December 23, 2019
Especially at this time of year, I suspect that most of us have savored the fruits of a “family recipe,” whether an appetizer, main course, or dessert. Even if the ingredients are not a secret, we know that each and every one of them contributes to the food that we look forward to preparing and eating. St. Paul, in our second reading, provides us with the ingredients that make for a “family recipe” that produces good and generous relationships that we can also savor. Among the many virtues that might produce good fruit within a family, Paul includes heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, bearing with one another, and forgiving one another. He maintains that over all these ingredients, we should add love and that we should make sure that the peace of Christ controls our hearts. Finally, St. Paul reminds us that, within our families, we should be grateful.