Come after me: Family as a disciple: Nativity
Every family needs the transformation experience which comes through the sacrament of Holy matrimony. In wedding function at Canaan, wine was an essential component of a wedding. When there was lack of wine the families were worried and they feared of shame. Similarly, I reflect, the wine, symbolizes the saving blood of Jesus, saving grace of God in the family. When there is a lack of acknowledging God's presence within the families, there may be darkness within the family, which would mask the gifts and fruits of the families. Acknowledging and seeking God's help and His presence within the family is the first step of transformation.
In the light of first miracle, there were two different things are seen. One side wine is need it is over another side there is plenty of water. If I may visualize water as the natural gifts of the family, which is abundant within each family, which may not substitute the required wine in quality, appearance, and taste. Therefore water is not exchangeable for wine naturally. Natural weaknesses and strengths of the family may equates to water. However, to turn water into wine, it has to be offered to God for His supernatural interventions. In God's supernatural interventions water would become wine. I call this as a transformation process. In family life, it is a continual process. Water is a spontaneous natural gift. But the wine is different, it has to be gathered and pressed and processed to be palatable. Likewise, family transformation takes time and it takes patience, it takes forgiveness, it takes undergoing pressing process, which is the sufferings within the family life. At the end, the family transforms into sweet wine.
Family as disciple undergo sufferings of disciples, which is the process of transformation. Jesus when He called His disciples to follow Him, He gave an indicating quality of the disciple, which is carrying one's own cross and follow Him. Carrying the cross is the act of submission to the heavenly will. Carrying cross means accepting one another weakness and inadequacies and live patiently looking up to heaven. Carrying the cross and following Jesus is another level of discipleship. I think, if we look upon the crucified Jesus, while carrying our cross, we may draw strength to follow him in our family life.
In the light of first miracle, there were two different things are seen. One side wine is need it is over another side there is plenty of water. If I may visualize water as the natural gifts of the family, which is abundant within each family, which may not substitute the required wine in quality, appearance, and taste. Therefore water is not exchangeable for wine naturally. Natural weaknesses and strengths of the family may equates to water. However, to turn water into wine, it has to be offered to God for His supernatural interventions. In God's supernatural interventions water would become wine. I call this as a transformation process. In family life, it is a continual process. Water is a spontaneous natural gift. But the wine is different, it has to be gathered and pressed and processed to be palatable. Likewise, family transformation takes time and it takes patience, it takes forgiveness, it takes undergoing pressing process, which is the sufferings within the family life. At the end, the family transforms into sweet wine.
Family as disciple undergo sufferings of disciples, which is the process of transformation. Jesus when He called His disciples to follow Him, He gave an indicating quality of the disciple, which is carrying one's own cross and follow Him. Carrying the cross is the act of submission to the heavenly will. Carrying cross means accepting one another weakness and inadequacies and live patiently looking up to heaven. Carrying the cross and following Jesus is another level of discipleship. I think, if we look upon the crucified Jesus, while carrying our cross, we may draw strength to follow him in our family life.
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