The Most Amazing Week of the Year! Family Reflection Video

Holy lives of inspiration | Seasonal Reflections

What is it about this amazing week that calls us to be inspired, hopeful, prayerful and joyful?

Monday’s Christmas celebration is the most inspiring story of God’s tenderness.

Yesterday was the hope-filled celebration of Stephen, the first martyr.

Today we celebrate the feast of St. John the Apostle, the Beloved Disciple and Evangelist. He believed because he prayed. Prayer drew him into a deeper faith … and it can do the same for us.

What joy there is for all who come to believe!

Think about these four words: inspired, hopeful, prayerful and joyful. What an amazing way to live! St. John reminds us a deep faith and prayer life can help us live this way. Can you think of any difficult situations where your family has had to help lift you back up and remind you? Have there been times you’ve done this for them?

I pray you and your family continue to celebrate the joy of this Christmas season in your hearts and actions. God bless you.

For additional reading: 1 John 1:1-4, The Word of Life and John 20:1A and 2-8, The Empty Tomb.

About Father Willy Raymond, C.S.C.

Father Wilfred J. Raymond, C.S.C. (Father Willy), a native of Old Town, Maine, is the eighth of 12 children. He joined the Congregation of Holy Cross in 1964 and was ordained to the priesthood in 1971. He earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Stonehill College in 1967 and a master’s in Theology from the University of Notre Dame in 1971. He served in ministry at Stonehill College (1979-1992), Holy Cross leadership (1994-2000), National Director of Family Theater Productions, Hollywood (2000-2014), and President of Holy Cross Family Ministries (2014-2022). In addition to English, he is conversant in French and Spanish. He remains a diehard fan of the Boston Red Sox, even though he has served as Chaplain for the Los Angeles Dodgers.