The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph
Lectionary: 17
Lectionary: 17
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.
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.
In those days
Hannah conceived, and at the end of her term bore a son
whom she called Samuel, since she had asked the LORD for him.
The next time her husband Elkanah was going up
with the rest of his household
to offer the customary sacrifice to the LORD and to fulfill his vows,
Hannah did not go, explaining to her husband,
“Once the child is weaned,
I will take him to appear before the LORD
and to remain there forever;
I will offer him as a perpetual nazirite.”
Once Samuel was weaned, Hannah brought him up with her,
along with a three-year-old bull,
an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine,
and presented him at the temple of the LORD in Shiloh.
After the boy’s father had sacrificed the young bull,
Hannah, his mother, approached Eli and said:
“Pardon, my lord!
As you live, my lord,
I am the woman who stood near you here, praying to the LORD.
I prayed for this child, and the LORD granted my request.
Now I, in turn, give him to the LORD;
as long as he lives, he shall be dedicated to the LORD.”
Hannah left Samuel there.
whom she called Samuel, since she had asked the LORD for him.
The next time her husband Elkanah was going up
with the rest of his household
to offer the customary sacrifice to the LORD and to fulfill his vows,
Hannah did not go, explaining to her husband,
“Once the child is weaned,
I will take him to appear before the LORD
and to remain there forever;
I will offer him as a perpetual nazirite.”
Once Samuel was weaned, Hannah brought him up with her,
along with a three-year-old bull,
an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine,
and presented him at the temple of the LORD in Shiloh.
After the boy’s father had sacrificed the young bull,
Hannah, his mother, approached Eli and said:
“Pardon, my lord!
As you live, my lord,
I am the woman who stood near you here, praying to the LORD.
I prayed for this child, and the LORD granted my request.
Now I, in turn, give him to the LORD;
as long as he lives, he shall be dedicated to the LORD.”
Hannah left Samuel there.
Responsorial PsalmPS 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.
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.
R. (cf. 5a) Blessed are they who dwell in your house, O
Lord.
How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts!
My soul yearns and pines for the courts of the LORD.
My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.
R. Blessed are they who dwell in your house, O Lord.
Happy they who dwell in your house!
Continually they praise you.
Happy the men whose strength you are!
Their hearts are set upon the pilgrimage.
R. Blessed are they who dwell in your house, O Lord.
O LORD of hosts, hear our prayer;
hearken, O God of Jacob!
O God, behold our shield,
and look upon the face of your anointed.
R. Blessed are they who dwell in your house, O Lord.
How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts!
My soul yearns and pines for the courts of the LORD.
My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.
R. Blessed are they who dwell in your house, O Lord.
Happy they who dwell in your house!
Continually they praise you.
Happy the men whose strength you are!
Their hearts are set upon the pilgrimage.
R. Blessed are they who dwell in your house, O Lord.
O LORD of hosts, hear our prayer;
hearken, O God of Jacob!
O God, behold our shield,
and look upon the face of your anointed.
R. Blessed are they who dwell in your house, O Lord.
Reading 2COL 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.
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.
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.
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.
Beloved:
See what love the Father has bestowed on us
that we may be called the children of God.
And so we are.
The reason the world does not know us
is that it did not know him.
Beloved, we are God’s children now;
what we shall be has not yet been revealed.
We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him,
for we shall see him as he is.
Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us,
we have confidence in God and receive from him whatever we ask,
because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.
And his commandment is this:
we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ,
and love one another just as he commanded us.
Those who keep his commandments remain in him, and he in them,
and the way we know that he remains in us
is from the Spirit he gave us.
See what love the Father has bestowed on us
that we may be called the children of God.
And so we are.
The reason the world does not know us
is that it did not know him.
Beloved, we are God’s children now;
what we shall be has not yet been revealed.
We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him,
for we shall see him as he is.
Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us,
we have confidence in God and receive from him whatever we ask,
because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.
And his commandment is this:
we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ,
and love one another just as he commanded us.
Those who keep his commandments remain in him, and he in them,
and the way we know that he remains in us
is from the Spirit he gave us.
AlleluiaCOL 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.
Let the peace of Christ control your hearts;
let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Open our hearts, O Lord,
to listen to the words of your Son.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Open our hearts, O Lord,
to listen to the words of your Son.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelLK 2:41-52
Each year Jesus’
parents went to Jerusalem for the feast
of Passover,
and when he was twelve years old,
they went up according to festival custom.
After they had completed its days, as they were returning,
the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem,
but his parents did not know it.
Thinking that he was in the caravan,
they journeyed for a day
and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances,
but not finding him,
they returned to Jerusalem to look for him.
After three days they found him in the temple,
sitting in the midst of the teachers,
listening to them and asking them questions,
and all who heard him were astounded
at his understanding and his answers.
When his parents saw him,
they were astonished,
and his mother said to him,
“Son, why have you done this to us?
Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.”
And he said to them,
“Why were you looking for me?
Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”
But they did not understand what he said to them.
He went down with them and came to Nazareth,
and was obedient to them;
and his mother kept all these things in her heart.
And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and favor
before God and man.
of Passover,
and when he was twelve years old,
they went up according to festival custom.
After they had completed its days, as they were returning,
the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem,
but his parents did not know it.
Thinking that he was in the caravan,
they journeyed for a day
and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances,
but not finding him,
they returned to Jerusalem to look for him.
After three days they found him in the temple,
sitting in the midst of the teachers,
listening to them and asking them questions,
and all who heard him were astounded
at his understanding and his answers.
When his parents saw him,
they were astonished,
and his mother said to him,
“Son, why have you done this to us?
Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.”
And he said to them,
“Why were you looking for me?
Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”
But they did not understand what he said to them.
He went down with them and came to Nazareth,
and was obedient to them;
and his mother kept all these things in her heart.
And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and favor
before God and man.
Feast of the Holy Family – Cycle C
Note: Where a Scripture text is underlined in the body of this
discussion, it is recommended that the reader look up and read that passage.
Introduction
The Feast of the Holy Family honors the family group of Jesus,
Mary and Joseph. This feast developed only in the 17th century.
Built on the Gospel accounts, this family is looked upon as an excellent
domestic unit representing the ideal family life. To promote family life and
build up devotion to the Holy Family, a feast was established for the Universal
Church in 1921 (under Pope Benedict XV), and it is currently celebrated on the
Sunday after Christmas or on December 30th when Christmas falls
on Sunday. There is an optional set of readings for the 1st and
2nd Readings, both are presented here.
1st Reading - Sirach 3:2-7, 12-14
Israelite wisdom, like the wisdom of other peoples, was the
product of the scribal schools and the scribal class; this class first appeared
under the monarchy and followed Egyptian models in administration and
procedure. Wisdom is gained by counsel and instruction (Proverbs 1:5; 12:15;
13:14; 19:20f), and the young man is frequently admonished to accept
instruction. Wisdom comes from association with the wise (Proverbs 13:20). The
tradition of wisdom begins with primordial man (Ezekiel 28:12). The wise man
accepts correction and instruction (Proverbs 9:8ff; 21:11); he is always
learning, where the fool refuses to learn.
Israelite wisdom was modified by its relation to faith in
Yahweh, which gives it a character of its own. Both Egypt and Mesopotamia had
gods who were venerated for their wisdom, but these gods were specialists.
Yahweh alone is truly wise; His wisdom is exhibited in creation (Proverbs 3:19;
Job 38- 39).
Wisdom is a treasure which men cannot discover, for it is found
only with God, who grants it to men. The wisdom of God is seen not only in His
creation but in His management of human history (Job 12:13). Wisdom, while
learned from tradition, is ultimately a gift of Yahweh (Proverbs 2:6).
The wisdom literature alone in the Old Testament directs
attention explicitly to the problems of the individual person; it is free of
peculiarly national traits and of messianism. Its merit is that it does draw
attention to the importance of the business of daily life of the man who is not
very important, and its emphasis on the fact that life is unity and integrity
which must be preserved from the disintegration of folly is not misplaced.
Today we hear Sirach tell us that fidelity to parents (the 4th
commandment) is fidelity to Yahweh.
2 For the LORD sets a father in honor over his children; a
mother’s authority he confirms over her sons. 3 He who
honors his father atones for sins;
This goes beyond the 4th commandment which
promises long life (Exodus 20:12).
4 he stores up riches who reveres his mother. 5 He
who honors his father is gladdened by children, and when he prays he is heard. 6 He
who reveres his father will live a long life; he obeys the LORD who brings
comfort to his mother. 12 My son, take care of your father
when he is old; grieve him not as long as he lives. 13 Even
if his mind fail, be considerate of him; revile him not in the fullness of your
strength. 14 For kindness to a father will not be
forgotten, firmly planted against the debt of your sins -- a house raised in
justice to you.
This is a commentary on the 4th commandment
(Exodus 20:12). Fidelity to this commandment also atones for sins.
Optional 1st Reading - 1 Samuel 1:20-22, 24-28
The main purpose of 1st and 2nd Samuel
is to provide a history of the foundation of the kingdom of Israel and the
settlement of the throne on David and his line. At the end of the book of
Judges it is clear that the people see a monarchy as the only way out of a
situation of internal strife and anarchy. Outside enemies have been reduced to
one, the Philistines, who live along the Mediterranean coast; but they are so
powerful and aggressive that the very survival of Israel seems to be in doubt
if the tribes don’t unite under a common leader.
Samuel is regarded as the last of the Judges and was the man
chosen to bring about this unification. God uses him to anoint Saul as the
first king of Israel and later, to anoint David as Saul’s successor.
In our first reading today we hear of Samuel’s birth and
dedication. This dedication took place at Shiloh where the ark of the covenant
was until King David brought it to Jerusalem.
20 [in those days Hannah] conceived, and at the end of her
term bore a son whom she called Samuel, since she had asked the LORD for
him.
A more appropriate name for him would be Saul which means
“asked;” Samuel means “the name of El” or “his name is El.” El is a name for
God.
21 The next time her husband Elkanah was going up with the
rest of his household to offer the customary sacrifice to the LORD
This is probably referring to the requirement to redeem the
firstborn son (Exodus 13:13;
34:20).
and to fulfill his vows, 22 Hannah did not
go, explaining to her husband, “Once the child is weaned, I will take him to
appear before the LORD and to remain there forever;
Hannah may have refrained from making the pilgrimage on this
occasion out of a desire to prolong the time she would keep the child. The
practice in the Near East, however, was to nurse a child for up to three years
(2 Maccabees 7:27). Eventually, when the child was weaned, he was brought and
presented with a very respectable offering.
I will offer him as a perpetual nazarite.”
The vow of a nazarite involved these three things:
1) abstinence from wine and strong
drink,
2) refraining from cutting the hair
off the head during the whole period of the continuance of the vow, and
3) the avoidance of contact with
the dead.
Samuel’s mother is offering him as a perpetual nazarite which
means that these things will be forever forbidden. When we normally think of a
nazarite, we think of Samson rather than Samuel.
