December 27: Preparing to Celebrate Sunday’s Mass / Preparándonos para Celebrar la Misa Domincal

Part of the Christmas Homily from Pope Leo:

“Let us marvel at the wisdom of Christmas. In the Child Jesus, God gives the world a new life: His own, offered for all. He does not give us a clever solution to every problem, but a love story that draws us in. In response to the expectations of peoples, He sends a child to be a word of hope. In the face of the suffering of the poor, He sends one who is defenseless to be the strength to rise again. Before violence and oppression, He kindles a gentle light that illumines with salvation all the children of this world. And ours is the privilege and blessing to be stewards of this great Mystery!”

As the Church celebrates the Great Octave (“Eight Days”) of Christmas, this weekend’s feastday, that of the Holy Family, helps us remember that Joseph and Mary were among the first to be “stewards of this great Mystery.” They were entrusted with caring for Jesus, raising Him, loving Him unconditionally, and supporting Him as He grew in wisdom. (Luke 2, 52)

And yet, the Holy Family had substantial problems to face, as every family must. Just as each follower of Jesus has a Cross to carry, so also the Holy Family had to experience the Cross in their shared life. May they intercede for us in a powerful way as we respond to our own calling to be “stewards of this great Mystery.”

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La liturgia de la Misa del domingo, la Fiesta de la Sagrada Familia, quiere honrar a José, María, y Jesús. Y, en ellos, la Iglesia nos ofrece un modelo de familia. Nuestra parroquia es también una familia que busca, como la Sagrada Familia, conocer la voluntad de Dios, obedecer a nuestro Padre Dios, y dejarse guiar por el Espíritu. Celebremos la Misa dominical como el banquete familiar que Jesucristo ofrece a todos sus hermanos y hermanas.

Que el corazón de nuestras familias (y nuestra familia parroquial) sea también Jesús, y con Él, con María y con José, nos preguntemos qué es lo que Dios quiere de nosotros, y que sepamos cumplirlo.