Three-Year Cycle Gospel Reflections: Practical Approaches

By Father Thai H. Le

This book is a fruit of a process of learning and experiencing of my pastoral ministries throughout the past eleven years of my priesthood. The parishioners— their lives, faith, and struggles—have significantly influenced my words of reflections. Most of all, God’s Spirit is the source of my meditation and inspiration throughout this book.
To priests and deacons, with these humble and simple words of reflections in this book, I like to share with you the blessing and inspiration that I have experienced from the Holy Spirit. You could use this book as source ideas to inspire so to share with your congregation the depth and wisdom of the Word on Sunday.
To faithful worshipers, before attending the Eucharist, you should read this reflection. My hope is it will prepare you to approach the Word of God, the Eucharist, and the homilist with the spirit of anticipation and willingness to listen and to change throughout the week!
Fr. Thai Le

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Aug 21, 2019
• ISBN: 9781796045192

Father Thai H. Le

Father Thai Le is a native of Viet Nam and studied at St. John Seminary in Camarillo, California. He was ordained a parish priest in May 2008 for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. He has served four years as an associated pastor at St. Paschal Baylon in Thousand Oaks. In May 2009, he studied Marriage and Family Counseling at the California Lutheran University and graduated in May 2012. In July 2012, he was sent to serve three years as an associated pastor at Nativity Catholic Parish in El Monte and one year at Immaculate Heart of Mary in Los Angeles. In 2016, he was sent to St. Thomas More Catholic Parish in Alhambra as an administrator for two years and later became the pastor of this parish, up to present.

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Copyright © 2019 by Father Thai H. Le.