24 Once he [Samuel] was weaned, she brought him up with her,
along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour,
An ephah is approximately one bushel.
and a skin of wine, and presented him at the temple of the LORD
in Shiloh. 25 After the boy’s father had sacrificed the
young bull, Hannah, his mother, approached Eli 26
Eli was high priest at the sanctuary of Shiloh.
and said: “Pardon, my lord! As you live my lord, I am the woman
who stood near you here, praying to the LORD. 27 I prayed
for this child, and the LORD granted my request. 28 Now I,
in turn, give him to the LORD; as long as he lives, he shall be dedicated to
the LORD.” She left him [Samuel] there.
2nd Reading - Colossians 3:12-21
The purpose of Colossians was to bolster the faith of the
community and correct errors reported about the church in Colossae. False
teachers are at work in the community and since these false teachers are
charged with “not holding to the head”, the errors must have arisen within the
community. Jewish and pagan elements seem to be interwoven. The Jewish
influence is evident in the references to observing suggested days, season,
circumcision, and other Jewish practices (Colossians 2:16-17). In some circles of
Judaism there was a strong belief in the mediatorship and power of the angels.
The Qumran community attached a great deal of importance to the angel’s names
and their roles in the affairs of the world.
The pagan influences at work in Colossae are reflected in
beliefs that certain “elements of the world” or angelic beings were in control
of the universe (Colossians 2:8,20). These “elements of the world” were a
series of intermediaries between God and the universe. Each was considered to
contain part of the “fullness of the Godhead” (Colossians 1:19; 2:9). They were
the cause of creation (Colossians 1:15-17). They also shared control over
various areas of the earth and over the destinies of men.
Paul had to counter the dangerous tendencies by pointing out the
all-sufficiency of Christ in His role in the universe. He had to point out that
the “fullness of the Godhead” was not shared by a multitude of intermediaries:
all the fullness of God and His power was in Christ himself (1:19; 2:3,9). By
His death on the cross, Christ had won a victory over all the forces that were
considered to control the universe. In Old Testament wisdom literature Paul
found proof that the whole universe had been created and directed by the wisdom
of God from the beginning; now this wisdom had been fully revealed in Christ
(Colossians 1:15-20).
In our reading today we hear Paul tell us some of the general
principles for a life in Christ.
12 Put on, as God’s chosen ones, holy and
beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and
patience,
When you were baptized, you clothed yourself in Christ. This is
a brief description of that clothing. These terms (chosen, holy, beloved) were
also used in the Old Testament to describe Israel. As a baptized Christian they
have entered the new Israel, a community of God’s people – their relations to
one another should reflect this.
13 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.
Forgive as you have been forgiven. The petition of the Lord’s
Prayer (Matthew 6:12) may be in Paul’s mind (see Ephesians 4:32).
14 And over all these put on love, that is, the
bond of perfection.
In verse 12 Paul told us to clothe ourselves in the attributes
of Christ. Now we put on love (agape) as the final garment which covers
all the others and binds them together. In the Sermon on the Mount, God’s great
universal love is the supreme model for man “Be perfect as your heavenly Father
is perfect” (Matthew 5:48).
15 And let the peace of Christ control your
hearts, the peace into which you were also called in one body.
This is a vivid portrayal of the compact community of brothers
in Christ, who is the source of unity, peace and harmony.
And be thankful.
For this one body, this community (common unity), they must
always be thankful.
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as
in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another,
The presence of Christ in the community will manifest itself by
a wise use of words and song to encourage one another.
singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in
your hearts to God.
As used here, this points out that even the singing is used for
instruction of the community (one another). The instruction is for the whole
community – they all have mutual responsibilities.
17 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.
Christians must recognize Jesus as Lord both in word and in
action. In words, they will show this recognition best when they call upon Him
in prayer as Lord. For Paul and the early Church, to say “do it in the name of
the Lord” was a way of designating Christians. In the Old Testament “those who
call on the name of the Lord: was a designation of sincere and pious
Israelites; in the New Testament it is transferred to Christians (1 Corinthians
1:2; Acts 9:14), and the object of it is Christ. The title once reserved for
Yahweh has been transferred to Christ. “No one comes to the Father, but by Me”
(John 14:16).
18 Wives, be subordinate to your husbands, as is
proper in the Lord.
The husband is to be the spiritual head of the household. 1
Peter 3:1-6 expresses this same sentiment where the underlying
assumption is that the wife is Christian and the husband is pagan – she is to
win him over through Christian obedience. Ephesians 5:22-24 again
says the same where the assumption is that both husband and wife are Christian.
The root of this teaching is Genesis 3:16and it is echoed again in 1
Timothy 2:12.
19 Husbands, love your wives, and avoid any
bitterness toward them.
This theme is also expanded and expounded in 1 Peter 3:7 and Ephesians
5:25-31. God gave Eve to Adam as his inseparable companion and compliment
(Genesis 2:18); she was therefore duty-bound to live in peace and with him. Man
and woman have different, although complimentary, roles in family life; they
are equal in dignity. The family needs a center of authority, and that
authority belongs to the husband, in accordance with God’s design (1
Corinthians 11:3,12-14).
20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for
this is pleasing to the Lord.
The 4th commandment: “Honor your father and
mother.”
21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, so they
may not become discouraged.
In every family there should be an “educational exchange”
between parents and children (Ephesians 6:1-4) in which each gives and
receives. “It is the duty of parents to create a family atmosphere inspired by
love and devotion to God and their fellow man which will promote an integrated,
personal and social education of their children” (Vatican II, Gravissimum educationis).
