The common life (Pope Francis)

  The common life, whether in the family, the parish, the religious community or any other, is made up of small everyday things.  This was true of the holy community formed by Jesus, Mary and Joseph, which reflected in an exemplary way the beauty of the Trinitarian communion.  It was also true of the life that Jesus shared with his disciples and with ordinary people. 

  Let us not forget that Jesus asked his disciples to pay attention to details. 

   The little detail that wine was running out at a party. 

   The little detail that one sheep was missing.

   The little detail of noticing the widow who offered her two small coins.

   The little detail of having spare oil for the lamps, should the bridegroom delay.

   The little detail of asking the disciples how many loaves of bread they had.

   The little detail of having a fire burning and a fish cooking as he waited for the disciples at daybreak.

   A community that cherishes the little details of love, whose members care for one another and create an open and evangelizing environment, is a place where the risen Lord is present, sanctifying it in accordance with the Father’s plan.

--Pope Francis, 

On Holiness in Today’s World, 

Gaudete ex Exultate

Image source: Peter Paul Rubens, The Return of the Holy Family from Jerusalem, https://hnanews.org/return-holy-family-jerusalem-peter-paul-rubens-workshop-returned-june-2017/