Today is the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. The second reading is one of the most beautiful passages from St. Paul’s letters. It speaks about the attitudes we all need to cultivate in our lives - compassion, kindness, gentleness, and patience. I believe the reading comes to us providentially as we are ushered into the New Year. There is so much uncertainty not only in our nation, but also in the world, and we may feel anxious and fearful. But the message of Christmas challenges us to “bear with one another and to forgive one another.”

The feast of Christmas reminds us that God is with us on our journey. The towering miracle of Christmas is God’s decision to come to live among us. We need to be attentive to God’s presence in our lives. We can only do that if we make time and space for our God. That I believe is what should shape our journey into the New Year.

The gospel this weekend tells us the story of Mary and Joseph who are worried because they thought they lost their Child. Searching for days, they found Jesus in the temple. In finding Jesus, they found peace. There is great wisdom in this story. When we are in the same situation as Mary and Joseph, we need to search for the Lord, not that He is “lost,” but we approach the Lord and, like the people in the gospel, listen to Him and ask Him to guide us in all our endeavors.

As we enter the New Year, let us remind ourselves that this is the Jubilee Year - the Year of Hope. Pope Francis says: “In the heart of each person, hope dwells as the desire and expectation of good things to come, despite our not knowing what the future may bring. Even so, uncertainty about the future may at times give rise to conflicting feelings, ranging from confident trust to apprehensiveness, from serenity to anxiety, from firm conviction to hesitation and doubt. Often, we come across people who are discouraged, pessimistic and cynical about the future, as if nothing could possibly bring them happiness.”  Despite that, Christmas reminds us not to be afraid. This is the message of the prophets, the angels and of God to all of us.

Fr. Robert and I wish all of you a Blessed Christmas Season and a Hope-filled New Year! May the Jubilee be an opportunity for all of us to be renewed in hope.