MARFAM FAMILY WEEKLY E-NEWSLETTER 4 JUNE 2025

When Pope Francis initiated the 2025 Jubilee year last year would he have wondered if he would be here with all those groups of pilgrims  that have come to Rome at this time, and will still come during the course of the year to celebrate as special pilgrimages and jubilees.  Families as signs of hope is one particular message adopted by MARFAM.  The particular Jubilee of Families, children, grandparents and the elderly was celebrated from 30 May to 1 June with more than 40 000 people present, some with their babies and children of all ages and others as, or with, grandparents or elderly people alone. Pope Leo appears to identify with the image of fishers.  In the conference at the Jubilee, “Evangelising with the families of today and tomorrow” he calls on bishops, pastors, laity and families themselves “to cast their nets into the sea and become fishers of couples, young people, children, women and men of all ages and circumstances, so that all may encounter the one Saviour.  Following Pope Francis he stresses the importance of a relationship with Jesus over promoting a set of roles.  He notes the difficulties families face and also calls on us to be fishers of those who no longer come

Here in SA we knew little about this event but now can still learn from the messages that came both from Pope Francis himself and his successor Pope Leo XIV who is already filling those special shoes of a pastor, missionary and his image of a fisherman, while both men of course naturally were members of families themselves.

I believe it is necessary not to forget this aspect. Everyone is a member of a family.  Some groups received special attention at the Mass on 1 June,  Married couples were reminded of the importance of marriage as a covenant, a vocation, a call to the unity that Jesus spoke of at the Last Supper.  In a very unique way married love can and should be a powerful sign of hope for the world. Families were also described as cradles, the cradle of the future of humanity. This reminds us of this sign of hope in the Jubilee document where he refers to the desire to transmit life and the challenges posed by the ways of the world.  Sunday’s gospel from Jesus discourse at the Last Supper focused on unity,  “that they may be one, as we are one.”  Pope Leo said, That is what we want to proclaim to the world: we are here in order to be “one” as the Lord wants us to be “one,” in our families and in those places where we live, work and study. Different, yet one; many, yet one; always, in every situation and at every stage of life. Dear friends, if we love one another in this way, grounded in Christ, who is “the Alpha and the Omega,” “the beginning and the end” (cf. Rev 22:13), we will be a sign of peace for everyone, in society and the world. Let us not forget: families are the cradle of the future of humanity. Pope Leo Homily.

He also repeated the thoughts of Pope Francis which are incorporated into MARFAM’s monthly theme for June: Children belong in families. Dear friends, we received life before we ever desired it. All of us are sons and daughters, but none of us chose to be born” (Angelus, 1 January 2025). Not only that. As soon as we were born, we needed others in order to live; left to ourselves, we would not have survived. Someone else saved us by caring for us in body and spirit. All of us are alive today thanks to a relationship, a free and freeing relationship of human kindness and mutual care.”     

But this kindness is sometimes betrayed, through hurt and harm but Jesus continues to love us – the betrayed, and also the betrayer who needs to be kept in mind as in need of healing.    “Yet even in the face of the evil that opposes and takes life, Jesus continues to pray to the Father for us. His prayer acts as a balm for our wounds; it speaks to us of forgiveness and reconciliation. That prayer makes fully meaningful our experience of love for one another as parents, grandparents, sons and daughters. That is what we want to proclaim to the world: we are here in order to be “one” as the Lord wants us to be “one,” in our families and in those places where we live, work and study. Different, yet one; many, yet one; always, in every situation and at every stage of life.  Pope Leo did not specifically mention all the stages or situations but did note a to pray fpr eternal rest for those who have died.  Teenagers, young adults, singles, widowed and divorced and other situations are realities of family life today.

One of the important family tasks is to pass on the faith from generation to generation. How is this done?  On this day and on many other occasions since his elections Pope Leo spoke of love.  Love is at the heart of family life, God’s love made present by Jesus in these special human relationships. Pope Leo wrote  “Faith is above all a response to a gaze of love. The greatest mistake we can make as Christians is, in the words of Saint Augustine, ‘to presume that the grace of Christ consists in His example and not in the gift of His person.’”https://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/libretti/2025/20250601-libretto-giubileo-famiglie-bambini-nonni.pdf

In my view it should also not be forgotten that when there is reference to all creatures, in homilies, speeches and writings the whole concept and experience of being family is an important aspect of creation, human, animal and plant.  Reproduction is an ongoing work of creation but the gift of relationality, as relationships of love, at various levels and degrees are a very significant key to how God’s love is expressed in his creation. Families, in praying this special Jubilee prayer can reflect on this gift and blessing not to be underestimated.    That is why Families Matter. TR FAMILY WEEKLY 4 JUNE 2025

A JUBILEE PRAYER FOR FAMILIES.  

Heavenly Father, May the FAITH you have given us in your son, Jesus Christ, our brother, and the flame of LOVE enkindled in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, awaken in us the HOPE for the coming of your KINGDOM of love, peace and beauty.

As PILGRIMS OF HOPE and SIGNS OF HOPE in our families help us to plant the seeds of the gospel, to care for and nurture them and so transform the Church, the world and all of creation.  Amen

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

June 4. Week of Prayer for Christian Unity., .   Day 4. The Paschal mystery: Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus.

Scripture Readings: Exodus 3: 7-8. Psalm 16:5, 7, 10, 11. Philippians 2:5-11

Patristic Reading: From the Latin tradition.  God the Father was very merciful: he sent his creative Word who, in coming to deliver us, came to the very place and spot in which we had lost life, and broke the bonds of our fetters. His light appeared and made the darkness of the prison disappear, hallowed our birth and destroyed death, loosing those same fetters in which we were enchained.   Irenaeus of Lyon [c. 135-198], Demonstration of the Apostolic Preaching, 38

For reflection:

  1. We know that we will all die. How does belief in Jesus destroying death change the way we approach this reality?
  2. “God lets himself be pushed out of the world on to the cross. He is weak and powerless in the world, and that is precisely the way, the only way, in which he is with us and helps us.” (Dietrich Bonhoeffer)
  3. As the Risen One, Jesus is with us until the end of all time. In what ways does his companionship encourage you in your daily life?

Let us pray: Lord, our God, glorifying your Son Jesus, you have freed us from death through his resurrection.  Awaken our slumbering hearts, enlighten all who seek you and make the morning star shine upon us.   Jesus Christ, the Living One, who is Lord for ever and ever.   Amen.