Our Lady of Sorrows
    info@oladyofsorrows.org
    956-686-0251
    • Home
    • News
      • Weekly Bulletin
    • Homilies
      • Msgr. Gustavo Barrera
      • Dcn. Ray Thomas
      • Dcn. Johnny Gonzalez
      • Dcn. Crawford Higgins
    • About Us
      • Office Directory
      • Worship & Liturgy Schedule
      • Our Pastor
      • Photo Gallery
    • Donate
    • Sacraments
      • Baptism
      • Matrimony
      • CCD
      • RCIA
    • Ministries & Organizations
      • Adoration
      • Altar & Rosary Society
      • Altar Servers
      • Asamblea de Oracion de Matrimonios (AOM)
      • Catholic Daughters of the Americas
      • Homebound Ministry
      • JCDA
      • Choir
      • Knights of Columbus
      • Legion of Mary
      • Readers of the Word (Lectors)
      • Serra Club
      • Star of Hope
    • Faith & Spirituality Groups
      • Bereavement Support
      • Centering Prayer Group
    • Become a Parishioner
    • Funeral Information
    • Quinceañera Information
    • OLS YouTube Channel
    • School
    • Diocese of Brownsville
    • Contact Us

    Holy Family, Cycle C

    12/27/2015

     
    Luke 2:41-52
    ​
    They had only one kid and they lost him.  The majority of us try to avoid speaking about the negative at family reunions.  Obviously the Blessed Mother remembered years later when she related the story to St. Luke so that he could write it in the Gospel. 
     
    Perhaps one reason was to show that Jesus was a normal boy who caused a few headaches.  Although Our Lord never sinned, we have evidence that he did get lost, at least once.  Three days is a long time for a child to be without His parents.  A typical 12 year old is not helpless—but there was food, lodging, safety to consider.  Not only was Jesus able to take care of Himself, He made some friends—teachers who were impressed with His understanding.  Many children know more than we are willing to admit.  Considering the level of exposure to technology, a typical 3rd grader can come over and fix my computer.  Cell phone—no challenge.  I Pad—piece of cake.  Children are being exposed to machines even during infancy.  Television has been the main source of information, education, and baby-sitting for years.  Yet, as we are aware, technology can serve in a positive way buy can also destroy young minds.  Some of the deficiencies in learning are attributed to over exposure or exposure at a very young age to television.  Who’s watching?  Who’s monitoring?  The popular movie, “Home Alone” is about a little boy that got left behind while his parents went on a European vacation.  The little boy was left behind unintentionally.  Countless children are left behind intentionally.  “The dog can watch them.”  “We’ll only be gone a few minutes.”  “They can watch TV until we get back.”  Unfortunately the move “Home Alone” is a reality in too many families.
     
    Separated families, single parent families, blended families.  Our definition of what a family is has evolved.  Even in the old days, there was never a family without its share of problems.  The challenge today is to know what love is.  Many confuse love with something else.  The result is a short-lived relationship.  Nobody should stay in a relationship that is abusive, oppressive, and not life-giving. 
     
     
    Acknowledging that folks make mistakes, Our Holy Mother Church reaches out, especially to those who are hurting with the healing Sacraments—like Reconciliation—like granting an annulment of a union that was never a marriage.  The Church is always inclusive, not exclusive.  Contrary to Grandmother’s opinion, the doors are always open because the Church is our family.  Once baptized, we’ve got our foot in the door.  We have the right to be a Roman Catholic, unworthy as we are because we are a family of sinners.  If we see ourselves as a sinner—don’t worry, we blend in.  If we wait around until we get our act together, then we will never be free.  The worthy game is a game we cannot win because the devil has the list of our sins.  He puts the list in front of our face every time we want to do something good.  Don’t listen.  He’s a liar, from the beginning.  The Lord never accuses us, He acquits us of our sins.  We know that we are guilty.  Jesus has paid the price.  All we have to do is accept the freedom of forgiveness, which by the way is the main ingredient in any family.  We are all here because we have been forgiven, not because we deserve to be loved.  Isn’t that the way love is?  Does love ever have an explanation?  God has always loved us, even before we were born.
     
    This is the place we can call home.  No strings attached other than having to put up with each other.  Certainly God gives us the grace to be His Holy Family.    
               
    <<Previous
      Picture
      Msgr. Gustavo Barrera,
      ​celebrated his first Holy Mass as pastor on September 15, 2007, the feast day of Our Lady of Sorrows. With his enthusiasm and spiritual guidance, OLS continues to serve our Catholic family in a way that challenges us to grow as an evangelizing community.

      Archives

      February 2023
      January 2023
      December 2022
      November 2022
      October 2022
      September 2022
      August 2022
      July 2022
      June 2022
      May 2022
      April 2022
      March 2022
      February 2022
      January 2022
      November 2020
      October 2020
      September 2020
      August 2020
      July 2020
      June 2020
      May 2020
      April 2020
      March 2020
      February 2020
      January 2020
      December 2019
      November 2019
      October 2019
      September 2019
      July 2019
      June 2019
      May 2019
      April 2019
      March 2019
      February 2019
      January 2019
      December 2018
      November 2018
      October 2018
      September 2018
      August 2018
      July 2018
      June 2018
      May 2018
      April 2018
      March 2018
      February 2018
      January 2018
      December 2017
      November 2017
      October 2017
      September 2017
      August 2017
      June 2017
      May 2017
      April 2017
      March 2017
      February 2017
      January 2017
      December 2016
      November 2016
      October 2016
      September 2016
      August 2016
      July 2016
      June 2016
      May 2016
      April 2016
      March 2016
      February 2016
      January 2016
      December 2015
      November 2015
      October 2015
      September 2015
      August 2015
      July 2015
      June 2015
      May 2015
      April 2015
      March 2015

      Msgr. Gustavo Barrera, Pastor.

      Categories

      All

      RSS Feed

    About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Office Directory
    • Stewardship
    • Pastor
    • Our History
    Sacraments
    • Baptism
    • First Reconciliation
    • First Communion
    • Confirmation
    • Marriage
    • Anointing of the Sick
    Parish Life
    1. Become a Parishioner
    2. Bulletin & Newsletters
    3. Planning Center Log-in​
    Worship and Liturgy
    • Daily Readings
    • Liturgy of Hours
    • Mass & Reconciliation
    • Eucharistic Adoration
    Faith Formation
    • CCD
    • RCIA​
    Links & Resources
    • CDOB
    • USCCB
    • Vatican: Holy See
    • American Catholic
    More
    • Homilies
    • Online Giving
    • OLS School
    • OLS on YouTube
    Our Lady of Sorrows Parish
    1108 W Hackberry Ave.
    McAllen, Texas 78501-4370
    Telephone
    : (956) 686-0251
    Picture
    Picture

    Website Development by The Parish Solutions Company
    Our Lady of Sorrow Image Copyright Cromo NB permission to use by CNB Basevi.
    Back to top