Optional 2nd Reading - 1 John 3:1-2, 21-24
The first letter of John is believed to have been written
sometime between A.D. 57 and 62 from Ephesus. Although there is no opening
greeting or signature, Saint John’s authorship is apparent from the content. In
fact, the letter has very much the same tone as the fourth gospel and has even
been described as a sort of introduction to it. The essence of this letter
deals with the love of God and of the brethren which are the hallmark of the
Christian. Saint Jerome tells us that when John was a very old man his only
message was “little children, love one another.” And when his disciples asked
him why he was always saying the same thing he always replied, “My children,
this is what the Lord commands; if we do this, nothing else is necessary.”
3:1 See
what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of
God.
In the truest and most absolute sense, God’s gift of love has
been the gift of his only Son as Savior of the world (see John 3:16). It is
this gift which has opened heaven and allows us to approach God as His children
to seek forgiveness for our transgressions. Because of this gift we can be
called “children of God” rather than “servants or slaves of God” as was the
condition of the chosen people after the sin of the golden calf.
Yet so we are.
Sonship with God is not only something which will be achieved at
the end of time, it is something which we have achieved already (see Romans
8:14-17). “To be called” means the same as “to be called by God”, and in
the language of the Bible, when God gives someone name he is not simply
conferring a title but is causing the thing to be what the name indicates (for
example, Genesis 17:5). The word of God is efficacious, it does what it says it
will do. This is why Saint John adds “Yet so we are.”
The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know
him. 2 Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we shall
be has not yet been revealed. We do know that when it is revealed we shall be
like him, for we shall see him as he is.
The image of God which is manifested to the Christian in this
life is seen through the eyes of faith; in the next life the image we will see
is much more intimate and immediate.
“Beatitude consists of two things – that we shall behold God
such as He is in His own nature and substance; and that we ourselves shall
become, as it were, gods. For those who enjoy God while they retain their own
nature, assume certain admirable and almost divine form, so as to seem gods
rather than men.” [Saint Pius V Catechism, I,13,7]
21 Beloved, if (our) hearts do not condemn us, we have
confidence in God 22 and receive from him whatever we ask,
because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.
If we are not conscious of having sinned (we have kept His
commandments and done what pleases Him), we can be confident of God’s favor.
23 And his commandment is
this: we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ,
In Semitic usage, the “name” is equivalent to the person. Faith
is not simply the acceptance of a proposition, but a total personal commitment
to a person.
and love one another just as he commanded us.
The commandments are summed up in faith and love, which is the
theme of the final part of this epistle. Faith and love cannot be separated
(see Galatians 5:6); our Lord Himself told us what would mark His disciples out
– their love for one another (John 13:34-35).
“We cannot rightly love one another unless we believe in Christ;
nor can we truly believe in the name of Jesus Christ without brotherly love.”
[Saint Bede the Venerable (ca. A.D. 700), On 1 John]
24 Those who keep his
commandments remain in him, and he in them, and the way we know that he remains
in us is from the Spirit that he gave us.
Not only does obedience to the commandments guarantee continued
communion with God, we have the further guarantee of the divine presence in the
possession of the Holy Spirit which is mentioned here for the first time in
this epistle.
Gospel - Luke 2:41-52
Nothing brings a family closer together than a crisis,
especially a crisis which involves a child who is lost. Today we hear of such a
crisis involving the Holy Family as we hear of the finding in the Temple. This
is an event which is reported only by St. Luke; a mystery which we celebrate as
the fifth joyful mystery of the rosary.
41 Each year his parents went to Jerusalem for
the feast of Passover,
The Law prescribed the Jerusalem pilgrimage for three major
feasts: Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles (Exodus 23:14; Deuteronomy 16:16);
but custom excused those who lived at a distance from all but the Passover. The
rabbis were not in agreement whether or not women and children were required to
make the pilgrimage, but males aged 12 and over were required to make it. The
distance the Holy Family would have traveled (from Nazareth to Jerusalem) is
about 60 miles as the crow flies; 85 miles by road.
42 and when he was twelve years old,
A year before the age at which a boy officially reached manhood;
the event is celebrated today with the ceremony of the bar mitzvah
they went up according to festival custom. 43 After
they had completed its days,
The celebration of the Passover meal began a week-long feast of
the unleavened bread.
as they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in
Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. 44 Thinking
that he was in the caravan,
Entire villages joined in the pilgrimages, breaking up into two
groups; one of men, the other of women. Children could go with either group.
This explains how they could go a day’s journey before they discovered the
Child was missing when the families regrouped to camp.
they journeyed for a day and looked for him among their
relatives and acquaintances,
Their fellow pilgrims from Nazareth
45 but not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem to look
for him. 46 After three days they found him in the
temple,
In Hebrew numerology, three is the number of completeness. This
is a possible symbolic reference to the three days which Jesus is to spend in
the tomb.
sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and
asking them questions, 47 and all who heard him were
astounded at his understanding and his answers.
In one of the outer courts of the Temple, which is where the
teachers usually taught. Listeners used to sit at their feet, now and again
asking questions and responding to them. This is what Jesus did, but his
questions and answers attracted the teachers’ attention, He was so wise and
well informed. The way this story is recounted, it implies that Jesus was in
the center of a circle or group (the position of the teacher) and the teachers
had assumed the position of the students. He knows the Torah and its
interpretations; this is not in opposition to Jewish Law or practice.
48 When his parents saw him, they were
astonished, and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you done this to us?
Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.”
Imagine the thoughts which ran through the minds of Mary and
Joseph when they realized that they had lost track of the Son of God (a fact of
which they have been aware since the Annunciation), who was placed into their
care by God Himself.
49 And he said to them, “Why were you looking for
me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”
The Greek can also be translated “about my Father’s business”.
