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Homily stories

28 Dec 2008 - Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, Cycle B

Homesickness is a powerful disease for which there is no cure but going home. We may miss our own room or bed. Maybe we need the routine that we have grown accustomed to over the years. It could even be the food or the exact time of day we are used to eating. It includes a familiarity with just about everything around you that has suddenly become just a memory rather than a reality. But, most of all, homesickness is caused by the way we so intensely miss our family, even if we don’t necessarily want to admit it. After all, it may surprise us that we miss that little brother or sister we always considered a pain in the neck and who was always bugging us. It might be that we are starting to understand that Mom and Dad, despite their not fully understanding us, still love us in a way that leaves us empty being away from it. Maybe back home our parents and siblings are feeling the same about us. Mary is told clearly that her heart will be broken by Jesus’ fate. Sometimes the greater the love, the greater the pain. Last week when church was full, we felt the joy of being part of God’s family celebrating Christmas together. Now our family, no matter how perfect we try to make it, as Paul points out, begins to break apart. Church is not so full, and we are saddened. It can’t be Christmas every day. But we can embrace each other as the family of faith, whatever opportunities we have.

Authors Father Dominic Grassi

home homesick family Suffering perfection expectations

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Homily stories

31 Dec 2023 - Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, Cycle B

Homesickness is a powerful disease for which there is no cure but going home. We may miss our own room or bed. Maybe we need the routine that we have grown accustomed to over the years. It could even be the food or the exact time of day we are used to eating. It includes a familiarity with just about everything around you that has suddenly become just a memory rather than a reality. But, most of all, homesickness is caused by the way we so intensely miss our family, even if we don’t necessarily want to admit it. After all, it may surprise us that we miss that little brother or sister we always considered a pain in the neck and who was always bugging us. It might be that we are starting to understand that Mom and Dad, despite their not fully understanding us still love us in a way that leaves us empty being away from it. Maybe back home our parents and siblings are feeling the same about us. Mary is told clearly that her heart will be broken by Jesus’ fate. Sometimes the greater the love, the greater the pain. Last week when church was full, we felt the joy of being part of God’s family celebrating Christmas together. Now our family, no matter how perfect we try to make it, as Paul points out, begins to break apart. Church is not so full, and we are saddened. It can’t be Christmas every day. But we can embrace each other as the family of faith, whatever opportunities we have.

Authors Father Dominic Grassi

homesickness

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Word of the Week

24 November 2024

Solemnity

\sə-'lem-nə-tē\

From Latin sollemnis for “fixed ceremonial,” highest-ranking day of the church calendar that celebrates a mystery of faith such as the Trinity, an event in the life of Jesus, Mary, the Mother of God, or another important saint. Solemnities override every other feast or memorial, including Sundays in Ordinary Time. The church assigns Sundays and solemnities three readings—from a prophet, apostle, and gospel—to instruct the faithful in the work of salvation.

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