The Holy Family: Jesus, Mary, and Joseph

I wish to share my experience this week starting Sunday December 6, 2020. On Sunday, in his homily, the Jesuit scholar Fr. Henri Boulad spoke about his dream when he was only 17 years old and his commitment to Christ since then as he turned 90 this year! Some years ago when he was 78 years old, his long mission of over 50 years seemed to have come to an end when he suddenly fell seriously ill. He then asked the Lord "If you want to take me home, I am ready. If you want me to continue this mission, please give me an answer." And the good Lord answered him...Henri Boulad suddenly felt that he has been renewed with energy to continue in spite of his weakness for as long as he can...He drew a parallel with Moses. Moses was allowed to speak to God in the unconsumed bush on Mount Sinai.There God asked him to speak to Egypt's rulers in spite of his heavy tongue (Exodus 4: 10) in order to let his people go to the Promised Land. And Moses lived 120 years after he liberated God's chosen people. Henri Boulad too could live up to be 120 years old for the mission he is called to fulfill. He does not control his life because he let God do it. It is a matter of love for God through his creation. On Tuesday, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Pope Francis said "The feast of the Immaculate Conception expresses the grandeur of God's love. Not only does he forgive sin, but in Mary he even averts the original sin present in every man and woman who comes into this world. This is the love of God which precedes, anticipates and saves. The beginning of the history of sin in the Garden of Eden yields to a plan of saving love. The words of Genesis reflect our own daily experience: we are constantly tempted to disobedience, a disobedience expressed in wanting to go about our lives without regard for God's will. This is the enmity which keeps striking at people's lives, setting them in opposition to God's plan. Yet the history of sin can only be understood in the light of God's love and forgiveness." In an Apostolic Letter dedicated to Saint Joseph, titled “Patris corde” (“With a Father’s Heart”), Pope Francis recalled the 150th anniversary of the declaration of Saint Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church. To mark the occasion, the Holy Father has proclaimed a “Year of Saint Joseph” from 8 December 2020, to 8 December 2021. Also on Tuesday night, at the Melkite Greek Catholic parish in Toronto, a solemn Divine Liturgy celebrating the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary was celebrated by Msgr. Makarios Wehbi assisted by Fr. Michel Chalhoub and sung by the renowned Homsy choir. In his homily, Msgr.Makarios In his homily, Msgr. Makarios clarified that Mary was conceived without sin. Yet she lived a life of fellowship with God our Savior. The early Church Fathers called her "The New Eve" who contrary to Eve that disobeyed God, Mary obeyed God. Under the cross she became our mother - She is Mother of the Church... As Christmas is approaching, let us ask the Lord to bring an end to the coronavirus pandemic. Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine is officially approved for use in Canada, with limited rollout set to begin to priority groups “within days” and vaccination of the general population anticipated to start in April.(See article here)