It implies a close personal relationship between Jesus and the Father. These
are the first words of Jesus recorded in the Gospel. They form an explanation
and they clearly show His divine Sonship; and they also show His determination
to fulfill the will of His Eternal Father.
50 But they did not understand what he said to
them.
Mary and Joseph realized that His reply contained a deeper
meaning which they did not grasp. They did not understand the full implication
of what divine Sonship entailed, that His relationship to God takes precedence
over His relationship to them. One of a parent’s greatest sorrows afflicts
Mary; not to understand her own child; one of the swords spoken of by Simeon
(Luke 2:35).
51 He went down with them
Literally, down in elevation. Jerusalem is located on a
mountaintop.
and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them;
Jesus lived like any other inhabitant of Nazareth, working at
the same trade as Saint Joseph and earning His living by the sweat of His brow.
This is the last reference to Saint Joseph in the Gospels and is a beautiful
tribute to him: obedient to his guidance, Jesus grew to perfect manhood.
and his mother kept all these things in her heart. 52 And
Jesus advanced (in) wisdom and age and favor before God and man.
Jesus grew in all ways – physically, intellectually,
emotionally, spiritually – for the work that lay ahead of Him.
Meditation: "I
must be in my Father's house"
How cans families grow together in mutual love, harmony, and
care for one another? When God made a covenant with his people, he
taught them his way of love:
"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and
with all your soul, and with all your strength - And these words which I
command you this day shall be upon your heart - and you shall teach them
diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house,
and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise" (Deuteronomy
6:5-7).
God the Father's love is a covenant love that binds people
together as his beloved children. His love is the cornerstone that binds man
and woman in one flesh in marriage, and in their mutual love for their
children, and for their children's children for generations to come. God wants
his love to be the center of all our relationships and all that we do. That is
why God gives us his Holy Spirit so we can love as he loves us. "God's
love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given
to us" (Romans 5:5). We love because he first loved us (1 John 4:19).
Jesus was born into a family devoted to the word of God
When God sent his only begotten Son into the world, Jesus was born into a human family as a Jew who was raised according to the teaching and wisdom of God's word in the Hebrew Scriptures (the Old Testament Scriptures) and the religious customs of his people. Jesus was born under the law of Moses (Galatians 4:4) and was circumcised (the sign of being a covenanted member of Israel) on the eighth day and given his name, Yeshua in Hebrew (Jesus in English) which means "God saves."
When God sent his only begotten Son into the world, Jesus was born into a human family as a Jew who was raised according to the teaching and wisdom of God's word in the Hebrew Scriptures (the Old Testament Scriptures) and the religious customs of his people. Jesus was born under the law of Moses (Galatians 4:4) and was circumcised (the sign of being a covenanted member of Israel) on the eighth day and given his name, Yeshua in Hebrew (Jesus in English) which means "God saves."
We know little about Jesus' early life at home in Nazareth. Luke
in his Gospel account gives us a glimpse of Jesus' growth as a boy into young
manhood. Luke tells us that Jesus was obedient to his parents - Mary, his
mother and Joseph, his foster father. As devout and God-fearing Jews, Joseph
and Mary raised the boy Jesus according to the Scriptures and Jewish customs.
It was the duty of all Jewish parents to raise their children in the
instruction and wisdom of God's word in the Scriptures.
"Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and reject not
your mother’s teaching" (Proverbs 1:8). "Train up a child in the
way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it" (Proverbs
22:6).
A home life centered on prayer and the reading of Scripture
Jewish home life was centered on daily family prayers, including the singing of the Psalms and the reading of the Scriptures. Every Friday evening, the family gathered for a festive meal with the lighting of the Sabbath candle and prayers of blessing over the bread and wine to open the celebration of the Sabbath holy day. Each Saturday morning the family attended the Sabbath service which includes a reading from the Torah (five books of Moses) and chanting the psalms at the local community synagogue. Older boys were sent to school on weekday mornings, called the "house of the book" (either at the synagogue or the rabbi's house), where they were given further instruction in the reading and study of the Jewish Scriptures. Every Jewish boy was required to memorize the first five books of the Jewish Scriptures (the Torah or Books of Moses) by the age of 13. They also learned to memorize and put into practice the wise counsels found in the Book of Proverbs (Wisdom of Solomon) and the Book of Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) which was another common book of instruction for Jews living throughout the Greek-speaking world.
Jewish home life was centered on daily family prayers, including the singing of the Psalms and the reading of the Scriptures. Every Friday evening, the family gathered for a festive meal with the lighting of the Sabbath candle and prayers of blessing over the bread and wine to open the celebration of the Sabbath holy day. Each Saturday morning the family attended the Sabbath service which includes a reading from the Torah (five books of Moses) and chanting the psalms at the local community synagogue. Older boys were sent to school on weekday mornings, called the "house of the book" (either at the synagogue or the rabbi's house), where they were given further instruction in the reading and study of the Jewish Scriptures. Every Jewish boy was required to memorize the first five books of the Jewish Scriptures (the Torah or Books of Moses) by the age of 13. They also learned to memorize and put into practice the wise counsels found in the Book of Proverbs (Wisdom of Solomon) and the Book of Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) which was another common book of instruction for Jews living throughout the Greek-speaking world.
Jesus' journey to the Father's house
Jews were expected to travel to Jerusalem for the high feasts each year (Passover, Pentecost, Tabernacles). Jesus undoubtedly traveled with his parents every year from Nazareth to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover. This eighty mile journey normally took three days. So families often traveled in large groups, for safety and comfort.
