Mary, a \u201ctype and outstanding model in faith and charity\u201d (LG 53), also is a type of the Church (LG 63).\u00a0 As such, she reflects the three-fold mission of the Church\u2014and therefore of the domestic Church.\u00a0 Her words at the Annunciation, \u201cMay it be done to me according to your word,\u201d from today\u2019s selection in the \u201cAlleluia,\u201d echo the reference to Christ in today\u2019s reading from Hebrews 10, \u201cBehold, I come to do your will, O God.\u2019\u201c\u00a0\u00a0 This sacrificial self-offering underscores the core meaning of the baptismal priestly calling of holiness of the Christian family\u2014self-oblation and corporate familial self-giving through prayer and the sacraments (FC 55, 62).\u00a0 In a special way, in this Holy Year of Mercy, the Christian family must seek forgiveness from God and each other and contemplate the face of mercy in the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Misericordiae Vultus<\/em>, or MV, 4).\u00a0 In today\u2019s Gospel Reading (Luke 1:39-45), Elizabeth proclaims that Mary is blessed among women, and blessed also by believing that what was spoken to her by the Lord would be fulfilled.\u00a0 Her tenacious trust in and loyalty to God\u2019s will is the baptismal priestly model to which the domestic Church must aspire.<\/p>\n In the Gospel reading, the Virgin Mary also illustrates the prophetic calling of the domestic Church by bringing Jesus to others, i.e., to Elizabeth and the unborn infant John the Baptist, and then proclaiming His power and salvation in her subsequent Magnificat in Luke 1:46-55 (just beyond the reach of today\u2019s Gospel reading). The third calling of the Christian family\u2019s three-fold mission\u2014to advance the kingly reign of love\u2014we see as well in our readings.\u00a0 In Luke 1:39-45, Mary exercised empathy and compassion toward neighbor in her fearless and other-centered journey to Elizabeth, six months into her pregnancy.\u00a0 \u201cShowing mercy\u201d (from rahkam<\/em> and \u1f1c\u03bb\u03b5\u03bf\u03c2), practically the equivalent of \u201chaving compassion,\u201d is the virtue\u2014grounded in humility\u2014most supremely demonstrative of charity.\u00a0 Pope Francis also specifically beckons us to exercise this virtue during this Year of Mercy: \u201cJesus affirms that mercy is not only an action of the Father, it becomes a criterion for ascertaining who his true children are.\u00a0 In short, we are called to show mercy because mercy has first been shown to us\u2026\u201d (MV 9)<\/p>\n What gift can the Christian family\u2014including each of ours, and any family, to the extent possible\u2014give this Christmas to the Christ Child?\u00a0 As the magi did, so too our families can each (try to) give Him three gifts.\u00a0 The first is the baptismal priestly gift of itself\u2014of dedicating ourselves as a family, by sacramental grace and prayer, to loving Christ and keeping His word.\u00a0 The second is the prophetic gift of bringing the truth about Christ and His teachings to others.\u00a0 And the third is the kingly gift of loving neighbor especially for God\u2019s sake.\u00a0 In offering this, our families will exercise great compassion, first on members of our own, but also on others most in need\u2014even enemies.<\/p>\n The sacrifice of our wills, our passionate effort to share Christ and His words, and our compassionate love for Him in our neighbor, at home and far away\u2014inspired and guided by the Mother of the domestic Church\u2014will transform our families, our culture, and our Church.\u00a0 This can be our gift to the Christ Child during this Advent and Christmas season and Holy Year.<\/p>\n Mark Koehne<\/strong> teaches moral theology for Saint Joseph’s College Online<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Today\u2019s liturgical readings\u2014especially the Gospel\u2014highlight, among other themes, the importance and dynamism of the mission of the Christian family.\u00a0 This is significant in light of the recent Synod on the Family, and because of our pilgrimage of faith within Advent … Continue reading ![\"Dom](\"https:\/\/blogs.sjcme.edu\/theology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2015\/12\/Dom-church.png\")
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