Show Notes
Overall Takeaways
Dr. Gerry: You can make a positive change in your family system.
Dr. Peter: Take a step-by-step approach to living out the virtues.
Key Verses from Sunday Mass Readings
“God sets a father in honor over his children;
a mother's authority he confirms over her sons.
Whoever honors his father atones for sins,
and preserves himself from them.”
“Put on, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved,
heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.”
“Wives, be subordinate to your husbands,
as is proper in the Lord.
Husbands, love your wives,
and avoid any bitterness toward them.”
“Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel,
for those who sought the child's life are dead.
He rose, took the child and his mother,
and went to the land of Israel.”
Where Catholicism Meets Psychology
- God calls us to the Holy Family’s level of perfection but doesn’t discount how difficult that might be within broken family systems.
- Subordination of wives to husbands is often a difficult verse within traditional Catholic marriages. Although final authority is needed, husbands are also called to love their wives as Christ loves His Church
- A husband must not simply excise his desires and authority but put his wife’s interests above his own as Joseph protects Mary and Jesus. Mary is joyfully obedient because she knows Joseph loves her and is looking out for her and Baby Jesus first.
- We need to proactively make changes within our family systems to move toward the perfection and virtues God wants for us.
Action Item
Pick on virtue from the second reading and do one proactive thing daily to live that virtue. Don’t simply react to the events of the day. Then, watch to see the ripple effect in your family system.
Schedule and prioritize 20 minutes every day to sit and talk with your spouse. Consider doing “snippets” with children. Set aside 5-10 minutes for each child daily to give them your full attention in a game, story or conversation.