Library of Congress Control Number:     2019909269

ISBN:                    Hardcover                      978-1-7960-4521-5

                              Softcover                        978-1-7960-4520-8

                              eBook                             978-1-7960-4519-2

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

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Rev. date: 08/21/2019

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CONTENTS

YEAR A

I. Advent

First Sunday of Advent

Second Sunday of Advent

Third Sunday of Advent

Fourth Sunday of Advent

II. Christmas Season

Christmas Mass during the Day

The Holy Family

The Epiphany of the Lord

III. Lent

First Sunday of Lent

Second Sunday of Lent

Third Sunday of Lent

Fourth Sunday of Lent

Fifth Sunday of Lent

Palm Sunday

IV. Easter Season to the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ

Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord

Second Sunday of Easter

Third Sunday of Easter

Fourth Sunday of Easter

Fifth Sunday of Easter

Sixth Sunday of Easter

The Ascension of the Lord

Pentecost Sunday

The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity

The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ

V. Sundays in Ordinary Time

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

The Transfiguration of the Lord

Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time

Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time

Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

The Solemnity of Christ the King

YEAR B

I. Advent

First Sunday of Advent

Second Sunday of Advent

Third Sunday of Advent

Fourth Sunday of Advent

II. Christmas Season

Christmas Day

The Holy Family

The Epiphany of the Lord

The Baptism of the Lord

III. Lent

First Sunday of Lent

Second Sunday of Lent

Third Sunday of Lent

Fourth Sunday of Lent

Fifth Sunday of Lent

Palm Sunday

IV. Easter Season to the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ

Easter Sunday

Second Sunday of Easter

Third Sunday of Easter

Fourth Sunday of Easter

Fifth Sunday of Easter

Sixth Sunday of Easter

The Ascension of the Lord

Pentecost Sunday

The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity

The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ

V. Sundays in Ordinary Time

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

Nativity of John the Baptist

Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time

Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

Twenty-Eight Sunday in Ordinary Time

Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Solemnity of All Souls

Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

The Solemnity Christ the King

YEAR C

I. Advent

First Sunday of Advent

Second Sunday of Advent

Third Sunday of Advent

Fourth Sunday of Advent

II. Christmas Season

Christmas Vigil Mass

The Holy Family

The Epiphany of the Lord

The Baptism of the Lord

III. Lent

First Sunday of Lent

Second Sunday of Lent

Third Sunday of Lent

Fourth Sunday of Lent

Fifth Sunday of Lent

Palm Sunday

IV. Easter Season to the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ

Easter Sunday

Second Sunday of Easter

Third Sunday of Easter

Fourth Sunday of Easter

Fifth Sunday of Easter

Sixth Sunday of Easter

The Ascension of the Lord

Pentecost Sunday

The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity

The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ

V. Sundays in Ordinary Time

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time

Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time

Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

The Solemnity of Christ the King

YEAR A

First Sunday of Advent

First Reading Isaiah 2:1-5

Second Reading Romans 13:11-14

Gospel Reading Matthew 24:37-44

W E TEND TO procrastinate on things that we can do today until the very last minute, whether it is to fix our car’s brakes, do an oil change, fix the roof, door, or computer, to see a dentist or family doctor for a routine checkup, or do homework, project, and many other things in life. In many cases, it could take a lot more time, effort, or money to fix those things when they are delayed. Putting things off until the last minute or sometime in the future becomes a way of life for some people because of habit, they fear failure, or if they start too soon, the risk of getting burdened with more work. Such mentality could significantly impact our spiritual life as pilgrims who are always to stay alert.

Preparation is an essential step for life. Since life and future is ambiguous, we must always be prepared for any unexpected events that may occur in the road ahead. We have heard or seen some people who left homes for work but could not return to their homes in the evening. We wish that they would have been notified in advance for such events. Yet life itself is a mysterious facet.

On this First Sunday of Advent, Jesus speaks about the end of time and the consequence of being unprepared. His message implies that every day is different; one can’t just simply assume the solutions from the past could always work for the present moment or future. We can’t overestimate our assumption and the results of the past and say, Well same old thing forever. A new day brings new challenges and surprises. Again, we can’t say, I am still young, and it is time for me to enjoy my life. I will start my faith, spiritual life, or church when I am around forty! We learn that the people described in the gospel had such approach their dissipated and indulgent lifestyles. Consequently, they were unable to respond when striven by life’s events. Time and life’s surprises do not wait or exempt anybody. For this reason, faithful people and Jesus’ disciples should not live in fear but be prepared at all time.

When we were born into this world, we did not come with a plan for our future. Instead we came as human being completely dependent upon our parents or primary caregiver. Yet only God had a plan for us, to follow His Son, Jesus Christ. We should focus on our present moment and internalize God’s plan for us even when faced with busy daily schedule and life.

Preparation means giving out of our innermost freedom for Jesus. This is the way we accept and follow Jesus’ love, care, and compassion reverently and freely. Jesus has prepared everything for us; therefore, we need to prepare ourselves for him through active faith. Be a witness of God’s love through daily routine—reach out to people around us with kind and caring words and actions. We should never waste our time by allowing earthly pleasure and temptation to control our love for God and others. Thus, spend time to pray, to remember God’s presence and blessings for us. We can’t expect to be happy individuals without striving to build our relationship with God and others.

The wisdom of Advent is not to live in anxiety, but to be prepared for any surprise that life may bring. To do so, we begin to build a habit that focuses on spirituality and prayer life. How often we pray and participate in the Eucharistic celebration and the Sacraments of the Church? Why am I here? And what is the purpose of my existence? Where am I going to this earthly journey? What is a big deal to be a religious person?

Advent Season, the church invites us to anticipate and reflect our spiritual life to celebrate the birth of our Savior and at the same time to prepare ourselves to meet our Lord. With prayers, trust, and active faith of love for God and others, we are preparing ourselves. Waiting until the last minute proves that we expect great damages! No one likes such outcomes. Things in nature only properly works when they are well prepared. Let us humble ourselves and ponder upon the mystery of God’s revelation for humanities through Jesus so to embrace his gift each day.