Jews were expected to travel to Jerusalem for the high feasts each year (Passover, Pentecost, Tabernacles). Jesus undoubtedly traveled with his parents every year from Nazareth to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover. This eighty mile journey normally took three days. So families often traveled in large groups, for safety and comfort.
Luke records a remarkable incident which happened when Jesus
went up to the temple at Jerusalem for his first Passover at the dawn of his
manhood (usually the age of twelve for Jewish males). It was at thiskey turning
point in his earthly life that Jesus took the name "father" from
Joseph and addressed it to God his Father in heaven. His answer to his mother's
anxious inquiry reveals his confident determination to pursue his heavenly
Father's will. Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?
(Luke 2:49)
Jesus obeyed and served his family at Nazareth
While Jesus identified himself as Son of the eternal Father in heaven, he, nonetheless, submitted himself with love and obedience to Mary and Joseph. Like all godly parents, Mary and Joseph raised their son in the fear (Godly respect) and wisdom of God. Luke tells us that Jesus grew as a man in wisdom, stature, and favor with God and with the people of Nazareth, his home town. He remained at Nazareth until the age of 30 when he was baptized by John at the River Jordan and anointed by the Spirit for his mission as the Messiah and Savior of the world.
While Jesus identified himself as Son of the eternal Father in heaven, he, nonetheless, submitted himself with love and obedience to Mary and Joseph. Like all godly parents, Mary and Joseph raised their son in the fear (Godly respect) and wisdom of God. Luke tells us that Jesus grew as a man in wisdom, stature, and favor with God and with the people of Nazareth, his home town. He remained at Nazareth until the age of 30 when he was baptized by John at the River Jordan and anointed by the Spirit for his mission as the Messiah and Savior of the world.
God the Father reveals his rich favor, blessing, and joy to all
who listen to his word and who follow his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Do you
follow and obey the Son who shows us the way to the our Father's house and
family in heaven?
"Lord Jesus, you came to restore us to peace and friendship
with the Father in heaven. Where there is division, bring healing and
restoration. Where there is strife bring peace and forgiveness. May all
families and nations on the earth find peace, harmony, and unity in you, the
Prince of Peace and Savior of the world."
Daily Quote from the early church fathers: Jesus' humility
shows us his divinity, by Bede the Venerable, 672-735 A.D.
"The Lord's coming every year to Jerusalem for the Passover
with his parents is an indication of his human humility. It is characteristic
of human beings to gather to offer God the votive offerings of spiritual
sacrifices, and by plentiful prayers and tears to dispose their Maker toward
them. Therefore the Lord, born a human being among human beings, did what God,
by divine inspiration through his angels, prescribed for human beings to do. He
himself kept the law which he gave in order to show us, who are human beings
pure and simple, that whatever God orders is to be observed in everything. Let
us follow the path of his human way of life. If we take delight in looking upon
the glory of his divinity, if we want to dwell in his eternal home in heaven
all the days of our lives (Psalm 27:4), it delights us to see the Lord's will
and to be shielded by his holy temple. And lest we be forever buffeted by the
wind of wickedness, let us remember to frequent the house, the church of the
present time, with the requisite offerings of pure petitions." (excerpt
from HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 1.19)
FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY AND
JOSEPH
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 27, LUKE 2:41-52
(Sirach 3:2-6,12-14; Psalm 128; Colossians 3:12-21)
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 27, LUKE 2:41-52
(Sirach 3:2-6,12-14; Psalm 128; Colossians 3:12-21)
KEY VERSE: "Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?" (v 49).
TO KNOW: As a faithful Jew, Jesus went with his parents to the Temple to celebrate the feast of Passover, which commemorated Israel's deliverance from slavery in Egypt. At the end of the feast, the family assumed that their son was in the caravan returning to Nazareth. When the anxious parents did not find him after the first day of travel, they returned to the Holy City to look for him. After three days, the astonished parents found Jesus in the Temple with a group of teachers who were amazed at his wisdom. When Mary reproached her son for causing them grief, Jesus replied that he "had" to be about the work of his Father. Then Jesus obediently returned to Nazareth where he grew in stature, wisdom and grace.
TO LOVE: In what ways is the Holy Family an example for my family?
TO SERVE: Jesus, Mary and Joseph, teach me how to live in holiness and faithfulness.
Sunday 27 December 2015
Holy
Family. 1 Samuel 1:20-22, 24-28. How happy they who dwell in your house, O
Lord—Ps 83(84):2-3, 5-6, 9-10. 1 John 3:1-2, 21-24. Luke 2:41-52. [St John].
Beloved:
See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children
of God.
Indeed,
what love! But what calling too! Not a calling to serve blindly as a servant
might, not a calling to be subdued as a slave, but a calling to be sons! A
calling to let love, and not fear or duty, be our strength and reason to strive
for the Father’s way. What love! It is a love that gives us freedom to waver,
to fail and wander. A love that welcomes doubt and misunderstanding. A love
somewhat like that of the Holy Family: patient through doubts and fears,
understanding through reproaches, steadfast in adversity. A love that would not
abandon the cross, a love that rejoiced in resurrection, a love that trusted,
that protected in danger. The love of a family. See what love the Father has
bestowed on us, that we may be part of the Holy Family! Let us, then, live to
the challenge of immersing ourselves in this love that we, too, may grow to
resemble our Father.
MINUTE MEDITATIONS
|
Bountiful Harvest
|
Let us pray more and more that the Kingdom of God may spread
everywhere in the hearts of all. The harvest is great but there are no
laborers. Let us work at becoming good laborers! –St. Julie Billiart
December
27
St. John the Apostle
St. John the Apostle
It is God who calls; human beings answer. The vocation of John
and his brother James is stated very simply in the Gospels, along with that of
Peter and his brother Andrew: Jesus called them; they followed. The
absoluteness of their response is indicated by the account. James and John
“were in a boat, with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. He called them,
and immediately they left their boat and their father and followed him”
(Matthew 4:21b-22).
