Family Matters

September 30.    Many preachers like to begin a homily with the words, “God is good,” and the people will respond, “All the time.” But listening to the various prophets one wonders if it does feel like that all the time, or are there prophets of doom and prophets of...

September 29. Archangels. Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, archangels.  There is a lot of interest in angels in society nowadays. Gran explained. “Angels and spirits are mentioned in various places in the Bible.  Angels are also creatures of God and they are given...

September 28.   A sense of calm, peacefulness and acceptance had settled over the family during this time as they had watched sunrises and sunsets, experienced some wonderful weather, some storms and really drought-stricken places.  “Is it not like that in life...

September 26.  For many Westerners the complexities of African extended family ties and the roles they play are a real mystery.  Why does an uncle get involved in wedding arrangements or why is a cousin called a sister or brother? Why does the firstborn remain...

September 25. Heritage Day (transferred from Sunday)   “Why do people keep some of their traditions and cultures a secret?”  This has been noted by the family on their eco-safari.  People may be welcoming but seldom really get to share or know...

September 24. Sunday 25A.  One Sunday they visited a suburban parish in a country town that traditionally had been white but like many suburban churches was becoming much more mixed. Fr George used the opportunity of the gospel story to pose a question around...

September 23.  As they drove along Dad couldn’t help wondering, “Why is it that family members can turn out so differently?  They come from the same background, have some different genes, or is there something in the environment that affects them. Maybe they had a bad...

September 22.  On their eco-safari the family had spent a couple of weeks travelling and sleeping in many different places.  Sometimes it had been more or less rough than at other times. One night they shared on where they had felt closest to God.  Michael had loved...

September 21. Mr Moshoeshoe continued, “Every culture has traditions and rituals as part of its heritage.  Performing these correctly shows respect.   We often do not understand one another’s culture well and may be offended by certain actions that are foreign to our...