YEAR A

Second Sunday of Advent

First Reading Isaiah 11:1-10

Second Reading Romans 15:4-9

Gospel Reading Matthew 3:1-12

M ILLIONS OF AMERICANS commute to work every day using freeways. It is very challenging for many people who must face traffic congestion each day; it seems we have no other options. Driving to work via freeways or roads became part of most Americans’ lives, and without them, we feel inconvenient. However, for our daily travel to run smoothly and safely, the road ahead needs to be clear, and no debris or obstacles block the road.

The straight-and-smooth path is resounded in today’s gospel as well. John the Baptist asks his listeners to straighten the path, making it easy for travelers. John’s words imply that preparing our inner path is necessary for welcoming the world’s Savior, Jesus Christ. This preparation comes with a process: Firstly, one needs to get out of his or her own comfortable space and listens to God’s Spirit. Secondly, open one’s heart and mind. Thirdly, acknowledge one’s bad or sinful behaviors of the past, and finally, change the direction, to be a better person.

Relocation from one place to another requires a process—time to prepare, time to let go, and time to adapt to a new environment. Most successful individuals who are making the transition would follow that method. We can’t allow our past’s lifestyle to delay our hope and willingness to change. Instead, we must experience new hope and fresh spirit from within us. That is the wisdom of the season of Advent as underscored by the preaching out by John the Baptist.

One time a young lady shared with me her past experiences that had a negative impact on her life and faith. She told me that when she was eight-year-old, her father left her and the family. It was a difficult period for my family and me. My mom did not know what to do without her husband by her side to support her and the family.

She continued, It is hard for me to trust others, the church, and even to trust God; it doesn’t make sense to me!

I sincerely empathized with what she and her family had endured through that period of her life. Humanly speaking, such negative experience would delay one’s willingness to open, change, experience, joy, love, and forgiveness. They are afraid to be hurt or abandoned if they open or place their trust, hope, and life in others. They might contemplate the following: I don’t want to relive the past painful experiences again.

However, our God is different. He will never abandon us though other people did. He sent His Son to be with us. Our past and experiences should never be a stumbling block that binds or separates us from hoping and trusting in God. Humans could change their thoughts and decisions all the time, but God will never change His promises and loves for us. Therefore, no one can allow life’s obstacles to immobilize our sights and willingness to prepare a place for our Savior without our mind and heart.

Adopting a new healthy habit or leaving an old one behind can be terribly challenging. But no one can do it for us. We must strive to change ourselves. Otherwise, we will remain the same forever. We must begin with our own inner selves, making time and opportunity to listen to John the Baptist’s preaching. We can’t just take it for granted and presume that getting into heaven is automatically granted. John states, Do not presume to say to yourselves. We have Abraham as our Father. What God wants to see in us is our willingness to accept and respond to Jesus’ teachings and guidance. That is the spirit of Advent Season, and we all prepare to celebrate such joy and peace.

Any obstacles on a highway could lead to injury, death, and delay to travelers. The road must be free from barriers and obstacles. Similarly, Jesus can’t come and dwell within our hearts and minds unless we prepare a place for him. Pray that we remove or leave behind our past destructive memories and struggles to prepare a secret place to come to our Savior and Lord who will restore our peace and confidence.

YEAR A

Third Sunday of Advent

First Reading Isaiah 35:16a, 10

Second Reading James 5:7-10a

Gospel Reading Matthew 11:2-11

I N A WORLD filled with confusion, discouragement, tragedy, division, and shortcoming, how can we experience hope and joy in our heart? Some people invest their time and energy to hope for better Christmas presents, stable job and finance, end of the year promotion and bonus, and health. These are practical and reasonable hopes, but such things can only bring us joy and happiness temporarily; they will fade away as time goes by. As Christians, our hope does not depend on life’s circumstances; it must anchor into a more profound and stronger level of personal life.