For the three former fishermen—Peter, James and John—that faith
was to be rewarded by a special friendship with Jesus. They alone were
privileged to be present at the Transfiguration, the raising of the daughter of
Jairus and the agony in Gethsemane. But John’s friendship was even more
special. Tradition assigns to him the Fourth Gospel, although most modern
Scripture scholars think it unlikely that the apostle and the evangelist are
the same person.
John’s own Gospel refers to him as “the disciple whom Jesus
loved” (see John 13:23; 19:26; 20:2), the one who reclined next to Jesus at the
Last Supper, and the one to whom he gave the exquisite honor, as he stood
beneath the cross, of caring for his mother. “Woman, behold your son....
Behold, your mother” (John 19:26b, 27b).
Because of the depth of his Gospel, John is usually thought of
as the eagle of theology, soaring in high regions that other writers did not
enter. But the ever-frank Gospels reveal some very human traits. Jesus gave
James and John the nickname, “sons of thunder.” While it is difficult to know exactly
what this meant, a clue is given in two incidents.
In the first, as Matthew tells it, their mother asked that they
might sit in the places of honor in Jesus’ kingdom—one on his right hand, one
on his left. When Jesus asked them if they could drink the cup he would drink
and be baptized with his baptism of pain, they blithely answered, “We can!”
Jesus said that they would indeed share his cup, but that sitting at his right
hand was not his to give. It was for those to whom it had been reserved by the
Father. The other apostles were indignant at the mistaken ambition of the
brothers, and Jesus took the occasion to teach them the true nature of
authority: “...[W]hoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave. Just
so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life
as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:27-28).
On another occasion the “sons of thunder” asked Jesus if they
should not call down fire from heaven upon the inhospitable Samaritans, who
would not welcome Jesus because he was on his way to Jerusalem. But Jesus
“turned and rebuked them” (see Luke 9:51-55).
On the first Easter, Mary Magdalene “ran and went to Simon Peter
and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, ‘They have taken the
Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him’” (John 20:2). John
recalls, perhaps with a smile, that he and Peter ran side by side, but then
“the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first” (John
20:4b). He did not enter, but waited for Peter and let him go in first. “Then
the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and
he saw and believed” (John 20:8).
John was with Peter when the first great miracle after the
Resurrection took place—the cure of the man crippled from birth—which led to
their spending the night in jail together. The mysterious experience of the
Resurrection is perhaps best contained in the words of Acts: “Observing the
boldness of Peter and John and perceiving them to be uneducated, ordinary men,
they [the questioners] were amazed, and they recognized them as the companions
of Jesus” (Acts 4:13).
The Apostle John is traditionally considered the author of the
Fourth Gospel, three New Testament letters and the Book of Revelation. His
Gospel is a very personal account. He sees the glorious and divine Jesus
already in the incidents of his mortal life. At the Last Supper, John’s Jesus
speaks as if he were already in heaven. It is the Gospel of Jesus’ glory.
Comment:
It is a long way from being eager to sit on a throne of power or to call down fire from heaven to becoming the man who could write: “The way we came to know love was that he laid down his life for us; so we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers” (1 John 3:16).
It is a long way from being eager to sit on a throne of power or to call down fire from heaven to becoming the man who could write: “The way we came to know love was that he laid down his life for us; so we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers” (1 John 3:16).
Quote:
A persistent story has it that John's "parishioners" grew tired of his one sermon, which relentlessly emphasized: "Love one another." Whether the story is true or not, it has basis in John's writing. He wrote what may be called a summary of the Bible: "We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us. God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him" (1 John 4:16).
A persistent story has it that John's "parishioners" grew tired of his one sermon, which relentlessly emphasized: "Love one another." Whether the story is true or not, it has basis in John's writing. He wrote what may be called a summary of the Bible: "We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us. God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him" (1 John 4:16).
Patron Saint of:
Turkey
Turkey
LECTIO DIVINA:
THE HOLY FAMILY (C)
Lectio:
Sunday, December 27, 2015
Mary and Joseph find Jesus
Among the doctors in the Temple in Jerusalem
Luke 2: 41-52
Among the doctors in the Temple in Jerusalem
Luke 2: 41-52
1. Opening prayer
Father in heaven, you are my creator, you welcome me through
Jesus Christ your Son, you guide me by your Holy Spirit. Enlighten my mind so
that I may understand the meaning of the life you have granted me, the plan you
have for me and for those you have placed at my side. Enkindle fire in my heart
so that I may follow your revelation joyfully and enthusiastically. Strengthen
my weak will, unite it to the will of others so that, together, we may do your
will and thus build the world as one family more and more in your image. You
who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen
2. Lectio: A reading of Lk 2:41-52
41 Now
his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover. 42 And
when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom; 43 and when the
feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in
Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, 44 but supposing him to be in the
company they went a day's journey, and they sought him among their kinsfolk and
acquaintances; 45 and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem,
seeking him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among
the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions; 47 and all who heard
him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 And when they 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 looking for you anxiously."
49 And he said to them, "How is it that you sought me? Did you not know
that I must be in my Father's house?" 50 And they did not understand the
saying which he spoke to them. 51 And he went down with them and came to
Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her
heart.
52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature, and in favour with God and man.
52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature, and in favour with God and man.
3. A
time of silence
so that
the Word of God may enter our hearts and enlighten our lives.
