MARFAM WEEKLY FAMILY MATTERS NEWSLETTER

What a mouthful that. Happy- sure, hymfilled is my theme today, holydays – not just holidays. Liturgical music is a special treasure for me and many others I believe, especially  when it comes to Christmas time. I very much enjoyed joining in our Symphony choir Christmas concerts this last weekend and found the selection of traditional and newer carols particularly meaningful and inspiring, especially some local compositions, such as COME AFRICA and the RAIN CAROL which present a very context to the cold, winter and snow images we often associate with Christmas and then feel out of step basking on sun-filled beaches.

The 2nd week of Advent’s theme is salvation and preparing the way, which does require repentance as preached by John the Baptist, who was “the voice crying in the wilderness to make His paths straight.” If and when this is done – not the crying in the wilderness but making the paths straight – salvation will be visible.  

How are we able to make straight the paths, in our world – a family of families, and in our own families and our own lives?  It is multifaceted.  Partying can have its place, with limitations on drinking and driving of course. Building and strengthening relationships should be a joy, not a problem, but it nevertheless can be difficult and includes conversion and healing of hurts.   Pope Francis’ recent encyclical, Dilexit Nos, on the Sacred Heart expressed it simply and beautifully.  “Only love will save humanity,” the pope;s message proclaims. Could this short invocation be a prayer for each day, together with the morning offering of the Apostleship of Prayer?

INVOCATION FROM DILEXIT NOS – HE LOVED US.

“Lord Jesus Christ may the love in your Sacred heart pour forth streams of living water to heal the hurts we have caused, strengthen our ability to love and serve others, and inspire us to journey towards a world of justice, solidarity and fraternity. O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer You my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings of this day for all the intentions of you Sacred Heart.”  

Most Advent hymns are not about the baby Jesus at all, but about him as savior and king who will bring justice, break oppression and bring about God’s kingdom as an endless reign of peace.  For those interested I suggest to google on youtube,  many Advent hymns  with lyrics for meaningful reflection, There are hymns like “Make straight the way for the coming of the Lord,”  and “Hail to the Lord’s anointed.”   Some are very ancient, others dating from 18th century up to recent times, like COME AFRICA mentioned above composed by Sue Cock and sung by the Symphony choir directed by Richard Cock  https://www.facebook.com/groups/90774015653/posts/10167357747935654/.    Our recent concert also included THE RAIN CAROL by Ron Gill, which was quite amazing and amusing, as after days of suffering through a heatwave, as we left the concert hall the heavens opened and at least some parts of JHB were blessed with rain.  

Interestingly many older hymns already had an inbuilt eco-friendly focus, that one too easily glossed over, until our eyes were opened. Beautiful images are noted in “Hail to the Lord’s anointed, “He shall come down like showers upon the fruitful earth, and love, joy, hope like flowers spring in his path to birth.  Before him on the mountains shall peace the herald go and righteousness in fountains from hill to valley flow.”    The well-known “Joy to the World” is full of nature images, e.g. “heaven and nature sing… ”   and more.”

Becoming eco-friendly of course is a very inclusive activity when one considers the Laudato Si Action Platform goals like Sustainable living – “don’t drink and drive,”  “don’t shop till you drop” and taking note of the goals of “the cry of the poor” as well as “the cry of the earth.”   

May your preparations for the celebration of Christmas and the birth of Jesus once again, be happy hymn-filled ones at this time and may our families be musically charged and joyfilled too, at least once a day, starting with  “Prepare ye the way of the Lord.” From Godspell, a 1960s gospel musical. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kuUl522_8jQ   Feliz Novidad iin calypso style, is borderline when it comes to spirituality but the Iingle Bell Rock is rather out of this league.   I’m not sure how I feel about “I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus, underneath the Christmas tree… ”  but certainly look forward to “War is over..” TR   11 December 2024

THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY 11 DECEMBER. PROTECT BIODIVERSITY.

11 December.  PROTECT BIODIVERSITY. A CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY GIFT TO NATURE.  Doris announced, “There has been quite a large focus on the COP 29 environmental conference but only a little on the biodiversity COP 16 which was held just a few weeks earlier. Maybe that one would be of greater interest to families because it dealt with promotion of indigenous people and their knowledge about biodiversity.  Far too many creatures become extinct every year, many we don’t even know exist, but when there is talk of eagles and vultures becoming victims of the whole climate change chain of events it is likely to raise a response as everyone seems to value eagles.  A year-end holiday  Christmas gift to nature could be adoption of the campaign to become an eco-friendly family.”  

Scripture:  The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary, his understanding is unsearchable.  He gives power to the faint and to him who has no might he increases strength. Youths shall faint and be weary and young men shall fall exhausted, but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. Is 40:25-31. Pope Francis: Each year sees the disappearance of 1000s of plant and animal species which we will never know, which our children will never see. The great majority become extinct for reasons related to human activity.  They will no longer give glory to God by their very existence.  LS 33 Reflect, share, and pray:  Let us thank God for his gift of creation and all the 1000s of creatures, including ourselves who give glory to God by our lives.  Who will win the greatest glory prize?