The Third Sunday of Advent is also called Rejoice Sunday. We are to rejoice because God sent us the Savior who we are preparing to celebrate the day of his birth. We believe this celebration will amplify our hope and endurance when faced with confusion, conflict, failure, frustration, disappointment, and illness. Therefore, rejoice in this celebration that helps us grow emotionally and spiritually stronger. The birth of our Savior will cast out any negativity and despair in the world that we are living in.

Today’s gospel reaffirms hope and joy to the world through Jesus’ healing power and love. He heals, the sight of the blind, the deaf can hear and speak, and the leper is cleansed. Jesus came to heal and restore humanity’s life. We are not like Jesus, but every one of us can bring hope and peace that benefits our family members and friends. That is our identity! We have all the skills needed to perceive what others are experiencing—their loneliness or hopelessness. Many less-fortunate children in some places around us do not have adequate clothes or food during this Christmas Season. We can bring them our hope and joy through our loving and caring actions. We visit our family members, relatives, friends, or someone that we did not talk or see for years because of disagreements in the past. By doing such, we, like Jesus Christ, heal others.

Recently, a mother shared with me good news about her family. Eleven years ago, when she discovered her youngest daughter fell in love with another woman, she was shocked and tried to convince her daughter that would be unacceptable to Catholic teachings, family tradition, and reputation. All family members objected her relationship and advised that she should change her behavior; nothing worked out. They disowned her, and eventually, she left home and cut off all communication, and no one in the family member heard from her again. Surprisingly, one evening in November, the daughter contacted here, and they began to talk. The daughter visited her family and spent Thanksgiving with the rest of the family for the first time after almost twelve years! Cutting off someone whom we love dearly is not an easy decision to make for any human being. Nonetheless, the beauty of life is that they never lose their courage and hope for each other; they prayed and waited for that moment, the power of hope that transformed their minds and hearts in the right direction.

A problematic moment can happen to anyone and anytime, but we need to remind ourselves that we have a healer in the incarnation of God’s Son that we prepare to celebrate his birthday. We can’t lose things that do not belong to us. We do not own anything on this earth because we can’t bring any of those to life. We own our identity as children of God. It is a privilege and ultimate gift that God shares with us, so handle it with joy and hope. At this time of year, we are invited to be humbler, to share our presence, forgiveness, hope, and joy with our family members and friends and prepare our hearts so that our Savior can dwell there forever.

YEAR A

Fourth Sunday of Advent

First Reading Isaiah 7:10–14

Second Reading Romans 1:1–7

Gospel Reading Matthew 1:18–24

H OW WOULD YOU feel if you walked to the church by yourself on Sundays or on Christmas Day? For some, it is a simple thing that they do every day. They have built up the support system in the community, and there is no problem with that. However, those who do not have that such routine probably feels a sense of loneliness and discomfort. Therefore, a community is like a base that launches us forward with a sense of support, joy, and encouragement.

God has always wanted us to associate with the community of humans, too. He has revealed this desire through the incarnation of his Son, Jesus Christ. The birth of the Infant Child means there is no separation between God and humanity. Through this celebration, we can see how much God wants to dwell in the world. Humanly speaking, when two young people fall in love, they want to spend time together whenever they can. They would like their daily responsibilities, such as work or school, to pass quickly so that they can be together. When lovers are together, they want that time to pass slowly so they can experience and share more of their feelings for each other. In this same way, God so loves his children that he wants to dwell in our hearts and minds through the birth of Jesus Christ.

Sadly, many people still cannot open their hearts and minds to accept his Son, Jesus Christ. Some might feel they are not worthy to come and participate in the birth of their Savior because of their lives and circumstances. Perhaps they carry that unhealthy guilt of the past, journeying through daily life with such mentality, never wanting to let go. Going to church or attending Catholic celebrations and sacraments is a burden because of the guilt they carry. Day after day, they distance themselves from God and his church. They miss out on Christmas!

