February 13. Sunday 6C. World Marriage Day.    Blessed are they who have placed their trust in the Lord.    Marriage Moments, past, present and future.’  This was the focus of the event that the parish Marriage and Family team had planned, with a focus on marriage and open to the whole community.  Members of different groups, youth, women’s and men’s sodalities were invited to make a presentation, witness and share their stories for the sake of the whole community.  Finally Joe and Tracy, who were celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary shared, “being apostles has not been our own choice but it is was God who chose us in our unworthiness.  In spite of our struggles God called us to unity and deeper faith and love for one another, for our children and for God. We have grown to understand what it means to be a little Church in our home and a sign to the world.”    Becoming an eco-friendly family:  Think of examples of lifegiving families in your own lives and send them your love and congratulations.    

Blessed the person who has placed his trust in the Lord.  Blessed indeed are they who follow not the counsel of the wicked nor stand in the path with sinners, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord and who ponder his law day and night.  Psalm 40. Pope Francis:   It is important that people experience the gospel of the family as a joy that fills hearts and lives because in Christ we have been set free from sin, sorrow, inner emptiness and loneliness. (EG1)  We must not forget that in her teaching on the family, the Church is a sign of contradiction. AL200. As a social institution marriage protects and shapes a shared commitment to deeper growth in love and commitment to one another, for the good of society as a whole. AL131.  

A MARRIAGE AND FAMILY PRAYER. Dear God,  during this month as we celebrate the gift of life-giving love we ask for your special blessing on marriage as a special sign of your presence. Strengthen us all in our ability to share life-giving love in our world as a family of families.   Amen