T h e P a p e r P u l p i t

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family. This is celebrated the Sunday following Christmas.

The Holy Family refers to Jesus, Mary and Joseph. The Holy Family has always been regarded by the Church as the model for all Catholic families. For example, the loving faith, obedience and providence of the hard working Joseph; the faith, love, obedience and strength of the Blessed Mother; the perfection of Jesus, who submitted Himself in obedience to a human mother and foster father. Not only were they holy, saintly and virtuous, they also lived a human life like ours, which makes it possible for us to seek to imitate them and their virtues. We especially look to Mary as the most perfect disciple who brings us to Jesus. Catholics have always had a particular devotion to Mary. Why you might ask?…because she shows us the way to Jesus. In my work as a priest, I spend a great deal of time with families. It is in being with families that I find some of my greatest satisfaction. At St. Max’s, we have about 275 families. I have been your pastor for a year and a half, and I have seen that each family is unique in their own way. Some families seem happy and are always smiling. Other families seem to have tensions, seem to be critical or just do not seem to be happy. Most have a combination of tension, criticalness and happiness. Yet, from my experience, I find that families that seem to be the happiest keep priorities. They pray together, spend time together, forgive one another, overlook the faults of one another and value one another. Some seem to find the positive in any situation and others seem to find fault and negativity. Some folks change from day to day and some from moment to moment. My sense is that folks who seem to be the happiest trust in the Lord, which means they are praying to know God’s will. I find that I need to constantly step back and ask what the Lord might be telling me. Things may not be going their way, but maybe God is trying to teach them something or opening them up to new ideas or ways of doing things. Folks who seem to know and are open to God’s will seem to be most at peace. We have to distinguish our needs from our wants to be happy. Prayer can help. Many of us work like dogs to fulfill our wants. Then, we are spiritually shallow because, in the process, we do not fulfill our needs. For example, we all need to have a nice home. We all want to have a house big enough to fill all our wants and needs. Sometimes what happens is that parents confuse needs and wants and work too many hours or too many days a week to pay for the house. In addition, I often hear from parents that they let their children be part of every team, sport, club, etc., but in the process of the non-stop shuttling of the children, they do not have the opportunity for quality time with them. By the end of the day, they do not have the time or the energy to enjoy their home or even each other. I see families allowing their teenagers to play sports or to work weekends and allowing them to miss Mass. Aren’t we letting sports and money take precedence over God? Not that there is anything wrong with playing sports, but when they take precedence over God, they become our God. One can be the greatest sports player on earth, but if they do not go to Heaven, it certainly was not worth it. How many families have a meal together every day of the week? How many families are lucky if everyone is at table even one or two days a week? My sense is that if families are not praying and eating together weekly they have more tensions. We wonder why we have family problems. Let us consider our basic needs as families. We need to have Jesus as the center of our lives. It is the purpose for our existence. We need to have strong, loving and caring relationships that make the presence of God real. We need to develop our capabilities, first in the spiritual, then in the intellectual, social, physical and emotional planes. This is what Christian parenting and Christian living is all about. Distinguish what is really necessary in life and work hard for that. Jesus, Mary and Joseph did not live in a palace. Still, they were the wealthiest family in Nazareth, where Joseph worked as a carpenter. They were the wealthiest family because they had all they needed, the presence of the Lord directing their every step. This is our ideal and our goal. Whether our family consists of one person, or many people, may we reflect the Holy Family in fulfilling the basic need we have to allow God into our lives. During the Christmas season (and this Feast of the Holy Family), it is a good time to reflect on priorities for our families and our God. If you are not praying together. Why? Is it because you are too busy? Do you attend Mass each week? If not, why? Is it because you are too busy? Are you happy? If not, why? How about your family? It is a good time to make amends with estranged family members. Are you too critical of someone? Have you told your husband/wife/brother/sister/parent that you love them? Have you given them a simple hug lately? Do you have a relative whom you have not spoken with in some time? Do you have a family member who is estranged? Do you have a relative you need to call or visit today??? Go ahead, give them a call or visit. Make their day and yours! Then give thanks to Jesus. I want to thank you for a blessed Christmas at St. Max’s. Thank you to Carolyn, Carol and Barb for a fine job with music and for all those who cantered and sang. Thank you for the children who acted out the nativity at the 4:00 PM Mass on Christmas Eve and to all the children who came up to the nativity for the blessings and answering questions. Thank you to Kim for coordinating the children’s play. Thank you to those who helped to decorate and clean the church. Thank you to Bob, Zach and Clark for keeping the sidewalks clean and Clark for organizing everything behind the scenes. Thank you Deacon Rich and to the Mass Servers. I am sure I forgot someone. If so, I beg your forgiveness. On a personal level, thank you for the many prayers, cards and gifts. I do not think I will have to buy gas or pay for purchases at the “men’s mall” for many months. Ruger came out very well and he thanks you very much as he got lots of tasty snacks and even got a few new treats that he has not had before. Your kindness and generosity is most appreciated.

God’s Blessings, Fr. Jim Trempe