MARFAM WEEKLY E-NEWSLETTER 2 JANUARY

A SPECIAL NEW YEAR BLESSING TO ALL.   It appears that there is Irish tradition to open the door at midnight to let the Old Year out and the New Year in.   I’m not sure how they manage to do that without falling over each other but probably with years of practice they have learned to stick to the right order.   Irish blessings are special for me possibly because they tend to have a nature connection. Reflect and enjoy this one:    May the road rise up to meet you, may the wind be always at your back, may the sun shine warm upon your face and the rain fall softly on your fields  and until we meet again may God hold you in  the palm of his hand.    What better message of hope can I share with everyone in this time of climate change and extreme weather threats to look forward to in the new year.  Whether literally or figuratively such a message of hope is a blessing.  I’ve been doing a lot of reading of Pope Francis’ documents on the Jubilee of Hope to prepare for the MARFAM THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY for January 2025 for a start.    The formal Indiction Bull is headed HOPE DOES NOT CONFOUND/DISAPPOINT.   The MARFAM THOUGHTS also include messages from the World Day of Prayer for Peace, on 1 January: FORGIVE US OUR TRESSPASSES; GRANT US YOUR PEACE  and the encyclical on the Sacred Heart of Jesus DILEXIT NOS/WE ARE LOVED.  As I considered the readings of the day I chose an extract from one of these documents, with the Jubilee and being Pilgrims of Hope in mind.  But apart from all that I offer my own reflection “Where are you going Pilgrim, friend?” from MARFAM’s  2005 Advent and Christmas programme based on my pilgrimage to the Holy Land. That Sacred Place like much of the world today has been defaced by our actions.  May each person’s and each family’s pilgrim journey in 2025 be filled with hope from action, experienced as peace and joy.    TR  FAMILY

“May the Lord bless you and keep you.  May the Lord let his face shine on you and be gracious to you.  May the Lord uncover his face to you and bring you peace. Book of Numbers 6:23-27.

THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY 2 JANUARY

January 2.  “Tweede Nuwejaarsday” is a cultural celebration in Cape Town, led chiefly by the coloured community,  also known as Kaapse Klopse, a minstrel festival with colourful costumes, a flamboyant street parade, singing, banjos and other instruments. It commemorates the 18-19th century slave culture when slaves were given this day off to celebrate the New Year.  Family groups shared, “Nowadays we do celebrate this festival, but there is also much condemnation of the evils of slavery which was the norm.  Human trafficking today can also be seen as a modern form of slavery.”  “But what about the wars happening in the Holy Land, Ukraine, DRC, Sudan and elsewhere. isn’t there a case of oppression and domination too and can those victims of war really remain hopeful?”   “We can even ask ourselves in our families if we are fair and just to our workers today, recognising that they have families too to celebrate and spend time with.  And we’re all hoping for a successful 2025 aren’t we?“                                              

Reflect, share. Scripture All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. Shout to the Lord all the earth, ring out your joy. PS 98,. Pope Francis. Some people attempt to flee from reality; take refuge in their own little world; others react with violence.  Between selfish indifference and violent protest there is always another possible option: that of dialogue.  A country flourishes when constructive dialogue occurs between its many rich cultural components: popular culture, university culture, youth, artistic, technological, economic, family and media culture. FT 199. Pray and act  with honesty and acceptance to promote the hope of growing unity in our cultural diversity.