Gen 28:1-5
Meditatio/Reflection:
The first thing that stood out to me when reading this passage was the command of Jacob to "Go...and take as a wife...one of the daughters of Laban" (v. 2). It's almost bizarre to think of this command being necessary. Only take one wife, son. I suppose in a culture that was so inundated with polygamy, and that Jacob was going to be heading away from his place of security, this command surely must have been needed. And of course, Jacob won't obey it, and look what happens: his family life is what we might call a disaster. Drama, deceit, contests, favoritism, envy. What could possibly held this together? Isaac's blessing: "May God Almighty bless you...May he give to you the blessing of Abraham" (v. 3-4).
I love that image of Isaac giving Jacob this blessing. It reminds me of my own kids. Each night we have a pretty set routine. About 7:00 in the evening, I will get the boys together to get ready for bed. PJs on, brush teeth, etc. Then I send the older boys downstairs for some quiet reading time while I read a story to John Paul, pray with him, sing him some songs, and then put him to bed. Then I get the older boys, read them a story (currently The Hobbit), say Night Prayer with them, sing some songs, and then put them to bed. As I put all three boys to bed, I bless them with a prayer I came up with while I was dating Ashley: "God bless you and may your guardian angels and all the angels watch over you this night and grant you restful sleep." This routine has become one of my favorite things about being a dad. To be able to close a day with giving a fatherly blessing. It's in these moments when I know that I'm fulfilling at least part of what God wants me to be as a dad.
Oratio/Thanksgiving:
Thank you, Lord, for your gift of marriage to the world and how you designed that we would be husband and wife, one flesh, indissoluble. Thank you for the blessing of fatherhood and my kids.
Oratio/Prayer Intentions:
Dear Lord, bless my wife and kids. May they come to know you, love you, and serve you better with each day. Bless me as a husband and father, that I may be a blessing to them.
Mr. Crane's Song of the Day:
Billy Joel: Goodnight My Angel
Wisdom from the Holy Father:
"To be a good father, the first requirement is to be present in the family. To be close to his wife, to share in everything, joy and pain, burdens and hopes."
-Pope Francis, General audience, Feb. 4, 2015
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