There used to be a TV ad that stated, “there is things that money cannot buy, for everything else there is… [insert here the name of the credit card].”  The ad then went on to illustrate how much it could be bought if only the person had the credit card.  For the world, Christmas is one day of consumerism, for the Church it is a season to develop spiritual gifts within the context of a family.  Yet many families have now emphasized the material, and at the end they realize that did not bring them any happiness to their lives. From store to store, from sale to sale, valuable time is spent in search of a material gift while the spiritual life is set aside. In the end, this material gift, as much as it is longed for, has its limitations.  First, any material gift will fulfill its function for a certain time and then once broken it will be discarded. Sometimes it hasn't even broken down when it's discarded, how many children play with their new toy for a single day and the next day it's already discarded? Second, a material gift, no matter how beautiful and expensive it may be, cannot replace a word of love, a gesture of goodwill, time spent together, an "I love you" and finally, as proposed, it cannot replace the spiritual that transcends and is more sublime than the material.  The best gift is not found in a store, it is not something that money can buy. The best gift is to be spiritually strong in favor of loved ones by praying and interceding for them for their salvation.  Christmas gives an opening to start changing the dynamics in family for the better. During this Christmas season, it is fitting that Holy Family Sunday is celebrated.   The Church places this feast day during the middle of the Christmas season to remind families that it is not about material possessions, but it is about developing a spiritual life which the whole family can participate in and benefit.   Families that pray together are better off spiritually than families who only put an emphasis on buying something material that is fleeting.  For the world, Christmas is over once all the wrappers of the gifts are tossed into the trash, and family life is tossed into a metaphorical trash can as well.  For the Church, the first part of the ad remains true.  There are things money cannot buy.  There are things that can only be acquired, not with a credit card, but with a good spiritual life.  May this time of Christmas be used to strengthen families through prayer, constant participation of the Eucharist, and following the example of the Holy Family in the practice of faith.  To help start strengthening families during this Christmas and beyond, our church will host a prayer of consecration of families during all the masses this weekend.   Let’s make this year the year of the family, let’s start during this Christmas season.  There will be a breakfast for families on December 28 after some of the masses to start off this year with families spending time together in our parish.