A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Colossians 3:12-17
Brothers and sisters:
Put on, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if one has a grievance against another; as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do. And over all these put on love, that is, the bond of perfection. And let the peace of Christ control your hearts, the peace into which you were also called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
REFLECTION: " Put on, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience,
bearing with one another and forgiving one another,
if one has a grievance against another;
as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do.
And over all these put on love, "
Origen of Alexandria termed "the suffering of love". To love another person will, at one time or another , require a measure of suffering by the one who loves. We sacrifice our own comfort for the sake of one we love, we give of ourselves without thinking of the cost, and we share in the pain of the one we love.
Jesus was fully human. God chose to have Jesus enter the family of Mary and Joseph, as a way to encounter Him and for us to know what love is. In the family, sorrows and joys are shared . The reciprocal love of one member to another makes us belong. Besides our genetic inheritance, we are influenced by our family experiences.
For a happy family, there should be a love that is self-giving and an environment of prayer, nurturing and self respect with constantly practicing a virtuous life. We forgive one another; with patience and forbearance, we love and celebrate.
The Holy Family is the model family of love. Let us follow their example for that inexplicable feeling of happiness.
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