It's on the refrigerator!

In recent years the refrigerator door has become the family's greatest display board - with magnets holding in place crayon drawings, to-do lists, appointment reminders, Mass schedules, funny sayings and menus! The refrigerator door in the Convent is no exception.

Today the Church celebrates the Feast of the Holy Family and in keeping with the Feast I would like to suggest an addition to the refrigerator door. It is the second reading for the Mass today - an excerpt from St. Paul's Letter to the Colossians: (3:12-17)

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved,

heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility,

gentleness, and patience,
bearing with one another and forgiving one another

if one has a grievance against another;

as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do.
And over all these put on love, that is, the bond of perfection.
And let the peace of Christ control your hearts,

the peace into which you were also called in one body.

And be thankful.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly,

as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another,

singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs

with gratitude in your hearts to God.
And whatever you do, in word or in deed,

do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus,

giving thanks to God the Father through him.

As Father reminded us at Mass this morning the Holy Family - Joseph, Mary and Jesus - were human just as we are (Jesus was both human and divine) and although they lived their earthly lives in great holiness, they had to work, cook, clean, pray, sleep, eat and relate with one another just as we do. That is how we grow in holiness - learning how to relate with one another. St. Paul knew that and he offered the above advice to the families in Colossae.

Perhaps as you post this passage on the refigerator you could also frame the picture of the Holy Family and keep it in a prominent place in your house, or dorm room or office. We are all members of God's family and His great desire, as St. John tells in the previous post, is that we love one another! Jesus, Mary and Joseph, pray for us!