Family

Today is the feast of the Holy Family.  The Gospel reading today is important as a part of the Christmas story and in fulfillment of the scriptures but I think that the Second Reading is a good reminder of the responsibilities we have to our community and all people as well as how we can  be respectful of our family members and the roles we all play.

Colossians 3: 12 - 21
12	Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, and patience,
13	forbearing one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
14	And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
15	And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful.
16	Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teach and admonish one another in all wisdom, and sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
17	And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
18	Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
19	Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them.
20	Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.
21	Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.

Some people may argue that this a sexist viewpoint of the family unit but each commandment should be followed by every family member. We all should respect eachother and lovingly do what is lovingly requested by our counterparts. We should all lovingly encourage our children and not provoke them.

I can definitely take lesson from this reading. I can be nicer to my family and encourage my children.