The beauty and need of the Family

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Ordinary Season: Twenty Seventh Week : Sunday*

*Gospel : Mk 10:2-16 or 10:2-12*

*First Reading : Gn 2:18-24*

*Responsorial Psalm : Ps 128:1-2, 3, 4-5, 6*

*Second Reading - Heb 2:9-11*

*The beauty and need of the Family*

*1) Family is a inseparable reality of Life*

There are many things which can be separated from our life 

Family is one of the most important things, which can't be separated from our life 

We take birth in a family 

We grew up in family 

Any function in life always related to the family. Without family, no function happen in the family 

When we are sick, it is the family which takes care of us

Finally we die in the family 

Even after the death, it is the family which will remember us 

So family is inseparable from our life 

*2) Role of Father and Mother*

The first reading of today from the book of Genesis high light the role of the man and woman in the family 

Woman was created from the rib of the man 

Two realities we can see here 

One is the *heart*

Second one is *Rib*

Rib covers and protects the heart  and as long as heart functions the rib will survive 

Here we can consider Father or Man as *Heart*

Mother or Woman and the *Rib* which protects the heart 

Heart and Rib once again inseparable realities of human body 

Likewise Man and Woman inseparable realities of the family 

*3) The Purpose of the Family*

The primary purpose of the family is to have companionship. God says *It is not good for the man to be alone.*

He wanted someone to be with Him 

So God brought animals, birds, wild animals. But none proved to be the suitable partner for man 

So no animals can be the partners for human beings. 

Today there is a trend to abandon human beings and to make friendship with animals. But the fact is the no animal can replace human partner 

That's why God created a suitable partner for man in the form of woman 

*4) Called to build and not to break*

The primary purpose of human life is to build the family and not to break the family 

Therefore Jesus says *what God has joined together, no human being must separate.”*

Once we know the importance and need to the family, no one can dare to break or to destroy the family 

So the primary purpose of Father and Mother to build the family and not to break the family 

*5) No family - no meaning for Life*

At the end of the day it is the family that matters to a person 

A person may be having crores of money, acreas of land, bundle of wealth, great name, power, position and everything. 

With all these if the person does not have a family of his own, none of the above things bring any meaning to life 

In other words, none of the above things replace human relationships 

Therefore, when family breaks, person becomes alone. None of the things can bring any meaning to his life 

That's why when family is gone, everything is gone

*Think about it*

*God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones*

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*