Let's open our hearts this Christmas season: Archbishop Gregory Aymond
Concerts are held at St. Louis Cathedral during the Christmas season. (Photo by NOLA.com/The Times-Picayune archive)
By on December 23, 2012 at 8:12 AM
Over 2,000 years ago, a child was born to a teenage mother whose husband was not the father of her baby. Yet, this young woman had said "yes" to what seemed to be impossible and her husband said "yes" to raising and caring for both her and her child.
This is the story of the Mary, Joseph and Jesus. Mary and Joseph said "yes" to give birth to the son of God, our brother and Messiah.
This family, as improbable as the introduction may make it seem, is an example to all of us of unconditional love and sacrifice of family life. Mary said yes to God to bring a savior to humanity regardless of the personal sacrifices she would need to make. St. Joseph, her chaste spouse, said yes to caring for Jesus and his mother -- providing a roof over their heads and food on their table, even when it meant fleeing to a foreign land to ensure their safety. Jesus, though the son of God, was a dutiful son who learned his foster father's trade of carpenter and participated with his parents in the traditions of his Jewish faith.
As we come together with our families and friends this Christmas season, let us remember the Holy Family and open our hearts to the families we were born into and the families we have made. Christmas is a time for us to remember how much God loves us. He is a loving father, always there for us when we need him if we just listen for his voice. He sent his son to be human like us so that we may have the example of the Holy Family of how to love and to forgive and to live together.
No one ever said that family life is easy. Married couples have their challenges; parents and children can be at odds, and siblings may clash -- but this Christmas, let us put those negative feelings aside and focus on sharing good times and seeing the best in one another. Let us raise up the family to the dignity that our savior, Jesus Christ, born in a stable, brought to this world.
During 2013 please join me in reclaiming Sunday as a day of family and worship. The family that prays together, stays together! God wants to draw us closer together as a family, and he wants to be part of your family.
Merry Christmas and may the peace and joy of this season be with you through this new year.
Archbishop Gregory Aymond leads the Archdiocese of New Orleans.
This is the story of the Mary, Joseph and Jesus. Mary and Joseph said "yes" to give birth to the son of God, our brother and Messiah.
This family, as improbable as the introduction may make it seem, is an example to all of us of unconditional love and sacrifice of family life. Mary said yes to God to bring a savior to humanity regardless of the personal sacrifices she would need to make. St. Joseph, her chaste spouse, said yes to caring for Jesus and his mother -- providing a roof over their heads and food on their table, even when it meant fleeing to a foreign land to ensure their safety. Jesus, though the son of God, was a dutiful son who learned his foster father's trade of carpenter and participated with his parents in the traditions of his Jewish faith.
As we come together with our families and friends this Christmas season, let us remember the Holy Family and open our hearts to the families we were born into and the families we have made. Christmas is a time for us to remember how much God loves us. He is a loving father, always there for us when we need him if we just listen for his voice. He sent his son to be human like us so that we may have the example of the Holy Family of how to love and to forgive and to live together.
No one ever said that family life is easy. Married couples have their challenges; parents and children can be at odds, and siblings may clash -- but this Christmas, let us put those negative feelings aside and focus on sharing good times and seeing the best in one another. Let us raise up the family to the dignity that our savior, Jesus Christ, born in a stable, brought to this world.
During 2013 please join me in reclaiming Sunday as a day of family and worship. The family that prays together, stays together! God wants to draw us closer together as a family, and he wants to be part of your family.
Merry Christmas and may the peace and joy of this season be with you through this new year.
Archbishop Gregory Aymond leads the Archdiocese of New Orleans.
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