the precious gift of Jesus!! We are sooooooooooooooooooooooo blessed!!! Merry, Mary Christmas all year and forever!!!
Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, franca, Dick and precious family!!
Thank you!
Thank you, Fr. Dave, for this most beautiful explanation of Jesus love for us & especially where you say “ Perhaps this is why Jesus instituted the Mass.” Covid has truly showed us how much we need the love & companionship of our families! I have missed some of mine , so much! Some have continued to stay physically close, will visit, share etc but not kiss each other or hug face to face as they publically work & afraid they might infect me! But need the connection as much as I do. I’m alone except for 4 children grown & their families. I’m 83 now. And I’m with my daughter & family in CO. till 1/4/21. I was scared to come & praying God will protect me & get me home safely & keep me free of Covid! It was a very difficult, scary decision for me to make. But Dr. gave me n95 mask, sheild & gloves to where from Burbank to outside airport in Denver. I’m a diabetic & only one kidney but I knew how much they hoped & wanted me to come. Such a blessing!! And I trust God will protect me! I’m so happy you mentioned pets. My sweet adopted dog brings me such love & companionship. All she wants from me is LOVE!! Thank you for this beautiful message! Touched my heart very deeply!! God bless you & keep you in the palm of His hand!!
Thank you for writing such a beautiful message!
Yes. Beautiful comments. I appreciate your point of view. I am also extremely grateful for the love in my family. We are so excited that the vaccine might be able to turn this pandemic around.
Jesus was blessed to have his holy family & so are we!!
Happy birthday Jesus!!
Well said!