BY ZOE CANNON
GRATITUDE FOR THE GIFT OF FAITH
“So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter” (2 Thess 2:15).
Blessings in this New Year! The year 2020 was uniquely challenging, but history reminds us that every generation has endured trials. My mother and father-in-law were both born in 1920. We honored each of them on their 100th birthday by sharing memories and pictures. Their own parents faced hard times when they started their family. In 1917, President Woodrow Wilson sent United States troops to Germany to get involved in WWI. The Spanish flu became a pandemic, and the Blessed Mother appeared to children in Fatima with a warning about Russian power, and concern about the destruction of family in society.
Patty Shaw and Don Cannon were married in January 1942, a month after Pearl Harbor. Don joined the Army to serve his country in WWII. As they grew up, got married and raised a family, times were not easy ones either because of the Great Depression; WWII; the Civil Rights movement and Vietnam War of the 60s; and the economic crisis of the 80s that caused the closing of a decades-old family electrical business, which had supported six brothers and their families.
In honor of their legacy, we planned our Christmas 2020 meal and festivities with all the traditions they provided for us over the years. We enjoyed sharing stories, pictures and recipes, and we decorated with some of their favorite Christmas treasures. Most importantly, we recognized that we honor the same values for country and faith that we witnessed in their lives.
The word tradition genuinely means handing down something to another person. Catholic Tradition, the faith given to the Apostles by Christ, appears with a capital T to mean Sacred Tradition. These practices and rituals are essential to understanding the Catholic Church and the Catholic Christian faith. Many outside the Church may find them eccentric, but Scripture testifies that the Catholic Tradition is a normal mode of transmitting the faith to future generations.
The liturgical calendar in the Catholic Church is celebrated with great purpose, and there is something significant to observe every day! We are blessed with a cycle of scripture readings at Mass every day, the holy witness of the saint for each day and the gift of grace-filled Sacraments instituted by Christ.
The Feast of the Holy Family is my favorite during the Christmas Season. The humble witness of unconditional love shared in this family is not always the reality for some people. We have a responsibility to help one another achieve this goal. Our culture has redefined the plan God created for family, and our society is complicated. Future generations are counting on us to provide the opportunity to live where peace and happiness are possible.
It can be difficult to stand firm in the teachings of Christ in our ever-changing society. Truth is essential! We have a spiritual treasure in the Holy Spirit that can make positive changes in every experience of life. The gifts of wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and awe of the Lord serve as our comforters for times such as these.
We may need a renewal of faith once we can worship together again without pandemic fears. The time has come for the high standard of ordinary Christian living to be a goal in the life of each person, every family and all communities. What are your plans to make a difference in this New Year? I hope it is to give as God would give, not as the world gives! Amen!