Reflections of a beloved son

" When the days were completed for the purification according to the law of Moses, Mary and Joseph took Jesus up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord just as it is written in the law of the Lord " (Lk. 2:22-23a).  On February 2nd, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord .  Mary and Joseph carried and brought Jesus to the Temple. Later on, the twelve year old Jesus would stay back in the Temple after Passover where He famously said to Mary, " Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?"   The Temple would also be where Jesus drove the money changers away and foretold His Resurrection saying " Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up ."  At the Presentation the righteous man Simeon was patiently waiting for Jesus, the "consolation of Israel," the "Christ of the Lord."  When he saw Mary and Joseph bringing Jesus in, Simeon took Jesus in his arms and ble...

Today in the Catholic Church we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family - Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.  Jesus was born into a human family so that He can experience life as we do, and be like us in all things but sin.  God in His infinite wisdom planned for Jesus to be born into a poor family and in a lowliest of manners - among the animals, laid in a manger - the feeding place for animals.  Not too long after Jesus was born, Joseph, His foster father, was told in a dream, " Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you."  And so, he did. The life of the Child was already sought the moment He was born (before, really).  Perhaps, this does make sense - Jesus, after all, was born to die, and by that death, to save, to redeem, and to live.  I can only imagine how Joseph and Mary was feeling.  Their son's life was sought after and the King wanted Him dead.  " Herod is going to search for the child and destroy him." ...

"I'm gonna get him back!"  "He's gonna pay for this."  "I want him to feel the pain he caused me."  These are some of the sayings people may say when they are angry and feel that they were hurt or treated unfairly or unjustly.  Have you ever felt that way?  Sometimes when someone hurt me or when I felt treated unfairly, I whisper under my breath or in my head "They're gonna get it back.  Wait til they see.  Just let them wait."  I t could have been a true unfair or unjust situation, but the desire to want to get back at them is not the work of the Holy Spirit.   How do I do?  Because the thought, desire, or feeling does not reflect the fruits of the Spirit.  The twelve fruits of the Holy Spirit are: charity (love), joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, and chastity (see Galatians 5:22-23).  So, if my thoughts, feelings, and desires do not reflect those fruits, the...