Tag Archives: Holy Family

Leaving the familiar behind

Henry Ossawa Tanner, 1859 – 1937
Flight into Egypt
oil on wood panel, ca.1916
National Museum of African American History and Culture

When [the magi] had departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him.”
Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt. Matthew 2:13-14

Sometimes God calls us to leave behind our home, our community, our traditions, our roots, our habits, our attachments and go to where we can be in harmony with God’s will that we live in love and peace. It is a daunting adventure to leave everything familiar behind and hope we will find a haven where we can grow and flourish in mind, body, and spirit.

Today I will trust the Lord when God calls me to move beyond the familiar into the unknown. Aware that others, too, must find the courage to face life’s challenges, I will treat all people with kindness, patience, and gentleness.

A holy human family

Frank Wesley (1923-2002)
Boy Jesus with the Teachers

Put on, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Colossians 3:12

We create a unified, holy human family by our intentional commitment to look for God’s image in every person we encounter and to respond with respect and reverence to God-in-everyone.

Today I will deliberately treat all people with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

Clothed in love

Holy Family

Put on, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Colossians 3:12

May I live each day clothed in the love of God, neighbor, and self.

Today I will intentionally walk in the ways of the Lord. I will look for and honor God’s presence in every person.

God’s glorious light

Edward Burne-Jones (1833-1898)
The Star of Bethlehem
watercolor and gouache, 1890

Though darkness covers the earth,
and thick clouds, the peoples,
Upon you the LORD will dawn,
and over you his glory will be seen. Isaiah 60:2

Today I will not let the darkness of the pandemic, political posturing, and social tumult cover me. I will shine the glory of God’s love and compassion and comfort in my home, workplace, and community to help dissipate the clouds of fear, unrest, and discord that trouble our world.

Family

The Holy Family in the Carpenter Shop
Honolulu Museum of Art

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. Colossians 3:12-13a

By God’s gracious gift of life to all people, we are family, united in God’s unconditional love for each of us. Let us honor and respect each other by remembering our relationship to God and one another.

Astounded by the Word

Vasily Polenov (1844-1927) Christ Among Teachers, 1896 Moscow, Tretyakov Gallery

Vasily Polenov (1844-1927)
Christ Among Teachers, 1896
Moscow, Tretyakov Gallery

Listen to the Word. Sit with holy Scripture. You will be astounded to find the understanding you crave, the answers you seek.

After three days they found [Jesus] in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions, and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers. Luke 2:46-47