Today’s the Feast of the Holy Family

Find the Mass Readings here: Feast of the Holy Family, December 31, 2017.

Sooo…. I totally dropped the ball on posting my thoughts today. Mostly because I was with my family and out and about and away from my computer for the entire day. So my thoughts will have to stay inside my head!

However, my amazing blogging friends are still on top of things, and they’ve got some great thoughts and reflections to share with us all this week.

Thoughts from my blogging friends:

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I sobbed the moment I knew I was pregnant with my oldest, and not because I was excited. I was nervous. Worried. Terrified of the changes to my body, my life, and my marriage. I function really well as a creature of habit. Those two lines on that stick? Habits were going to change. Eleven years later I have learned a few things: Change is the only constant in parenting. Family life is as much about service as it is joy. Nighttime feedings and skinned knees and tantrums make us holy. My husband is not my superior, my inferior, or my equal. He is my partner, a complementary part of our whole. God could have sent His son to Earth as a grown-up, guns blazing to bring Light to the world. But He didn't – instead, He chose a family. A mother. A father. A baby boy who grew in strength and favor, and gave His parents as much heartache as He did wonder and love. Family life changes everything. Grace grows in the trenches ❤️ #mysundaybest #mymasstakeaway

A post shared by Ginny Kochis •Not So Formulaic (@ginnykochis) on Dec 31, 2017 at 9:13am PST

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We all come from a family – even if we struggle with our families of origin. Over time, we create our own families, whether they are through marriage, or simply through a solid network of strong friendships. We all have our roles in our families. . . . Mary’s role was to nurture, support, and walk through her Son’s journey – sometimes gently pushing Him, other times standing by silently. Joseph’s role was to ensure the safety and security of his family, and early on, teaching his little Son a trade. Jesus’ role was to be a child, obedient, watchful, and learned. . . . The Holy Family highlights the importance of the roles in the family. Sometimes distinctly unique, and yet, interwoven so as to be dependent on each other. When one role falters, the system as a whole cannot function like a well-oiled machine. And yet, we must all pick up the slack for one another at times. . . . At all times, the Holy Family displayed love, loyalty, and commitment to their roles. What an amazing role model for all families. . . . What is your role in your family? How can you use the Holy Family as an example to emulate – and, which member of the Holy Family can you look to for inspiration as we head into a brand new year? . . . #mysundaybest w/ @rosiehill425 #mymasstakeaway w/ @tojesussincerely #sundaybest w/ @sundaybestsociety #catholicblogger #feastoftheholyfamily #catholicsofinstagram #inspiration #catholicinspiration #families #catholicmom #catholicwife #catholicfamily

A post shared by Anni Harry (@beautifulcamouflagedmess) on Dec 31, 2017 at 10:41am PST

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So beautiful, we are celebrating today the Feast of the Holy Family! A great end and also a great start for the new year! #MyMasstakeaway is about the family – seeing the Holy Family with their own hardships and difficulties, but They continue to remain faithful and with great fidelity continue to practice their faith. And how beautiful and remarkable is this – God comes to us in and through a family, which is the building block of church and society. And within our family, the greatest gift we can give to our children is Faith! +++ I did this little sketch today- I didn't have any images of the Holy Family so i was just going to do a quick pen sketch but ended up using also gold leaf pen, fabric and the floral elements from my Journey creative kit. +++ #family #holyfamily #art #icon #homily #sermon #drawclosertogod #lovegod #godinspired #openjourney #religiousart #christianart #catholicartist #faith #faithjournal #ingridblixt #TB2G

A post shared by Ingrid Blixt (@openjourney) on Dec 31, 2017 at 12:12pm PST

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Whenever I play a wedding (and I used it at my own too) I like to play today's psalm. To call it countercultural is an understatement. The psalmist claims that children are definitive proof of God's blessings. . "May your wife be like a fruitful vine… May your children be like olive plants… Behold, thus is the man blessed." . How much of that we've lost as a culture! Children are seen as something to be carefully planned and avoided until just the right time, if that ever comes. Big families are viewed with pity rather than encouragement and joy. And we've all seen the great evils of abortion and now euthanasia that result from a lack of respect for life. . "As the family goes, so goes the culture." Well, we see how the culture has been going lately, so it's time for us families to kick it into high gear and turn it around. Let's work to bring back the joy the psalmist had for children and life! . P.S. How cute are the patron saint peg dolls my mom made for all of her 14 grandkids! . #mymasstakeaway w/ @tojesussincerely

A post shared by Hilary- Messy Buns&Latin Chant (@hillyanne_t) on Dec 31, 2017 at 1:36pm PST

Your turn:

I want to know your Mass Takeaway too! Comment with your thoughts on the readings, your pastor’s homily, or anything that struck you during your time at Mass.