No matter what lifestyles we had in the past, we are preparing to celebrate the birth of our Savior, Christmas! It does not make a difference if we come to Mass alone or with family or friends or whether we come from a broken family or a healthy family. Our Savior is born for everyone. Whatever we do, we are never good enough before God. The difference is to do our best to improve and receive his forgiveness. Unhealthy guilt says that No past life was terrible, and no one can forgive you, so don’t bother trying. Stay home on Sundays and enjoy whatever you like!

The healthy conscience will say that God sacrificed his Son for you, and his grace is available for you through faith and community when you can respond and grow in his love and mercy for you.

Jesus wants to be with us no matter what life’s circumstance or stage we are facing right now. Christmas Season may be a burden for some people, sentiments of loneliness and sadness. Christmas may be a joyful time for many people, or for others, it could be just another day. What does the celebration of Christmas mean to us? For Catholics, it is the celebration of more than two thousandth birthday of our Savior who cast down the darkness of sin to give us peace and joy. With that in mind, we open our hearts and minds to welcome our Lord and Savior that he will dwell within us forever.

We will not feel lonely even when we journey alone because God is with us. We carry a healthy conscience instead of guilt because we experience his mercy and love each day. When faced with the inadequacies of the world, we will not fear because life’s circumstances can’t steal his love and presence from within us.

YEAR A

Christmas Season

First Reading Isaiah 52: 7–10

Second Reading Hebrew 1:1–6

Gospel Reading John 1:1–18

Merry Christmas!

I WISH YOU and your family have a blessed and wonderful Christmas Season!

When you attend a Catholic church during this time of year, you will likely see a manger, the Nativity scene or leaf hut in front of, or outside of, the church. These are symbols for a shelter, a home, or any place that is the beginning of a family. Our faith and tradition teach us that over two thousand years ago in Bethlehem, a child was born into the world by the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The gospel reading on Christmas Day describes how light shines through the darkness, destroying sins against God and others. Even though the world is filled with obscurity, chaos, and hatred, God still sent his Son to us to live with us in a tangible way, not an abstract one. The birth of baby Jesus is the light in the world’s darkness. Those that do evil cannot separate God from humanity. Let us remind ourselves that the baby Jesus, the light sent by God, must shine through the darkness.

Is this an easy Christmas Season for us to allow his light to shine upon us? Are there any dark places in our lives that might prevent us from celebrating the Christmas light? For some, this Christmas will be a big celebration, filled with sounds of joy from friends and family. They will give thanks to God for his gift of eternal life and family. They will easily find peace and hope throughout the Christmas Season because they are in the light of God; they do not allow life’s circumstances to control their joy, peace, or happiness. Christmas has arrived in their hearts and families!

On the other hand, some people may wonder why life is so complicated and filled with all kinds of suffering, pain, mistrust, or misunderstanding among family members and others. Some people may believe there are reasons not to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Yet they have not allowed themselves to see the light.

The cause of all suffering and sadness of life has nothing to do with God’s light; it is because people today separate and distance themselves from God. They do not believe that God is the source of life! From the darkness of insecurity and suffering, they deny God’s light and guidance, refusing to allow his light to illuminate their daily lives. Distancing oneself from God can trigger loneliness, sadness, crises, worries, or affliction. For those wrestling with their inner peace, they long for the core of life in ways that they can’t articulate. Finding true peace and joy during the Christmas Season is impossible if we turn away from God.

We get to choose to be in the light or in the dark. Life is so fragile that we can easily become discouraged by life’s events. God sent the light of baby Jesus to illuminate our path. When faced with life’s suffering and sadness, joyful individuals will let his light shine through.

Jesus, God’s light, came to earth as a tiny child. Some people turn away from or diminish his light. Others seek, share, and depend on his light. We need to open our minds and hearts to accept Jesus, Son of God and our Savior, born by the Blessed Virgin Mary, to give us strength and courage to face the changing world.