4.
Meditatio: A few questions
to
direct our meditation and practice.
Why
does Luke, the Evangelist, tell us this story in Jesus’ life? Where is the
climax, the centre of the passage? There are times when family (community)
relationships become tense and difficult and misunderstandings take place. Do
we seek autonomy and independence? Who or what becomes more important at a
particular time in our life? Can we organise hierarchically our relationships,
our self-affirmation, our values, our tasks, morality? Today, we often find
“enlarged” families (multi-ethnic communities) with re-married parents,
partners, daughters and sons, sisters and brothers, grandparents, parents of
one partner and not of the other. On whom can we rely? Can we submit to one
person or just rebel?
5. A
key to the reading
We find
ourselves among the so-called infancy stories according to Luke (chap. 1-2).
This is the final passage, a theological and christological prologue rather
that a historical one, where we are presented with motifs that recur later in
Luke’s catechesis: the Temple, the journey towards Jerusalem, divine filiation,
the poor, the merciful Father, etc. Reading back, in Jesus’ childhood there
already appear signs of his future life. Mary and Joseph take Jesus to
Jerusalem to take part in one of the three pilgrimages (the Passover, Pentecost
and the feast of the Tabernacles) prescribed by the Law (Dt 16:16). During the
seven days of the feast, people took part in the cult and listened to the
Rabbis who discussed beneath the portico of the Temple. “The boy Jesus stayed
behind in Jerusalem”, the city the Lord chose for his throne (2K 21:4-7; Jer
3:17; Zc 3:2), and where the Temple is found (Ps 68:30; 76:3; 135:21), the only
place of worship for the Jews (Jn 4:20). Jerusalem is the place where “all that
was written by the prophets concerning the Son of man will be fulfilled” (Lk
18:21), the place of “his departure” (Lk 9:31.51; 24:18) and of his appearances
after the resurrection (Lk 24;33.36-49). His parents “sought him” anxiously and
troubled (44.45.48.49). How is it possible to lose a son, not to realise that
Jesus is not in the caravan? Is it Christ who has to follow others or vice
versa? “Three days later” the “passion” ends and they find Jesus in the Temple,
among the doctors, teaching to the amazement of all. The characteristics of his
mission begin to unfold and this mission is summarised in the first words that
Jesus speaks in Luke’s Gospel “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know
that I must be busy with my Father’s affairs?” But who is his father? Why seek
him? This is the same father mentioned in Jesus’ last words, in Luke, on the
cross “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit” (23:46) and at the ascension
into heaven “And now I am sending down to you what the Father has promised”
(24:49). Above all, we must seek to obey God, as Peter well understood after
Pentecost (Acts 5:29), seek the Kingdom of God and his justice (Mt 6:33), seek
the Father in prayer (Mt 7:7-8), seek Jesus (Jn 1:38) and follow him. Jesus
proclaims his dependence - “I must” – on his heavenly Father. He reveals the
Father in his immense goodness (Lk 15), but he thus creates a distance, a
break, with his family. Before all affective ties, all personal fulfilment, all
affairs… comes God’s project. “Father, if you are willing, take this cup away
from me. Nevertheless, let your will be done, not mine” (Lk 22: 42). Simeon’s
prophecy (Lk 2:34) begins to happen for Mary, “but they did not understand”.
His parents’ lack of understanding is also that of his disciples concerning the
foretelling of the passion (18:34). Rebel? Submit? Walk away? Jesus “went down
with them and came to Nazareth and lived under their authority”, says Luke, and
Mary “stored up all these things in her heart”. Mary’s attitude expresses the
development of faith in a person who grows and progresses in knowledge of the
mystery. Jesus reveals that obedience to God is the essential condition for
fulfilling one’s life, for a way of sharing in the family and in community.
Obedience to the Father is what makes us brothers and sisters, teaches us to
obey each other, to listen to each other and recognise God’s plan in each
other. Such an atmosphere creates the conditions necessary to grow “in wisdom,
in stature, and in favour with God and men” and to journey together.
6. Oratio:
Psalm 83 (84)
The
pilgrim’s hymn
How
lovely is thy dwelling place,
O Lord of hosts!
My soul longs, yea, faints for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God.
Even the sparrow finds a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may lay her young, at thy altars,
O Lord of hosts, my King and my God.
O Lord of hosts!
My soul longs, yea, faints for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God.
Even the sparrow finds a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may lay her young, at thy altars,
O Lord of hosts, my King and my God.
Blessed
are those who dwell in thy house,
ever singing thy praise!
Blessed are the men whose strength is in thee,
in whose heart are the highways to Zion.
ever singing thy praise!
Blessed are the men whose strength is in thee,
in whose heart are the highways to Zion.
As they
go through the valley of Baca
they make it a place of springs;
the early rain also covers it with pools.
They go from strength to strength;
the God of gods will be seen in Zion.
O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear,
O God of Jacob!
they make it a place of springs;
the early rain also covers it with pools.
They go from strength to strength;
the God of gods will be seen in Zion.
O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear,
O God of Jacob!
7.
Contemplatio: Closing prayer
I thank
you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have revealed to me your
goodness and your love. You really are the only One who can give full meaning
to my life. I love my father, but you are my Father; I love my mother, but you
are my Mother. Even if I had not known the love of my parents, I know that you
are Love, you are with me and you are waiting for me in your eternal dwelling
place prepared for me from the beginning of creation. Grant that, together with
me, the members of my family, sisters and brothers, all those who journey in
community with me, may do your will so as to foreshadow on earth and then enjoy
in heaven the wonders of your love. Amen
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