2021 SETTING THE SCENE. . These DAILY THOUGHTS are set in an imaginary parish where the parish priest Fr Brian is promoting a family programme of faith sharing at home. This is the format. 1. Each day could have a story of a different family, 2. linked with the passage from the scripture of the day, 3. a quotation from Pope Francis’ documents. 4. Lastly the family or other group is invited to share their thoughts with one another and make any decisions about a plan of action.  Chosen scripture readings this month are mainly from the first letter of John and gospel of Mark. For more introductory information on OUR WORLD, A FAMILY OF FAMILIES visit https://marfam.org.za/family-year-planner/

January 2.  Pete and Janet had settled down for the evening. In spite of the ongoing Covid restrictions it had been a busy December keeping in touch with their extended family.  “It’s so nice” she shared, “that after our 52 years of marriage we still believe in what we learned in the beginning, except over time it has become more detailed.” “Quite and more complicated. We had births and deaths, school, university, kids going off the rails, kids coming back, grandchildren are our latest and they are not exactly straightforward either,” he replied.  “We have worked so much out for ourselves but I find that reading up regularly what Pope Francis says is still exciting and inspirational.”

Let what you have heard from the beginning abide in you.  If it does you will abide in the Son and in the Father. 1 John 2: 22-28.

Pope Francis: The early chapters of Genesis present the human couple in its deepest reality. “God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created them, male and female he created them.”  It is striking that the image of God here refers to the couple. Inasmuch as God is the Creator, the fruitfulness of the human couple is a living and effective image, a visible sign of his creative act. AL 10. 

Reflect and share.