On this Christmas Day as we gather together with family and community of faith, let us not forget God dwells in our hearts, families, homes, and community. We welcome him into our home as we treat other members with kindness, love, and respect and make room for him through our daily prayers and good deeds. His light will cast out all the darkness of misunderstanding, worry, sadness, hatred, and illness as we are experiencing right now. Only then will Christmas have arrived in our hearts, families, and homes!

YEAR A

Christmas Season

The Feast of Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph

First Reading: Sirach 3:2–6, 3:12–14

Second Reading Colossians 3:12–17

Gospel Reading Matthew 2:13–15, 2:19–23

A WEEK AFTER Christmas celebration, the church celebrates the Feast of the Holy Family of Mary, Jesus, and Joseph. The story of Christmas night tells us that the Holy Family had to leave Nazareth and travel to Bethlehem while Mary was pregnant. When it was time for Mary to give birth, the family could not find a proper place, for no owner of any house wanted to welcome them! She gave birth to the Son out in the field. Then when Jesus was just one year old, the Holy Family had to escape to Egypt. As we continue to read the story of the Holy Family, we learn there were unexpected people, events, and dilemmas along their journey. However, they stayed intact as they endured life’s events.

God became man in the Holy Family of Mary, Jesus, and Joseph. Hence, we can see the true value of love in the family that God invites us to follow. True love among spouses and children is essential for marriage, life, and development. True love of parents is continuously nurtured and manifested through parents’ words and actions; parents place the needs of their children and family before their own. The way we positively interact with one another through love, sympathy, forgiveness, collaboration, emotion, kindness, and other positive virtues brings a sense of peace and confidence for children. They observe, memorize, and carry these virtues with them everywhere they go! Children’s success depends upon how well their parents prepare them now.

Good families know crisis, confusion, challenges, sickness, sadness, joy, and hope are part of family life. They know they will encounter rough temptations and events. They know no challenges can be stronger than God’s love and blessings for them. Despite the trials the Holy Family faced, they pulled through together; they did not blame each other or others. Instead, the Holy Family faced the challenges and worked them out together for the sake of all members. After all, the Holy Family invited God into their lives in good times and bad!

We should build our families upon the foundation of God’s wisdom and strengths through daily prayers and devotions. We need to invite God into our family always and everywhere. Daily, we need to begin with asking God to bless us as we perform our tasks and interact with people during the day. We want to make sure our families will never journey through life without God’s presence. Thus, when faced with unwanted events in family life, we will have God as the source of wisdom for our solutions. The Holy Family embraced God along their journey no matter how far they were away from their homeland. They never felt lonely because God was there to guide them.

As we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family of Mary, Jesus, and Joseph, we honor their love and commitment to each other. They were filled with God’s blessings because of their faith. They did not give up when faced with life’s challenges. They are a great model for all married couples to follow. We entrust ourselves and our families to God. We invite him to guide and bless us when faced with the storms of life. Then our family will also be called a holy family, for we have weathered the challenges and temptations of life through God’s blessings and love.

YEAR A

Christmas Season

The Epiphany of the Lord

First Reading Isaiah 60:1–6

Second Reading Ephesians 3:2–3a, 3:5–6

Gospel Reading Matthew 2:1–12

I HOPE YOU all had a wonderful Christmas and New Year celebration with your families and friends. The new year brings new challenges and perspectives. However, we always have a chance to get better, observe something new, and encounter new people. We can gain the wisdom to solve life’s issues in productive ways. Nothing is inevitable in the world. Therefore, living and appreciating the presence of God’s wisdom brings hope and courage for all the faithful.

Christmas arrived two weeks ago, yet that was not long enough to leave Christmas behind. The spirit of Christmas continues living in our midst. Today we are celebrating the story of three men who came from the East to search for a child that had been born to be king of the Jews. Who were these men and why did