Day 2

Belonging

Family, Relationships, and Mutual Care

Opening Prayer

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Lord, today I bind myself to your love. I welcome your peace into my heart as I continue to engage in this encounter with you.
Guide my renewal and help me more fully embrace my identity as your beloved child. Strengthen the bonds of my relationships, heal any hurts which persist, and allow me to see new connections that may remain veiled.
I thank you for the gift of this life, and the time we spend together. Blessed be the name of the Lord both now and forever.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Thanksgiving and Praise Exercise

God has woven humanity into a beautiful and diverse tapestry. Though we are unique in our personalities, our giftedness, and our thoughts and dreams, the essence of each thread is the same. Each individual person, each thread, has inherent dignity, immeasurable worth, and is worthy of love, but the Reign of God is revealed in the colors and patterns that God weaves together through our shared humanity. These relationships of love mirror the Trinity, the mystery of the eternal relationship of love.

We are all made for connection. We are beautiful.

Pause for a moment. What relationships do you have that bring you more fully to life? Who are you with when you feel like you can authentically be yourself?

Take some time to thank God for these people. If you feel like you do not have these types of relationships, ask for God’s help in cultivating and revealing them.

Complete this phrase as many times and for as many people as you would like:

Lord, I see you in (name of person).

Now, challenge yourself. Can you complete the phrase with the names of some people you would not expect or would not immediately come to mind? Lord, I see you in (name of person).

Pathway Light

“Belonging”

Fr. Eric Tellez, the pastor at St. Patrick Catholic Community in Scottsdale, often shares his thoughts on the common phrase “all are welcome.” He’s ok with it, but it’s not really his favorite. That might come as a surprise to some folks. What’s wrong with welcoming people? I thought that’s what we were supposed to do!

Fr. Eric explains that we are indeed called to welcome people, but that welcoming is incomplete without another critical piece: belonging. Welcome can be conditional. People can wear out their welcome or be told “You’re no longer welcome here.” There is something more intrinsic to belonging.

Relationships of belonging are strong protective factors for our mental health; they foster inner healing and help us become more resilient. You may fall into the trap of believing that you are not worthy of these relationships, that you are a person that is to be tolerated but not cherished. It’s not an uncommon feeling, but it is not true.

What does God have to say about you? You are beloved… and there’s nothing you can do about it.

Many of us have felt like outcasts at different moments in our lives. It is good for us to be reminded that we belong. We are loved. We are connected.

Scripture Encounter

Colossians 3:12-17

Brothers and sisters:
Put on, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved,
heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience,
bearing with one another and forgiving one another,
if one has a grievance against another;
as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do.
And over all these put on love,
that is, the bond of perfection.
And let the peace of Christ control your hearts,
the peace into which you were also called in one body.
And be thankful.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly,
as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another,
singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs
with gratitude in your hearts to God.
And whatever you do, in word or in deed,
do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Luke 2:22-40

When the days were completed for their purification
according to the law of Moses,
They took him up to Jerusalem
to present him to the Lord,
just as it is written in the law of the Lord,
Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord,
and to offer the sacrifice of
a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons,
in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord.

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon.
This man was righteous and devout,
awaiting the consolation of Israel,
and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit
that he should not see death
before he had seen the Christ of the Lord.
He came in the Spirit into the temple;
and when the parents brought in the child Jesus
to perform the custom of the law in regard to him,
He took him into his arms and blessed God, saying:
“Now, Master, you may let your servant go
in peace, according to your word,
for my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you prepared in sight of all the peoples,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and glory for your people Israel.”
The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him;
and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother,
“Behold, this child is destined
for the fall and rise of many in Israel,
and to be a sign that will be contradicted
—and you yourself a sword will pierce—
so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
There was also a prophetess, Anna,
the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher.
She was advanced in years,
having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage,
and then as a widow until she was eighty-four.
She never left the temple,
but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer.
And coming forward at that very time,
she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child
to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.

When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions
of the law of the Lord,
they returned to Galilee,
to their own town of Nazareth.
The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom;
and the favor of God was upon him.

Spiritual Reflection

The Letter to the Colossians gives us a masterful ‘wardrobe’ of relationship strengtheners. It encourages us to “put on” heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and forgiveness.

Wearing these things makes them part of our identity. We become recognizable as sources of light in the world. During Christmastime these garments might be a little hard to find. They get buried under a pile of laundry that includes anxiety, stress, strained family relationships, and the weight of expectations. And so, we respond a week later by setting unrealistic resolutions aimed at being better; at doing more.

It’s time to set the set the laundry aside. We do not have to be better. We just have to be ourselves.

When we live as God created us to be, the image of God shines forth through us for others to see. Like the child Jesus in the temple, we become a blessing to others and an opportunity for others to praise God.

Pause for a moment and breathe deeply.  

Devote a few breaths to putting on heartfelt compassion… kindness… humility… gentleness… patience… and forgiveness.

Wellness Practice

Revisit some of the names of people that you saw God in earlier. Why did you think of them? For some reason, God has woven you together with those people. Whether you are still actively connected to them or you engage with them in memory, in a sense you belong to one another. There is a shared life and experience that cannot be separated, and the encounters have helped shape who you are.

Take some time in prayer and thank God for these people.

In the course of this reflection, you might become aware of a grudge you might be carrying against one of these people.

Identify why you feel that way. Determine what you think they owe you. Cancel the debt.

Could you take the brave step and reach out to one of these people? Make a phone call, write a note, or email.

Reflection Questions

Which ‘garment’ from Colossians gives me the most peace when I put it on?

How can I foster a greater sense of belonging in my world?

Review and Prayer

Today’s session reminded us of the human need for belonging and that healthy, supportive relationships are not only gifts from God but also powerful sources of resilience, healing, and mental wellness.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Loving God, source of all goodness. I offer you profound thanks for the gift of this life. May I always recognize my identity as your beloved, deepen relationships that foster life and connection, and extend the grace of forgiveness to others.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.