Holy Family, Be The Model Of Our Families
1. In the House of the Father
2. Busy with the Father’s Affairs
Introduction
1. In the House of the Father
It may come as a real surprise to us to hear Jesus ask Mary and Joseph: “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I had to be where my Father is?” Even Joseph and Mary had still to learn and to grow in their faith. Like the Holy Family, our families and each of us have also to grow in the faith. Perhaps it is through painful trials like the one of Mary and Joseph that our faith may become mature. We too are asked: Did you not know…?
2. Busy with the Father’s Affairs
It is perhaps hard for us to imagine that Jesus, God’s own Son, was really human, that he grew up not only physically but matured as a person and discovered little by little who he was. Of course, the whole Holy Family sought to do the will of God but we see Jesus affirm today that he has become aware that he is especially close to the Father and that God’s loving will is all that matters. Isn’t that all that matters for us, too, and should also we not grow closer to God? Let Jesus here in this Eucharist help us to become mature in God’s love.
First Reading
1 Reading Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14
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.
When he prays, he is heard;
he stores up riches who reveres his mother.
Whoever honors his father is gladdened by children,
and, when he prays, is heard.
Whoever reveres his father will live a long life;
he who obeys his father brings comfort to his mother.
My son, take care of your father when he is old;
grieve him not as long as he lives.
Even if his mind fail, be considerate of him;
revile him not all the days of his life;
kindness to a father will not be forgotten,
firmly planted against the debt of your sins
—a house raised in justice to you.
Responsorial Psalm, Ps 128:1-2, 3, 4-5
R. (cf. 1) Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways.
Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD,
who walks in his ways!
For you shall eat the fruit of your handiwork;
blessed shall you be, and favored.
R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways.
Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine
in the recesses of your home;
your children like olive plants
around your table.
R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways.
Behold, thus is the man blessed
who fears the LORD.
The LORD bless you from Zion:
may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
all the days of your life.
R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways.
2 Reading Colossians 3:12-21
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.
Wives, be subordinate to your husbands,
as is proper in the Lord.
Husbands, love your wives,
and avoid any bitterness toward them.
Children, obey your parents in everything,
for this is pleasing to the Lord.
Fathers, do not provoke your children,
so they may not become discouraged.
Alleluia Colossians 3:15a, 16a
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Let the peace of Christ control your hearts;
let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel Luke 2:41-52
Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year
at the Feast of the Passover.
And when he was twelve years old,
they went up according to custom.
And when the feast was ended, as they were returning,
the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem.
His parents did not know it,
but supposing him to be in the group
they went a day’s journey,
but then they began to search for him
among their relatives and acquaintances,
and when they did not find him,
they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him.
After three days they found him in the temple,
sitting among the teachers,
listening to them and asking them questions.
And all who heard him were amazed
at his understanding and his answers.
And when his parents saw him, they were astonished.
And his mother said to him,
“Son, why have you treated us so?
Behold, your father and I
have been searching for you in great distress.”
And he said to them,
“Why were you looking for me?
Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”
And they did not understand the saying
that he spoke to them.
And he went down with them and came to Nazareth
and was submissive to them.
And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.
And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature
and in favor with God and man.
Commentary
Now he is twelve years old, on the threshold of adulthood. Already there is a hint of what is to come: he must be “in his Father’s house.” The enclosing circle of family opens to the greater world. There is pain in the opening, because life is not idyllic for long; it is tragic, which means it is destined for unimaginable greatness. Just how great, we would never know but for that small Child born so long ago, so far away. Yet he is nearer than anyone to every disciple’s heart. Thank you for traveling with me through this very special year. May God’s providence continue to protect and guide us; and sometime – who knows? – it may make our paths to cross.
Surely, this is the last Sunday of the Year 2018 and we are about saying goodbye to that year so as to welcome 2019. May the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph be our model of the family life so challenged and exasperated in this modern time.
Blessing
It has been good to be together
as the family of God’s people
and to pray with the Holy Family of Nazareth
for what is dear to all of us:
our homes, our families,
the Christian community,
the family of our nation and people.
May God bless you all
and keep you in his love:
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. R/ Amen.
Go in the peace of the Lord.
R/ Thanks be to God.