Prayer for the Family:
Father, we look to your guidance and order
As the pattern of all family life.
By following the example of the holy family of your son,
In mutual love and respect, may we come to the joy of our home in heaven.
(From: Prayer book with new order of mass. By Pauline’s)
The Gospel today presents to us the words of Jesus on marriage that the truth of marriage dates back to the beginning of creation; the book of Genesis records: “male and female he created them” (Gen 1:27; 2:24). For this reason, “a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one” (Mk 10:6-7). Then Jesus continued to say, “so they are no longer two but one, what God has joined together, let no man separate” (Mk 10:8-9).
The Second Vatican Council in its document “Gaudium et Spes” (Pastoral constitution on the church in the modern world) states: “The intimate partnership of life and love which constitutes the married state has been established by the creator and endowed by him with its own proper laws: it is rooted in the contract of its partners…God himself is the author of marriage” (No.48).
Our reflection today goes to all the marriage spouses. For the gift of the sacrament of marriage be grateful to God and remain faithful to your vocation every season of your life when there is joy or pain. Become witnesses in the midst of today’s many challenges facing the family and depriving it the power to remain a shining star in the mission. Be missionaries of love and life, educate your children in faith and life and as a family become a sign of God’s love for the humanity that is wounded with hatred other than genuine love, injustices and threats to human life and its dignity.
During this month of missionary commitment, the church offers us an example of family as a profound sign of love for the mission.
Families support with love other vocations that keep the missionary desire burning alive in every home, hospital, school, parish, prison, seminary and our citizenry life. Marriage and family vocation gives special animation to other vocations and it is a fundamental vocation from which the church draws the power to become the family of God.
Let us renew our pastoral commitment to the care of the families in our parishes, communities and especially these times the family is threatened by cultural, social and ethical changes in the world.
Let us open our ears to the needs of the young people who are coming from troubled families and they are looking for someone to open themselves to. In this regard we pray for the synod 2018, on YOUTH, FAITH AND VOCATIONAL DISCERNMENT which is taking place in Rome, that the young people will have the courage to speak out their needs and concerns in truth and love without fear of being judged and that they may have a future enlivened by the family values.
Joy and Peace in your Families.