by Rev. Herbert Nichols

I love to read the comics. They can be humorous as well as educational, even inspirational. A young child sitting on the floor playing with her new Christmas toys caught up in the thought of post Christmas let down, her cloud of thought were written the words: Perhaps it’s all those weeks of rushing around, just to get ready for one day; then suddenly its over. The tree which has been around since Thanksgiving either goes back to the closet or out on the sidewalk. If any of the holiday spirit lingers, it won’t last long. Quickly it will be back to routine as soon as the batteries die. We can actually apply this lesson to our spiritual batteries. Unless they are constantly recharged, they will die out a quickly as the Christmas Spirit. We are only two days into the Christmas celebration and the church once filled is now back to its weekly regulars. Do Catholics even know what the 12 days of Christmas are about?

Today the Church offers us the example of the Holy Family as a model and as a treasure. Obviously we are not expected to live exactly the same way they did. Culture and science have changed drastically in 2,000 years.

The world today makes it much more difficult to live as a family, to act as a family, to pray as a family. But families must remain the core and heart of our society, and the heart of the Church which is one extended family. Your home must be a sanctuary of God’s presence as much as this building is.

Prayer must be a priority in the lives of God’s people if they wish to keep their spiritual batteries charged; prayer not only here in Church, but daily family prayer together.

I would dare to ask you how many spend time as a family together in prayer: at meal times, bed times, taking time to read the Bible and sharing reflections together. Is the Bible a priority in your family? Is it an antique that’s put on display to look at, but never touch?

The Bible is a letter, a collection of letters. Like any letter from a loved one, it’s meant to be opened and read. It’s a love letter from God who loves you more than you can ever imagine. Give God a place of priority in your life, in your home, in your family, or you will break under the pressures of modern society.

They are simply too great for anyone to handle by their own strength alone. It is God’s strength, God’s blessings on families that are desperately needed today.

This is the example of the Holy Family that we look to, as Mary treasured the experiences of her life and reflected on them in her heart: the Annunciation, the Birth in the Stable, the visiting strangers, shepherds and magi and the slaughter of the innocents; the flight in terror to Egypt.

Read these words of God and let them soak into your heart and experience his presence in power, in the joys and the sadness of your life. They are opportunities to grow in relationship to God, to grow in holiness; or without Him to be led into the wilderness and darkness, bitterness and depression as we become spiritually drained batteries.

January is known as the highest month for depression and suicide. The days are short and dark by nature. The Christmas lights begin to disappear. The post-holiday let downs reveal false highs, false securities unless God is at the center of our lives and families.