Listening and Obeying: Family Reflection Video

By: Father Pinto Paul, C.S.C. on December 18th, 2017

Listening and Obeying: Family Reflection Video

When you and your family are faced with issues and concerns that press you for answers and plans of action, what do you do?

When faced with uncertain circumstances, Pope Francis recommends to move with faith … and start with prayer. Prayer however, is not just speaking to God. Rather, it is also giving space and time for God to tell us what He wants.

There are certain realities in life we cannot avoid but we can overcome them. If we don’t learn to overcome, we can become paralyzed and lose our trust in life and God. Fear will make us unable to recognize God’s gifts in us and our capacity to move on.

Sometimes it’s difficult to remember to pray before panicking. Listen and obey God first. This is something we have to keep practicing. Can you think of any examples in your own life experiences where you panicked first? How about prayed first? How did each of these situations work out?

I trust God has a plan for each of us. Listen and obey. I pray God will remove any doubt, confusion or fear you feel today, my dear friend.

For additional reading: The Birth of Jesus, Matthew 1:18-25.

About Father Pinto Paul, C.S.C.

Father Pinto Paul C.S.C., ordained a priest in the Congregation of Holy Cross in 1999, worked with tribal populations in northeast India as a missionary for ten years. In 2010 he came to the US for further studies. While working as a campus minister at Stonehill College, he assisted pastors in local parishes, led seminars and workshops for teachers and students in the US and earned a master’s degree in Educational Administration from Boston College and a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from Lesley University, Cambridge. He is currently working as the International Director of the Boston-based Holy Cross Family Ministries with missions in 18 countries.