Saturday, July 2, 2016

Near indeed is his salvation for those who fear him; glory will dwell in our land. (Ps. 85:10)

John, Chapter 19, Verse 7-9

⁷ The Jews answered, “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.” ⁸ Now when Pilate heard this statement, he became even more afraid, ⁹and went back into the praetorium and said to Jesus, “Where are you from?” Jesus did not answer him.

Pilate was afraid of diabolical and fanatical men but not of God. Let us not be like Pilate. How often are we though when we go about our daily business? Pilate symbolically washed his hands to remove his guilt. Did it work? To remind myself of this as I wash my hands throughout the day during the washing I say the Hail Mary and ask our Lady to help me not betray the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I try to remember He became hopeless to give us hope.

Amoris Lætitia[1] Looking to Jesus: The Vocation of the Family-The family and the Church (86-88)

With inner joy and deep comfort, the Church looks to families. For they bear witness, in a credible way, to the beauty of marriage as indissoluble and perpetually faithful. Within the family ‘which could be called a domestic church’ which reflects, through grace, the mystery of the Holy Trinity. ‘Here one learns endurance and the joy of work, fraternal love, generous; even repeated forgiveness and above all divine worship in prayer
 The Church is a family of families, constantly enriched by the lives of all those domestic churches. The Church is good for the family, and the family is good for the Church. The safeguarding of the Lord’s gift in the sacrament of matrimony is a concern not only of individual families but of the entire Christian community. The experience of love in families is a perennial source of strength for the life of the Church. The work of marriage is a constant summons to make this love grow and deepen. Through their union in love, the couple experiences the beauty of fatherhood and motherhood, and shares plans, trials, expectations and concerns; they learn care for one another and mutual forgiveness. In this love, they celebrate their happy moments and support each other in the difficult passages of their life together… The beauty of this mutual, gratuitous gift, the joy which comes from a life that is born and the loving care of all family members from toddlers to seniors is the true vocation of the family and the church.

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[1] Pope Francis, Encyclical on Love.