"Only when a family focuses on God can that family become whole" (UPDATED)

That brilliant, and most logical, statement coming from Father Mike Joly this morning during Mass in a sermon focused on Christmas get togethers and more particularly the attempt by so many to have the picture perfect family holiday gathering.

I've not touched on this since my last post on the matter but the missus and I believe we've found our church home and have been faithfully attending each week ever since.  In fact, I've been faithfully attending Mass each week since early August and I can tell you that it's made a difference.

Last week, The Anchoress linked to a liberal who sheepishly admits the same and uses words that ring true:

Inside the church, it's cool and quiet. I read the Collect of the day in the Book of Common Prayer, which urges us: "While we are placed among 
things that are passing away, to hold fast to those that shall
 endure." My recent layoff no longer seems like the end of the world. I take Communion and exchange the peace and listen to the sermon. As I'm walking back up the aisle, I feel reoriented and calmer, the indignities of the week shift into perspective.

We're all faced with indignities... some of them thrust upon us by the uncaring, others the result of our own actions, still others merely the outcome of life events... and those indignities can become weights that stoop the shoulders, lower our heads and burden our souls... if we let them... and too many of us do.

I've come to look forward to weekly Mass because it does indeed put things in their proper perspective and more importantly, because it lightens the load.  Whether it be a thoughtful sermon like the one I listened to this morning, or a moving hymn, the reading of God's Word or simply the look of reverance and awe on a nearby worshipper's face, it's something that I long for and need and quite frankly, I suspect you do too.

As someone who's been away from the Church for too long, I encourage anyone who's in that current state to do something about it.  Your soul needs rest and there's no better rest than in a Church community that takes Christ seriously, whose leaders are passionate about Him and whose parishioners are committed to becoming whole.

If you're feeling less than whole there might just be a reason and it might just have to do with where your focus is.

UPDATE: Only moments after publishing my post, I'm turned on to this video by Terresa I believe to be related to what I'm attempting to say:

Comments

[chuck aka xtnyoda]

Read with grateful joy.

chuck

[Mommynator]

I agree. My husband, youngest daughter and I have finally found a home for our souls to be refreshed and challenged. Not traditional like yours, but passionately in love with God and serious about doing His work while we're here.

A lovely thing to be able to breathe deeply once a week and rest.

[Bernie]

He is the reason.

[BroKen]

And all God's people said....