There's an expression I've taken to saying, and it gets more true every year: Family is who God gives you
Jesus himself said you can't value blood relationships more than your relationship with him, and I would extend that to say that the bond in the Holy Spirit that is membership in the Body of Christ becomes primary even over the familial bond. In fact, in my class last night we were talking about the Diary of Perpetua, in which she documents her ordeal in prison awaiting execution for her faith (this was in about 203 AD). And some of my students were struggling with the fact that she gave up her newborn son - the unspoken implication was the question, "How could a mother put her relationship with Christ above her relationship with her newborn baby?" That was a very interesting conversation, and we talked about the level of commitment to the faith that this exhibits. I didn't point out the hypocrisy of people who call themselves "pro-choice" and would have no trouble killing the same baby before they actually set eyes on it.
In any case, my point today is that sometimes God brings people into our lives who are not blood related, but who become just as important to us, or for whom we become responsible in just the same way as a biological child. Anyone who has welcomed step children or adopted children into their home, or any other similar scenario knows what I'm talking about. And so does St. Joseph. The step-child he adopted was Jesus. Maybe the reason that Jesus' step-brothers and step-sisters didn't follow him until after the resurrection was that they were tired of hearing their dad say, "Why can't you be more like your step-brother?" OK, that's a dad joke, but dad jokes are ok on St. Joseph's Day.
So, a happy and blessed St, Joseph's Day to you - St. Joseph, patron saint of Family is who God gives you, pray for us.
Dear friends - Please take 10 minutes to watch this personal update from me:
I'm back, up and running, and ready to go - I should have a new JOURNEY episode within the next week or so - and because you are my loyal peeps, here is an exclusive, just-for-you, behind the scenes SNEAK PEEK into my new office:
I mentioned in The Journey that I wrote a song based on Isaiah 2, which is one of my favorite OT passages:
In days to come, the mountain of the Lord’s house
shall be established as the highest mountain, and raised above the hills.
All nations shall stream toward it. Many peoples shall come and say:
“Come, let us go up to the Lord’s mountain, to the house of the God of Jacob, That he may instruct us in his ways, and we may walk in his paths.” For from Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
He shall judge between the nations, and set terms for many peoples.
They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; One nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again. House of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord!
I hope you like the song!
The problem with us men is that often we don't have the wisdom to be a father until we're a grandfather.
This may sounds like some ironic statement that makes you nod your head in agreement but shrug your shoulders in resignation, thinking, well there's nothing we can do about that. But the practical application of that is that it demonstrates how important it is for kids to grow up around their grandparents. But as in our culture the family becomes ever more fractured and spread out, that is harder and harder to do.
Lately I've been thinking that part of the problem is the whole concept of college. It used to be that everyone thought a person had to go to college to make a good living. Not only is that not the case (truck drivers make more money than I do) but now college has gone from useless to actually ruining our kids. But when I went to college, what you were supposed to do is figure out what career you wanted (as if anyone knows that at age 18) and then go away to the college ...
And don't forget, if you would like to read my latest novel:
The Sword and the Clover - just let me know by email.
I'm happy to send you the PDF version, even if you haven't been a monetary supporter of the community - all I ask is that you don't share it with anyone else.
My email address:
Keep in touch!
JIm
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