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.
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.
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.
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.
GospelMT 2:13-15, 19-23
When the magi had departed, behold,
the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said,
"Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt,
and stay there until I tell you.
Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him."
Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night
and departed for Egypt.
He stayed there until the death of Herod,
that what the Lord had said through the prophet might be fulfilled,
Out of Egypt I called my son.
When Herod had died, behold,
the angel of the Lord appeared in a dream
to Joseph in Egypt and said,
"Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel,
for those who sought the child's life are dead."
He rose, took the child and his mother,
and went to the land of Israel.
But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea
in place of his father Herod,
he was afraid to go back there.
And because he had been warned in a dream,
he departed for the region of Galilee.
He went and dwelt in a town called Nazareth,
so that what had been spoken through the prophets
might be fulfilled,
He shall be called a Nazorean.
the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said,
"Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt,
and stay there until I tell you.
Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him."
Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night
and departed for Egypt.
He stayed there until the death of Herod,
that what the Lord had said through the prophet might be fulfilled,
Out of Egypt I called my son.
When Herod had died, behold,
the angel of the Lord appeared in a dream
to Joseph in Egypt and said,
"Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel,
for those who sought the child's life are dead."
He rose, took the child and his mother,
and went to the land of Israel.
But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea
in place of his father Herod,
he was afraid to go back there.
And because he had been warned in a dream,
he departed for the region of Galilee.
He went and dwelt in a town called Nazareth,
so that what had been spoken through the prophets
might be fulfilled,
He shall be called a Nazorean.
Meditation: "An
angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream"
Like
all godly Jewish parents, Joseph and Mary raised the child Jesus in the
reverence and wisdom of the Lord. Joseph was given a unique task as the guardian
and protector of Mary and of Jesus. What can we learn from the example and
witness of Joseph? Joseph is a man of God, a man of unquestioning
obedience and willing service. He is a man of prayer and a man of God's word.
Through faith he recognized the hand of God in the mystery of the Incarnation -
the Son of God taking on flesh as the son of the virgin Mary.
Joseph
is a man of action, diligent in the care of his family and ready to do the
Lord's bidding. Joseph fearlessly set aside his own plans when God called him
to "take to the road" and to leave his familiar surroundings - his
home, friends and relatives, and the security of his livelihood in order to
pursue a hidden mission God entrusted to him as the guardian of the newborn
King.
God
has a plan for each one of us. With the plan God gives grace and the assurance
of his guiding hand and care. Do you trust your heavenly Father for his plan
for your life? Are you willing to sacrifice your own plans for the sake of
God's plan? Are you willing to give God unquestioning service and to pursue
whatever mission he gives you?
"Lord
Jesus, make me a faithful servant of your word and guardian of your truth. Help
me to obey you willingly, like Joseph and Mary, with unquestioning trust and
with joyful hope."
Daily
Quote from the early church fathers: The holy family flees to Egypt, by
John Chrysostom, 547-407 A.D.
"But why was the Christ child sent into Egypt? The text makes this clear:
he was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, 'Out of Egypt have I
called my son' (Hosea 11:1). From that point onward we see that the hope of
salvation would be proclaimed to the whole world. Babylon and Egypt represent
the whole world. Even when they were engulfed in ungodliness, God signified
that he intended to correct and amend both Babylon and Egypt. God wanted
humanity to expect his bounteous gifts the world over. So he called from
Babylon the wise men and sent to Egypt the holy family.
"Besides what I have said, there is another lesson also to be learned, which tends powerfully toward true self-constraint in us. We are warned from the beginning to look out for temptations and plots. And we see this even when he came in swaddling clothes. Thus you see even at his birth a tyrant raging, a flight ensuing and a departure beyond the border. For it was because of no crime that his family was exiled into the land of Egypt.
"Similarly, you yourself need not be troubled if you are suffering countless dangers. Do not expect to be celebrated or crowned promptly for your troubles. Instead you may keep in mind the long-suffering example of the mother of the Child, bearing all things nobly, knowing that such a fugitive life is consistent with the ordering of spiritual things. You are sharing the kind of labor Mary herself shared. So did the magi. They both were willing to retire secretly in the humiliating role of fugitive." (excerpt from THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 8.2)
"Besides what I have said, there is another lesson also to be learned, which tends powerfully toward true self-constraint in us. We are warned from the beginning to look out for temptations and plots. And we see this even when he came in swaddling clothes. Thus you see even at his birth a tyrant raging, a flight ensuing and a departure beyond the border. For it was because of no crime that his family was exiled into the land of Egypt.
"Similarly, you yourself need not be troubled if you are suffering countless dangers. Do not expect to be celebrated or crowned promptly for your troubles. Instead you may keep in mind the long-suffering example of the mother of the Child, bearing all things nobly, knowing that such a fugitive life is consistent with the ordering of spiritual things. You are sharing the kind of labor Mary herself shared. So did the magi. They both were willing to retire secretly in the humiliating role of fugitive." (excerpt from THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 8.2)
Feast of the Holy Family – Cycle A
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.
1st Reading - Sirach 3:2-6, 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, it will serve as a sin offering – it will take lasting root.
The sin offering is offered in purification after childbirth (Leviticus 12:6,8), purification from leprosy (Leviticus 14:19,22,31), purification from contact with death (Numbers 6:11,14,16), and purification from bodily uncleanliness (Leviticus 15:15,30). Note that all these faults are committed unwittingly; there is no ritual atonement or expiation for sin committed with full and deliberate malice. Forgiveness for such sins is obtained only by repentance.
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 3:16 and 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).
Gospel - Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23
The story of the visit of the wise men and the flight into Egypt is contained only in the Gospel of Matthew. Matthew’s gospel makes the point that Jesus Messiah is the new Moses and the new Israel, and the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets. This thesis could only be directed at a Jewish audience. As such, the second chapter of Matthew emphasizes the parallel life which Jesus had like Moses: both survived the slaughter of the innocents (Matthew 2:16 = Exodus 1:22), both had to flee (Matthew 2:14 = Exodus 2:15), both returned (Matthew 2:19 = Exodus 4:19), both led the people out of slavery and to the promised land (Moses to the Land of Canaan, Jesus to the New Jerusalem). Today we hear of the escape of the Holy Family into Egypt.
13 When they [the magi] had departed,
Greek: magoi. Originally this term designated the learned priestly caste of the Persians; later it came to mean anyone skilled in occult knowledge and power (much like our “magician” which is derived from the same word). The mention of the star in Matthew’s gospel shows they were called magoi because of their knowledge of astrology, hence the identification is some translations as astrologers.
behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him.” 14 Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt. 15 He stayed there until the death of Herod, that what the Lord had said through the prophet might be fulfilled, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”
Hosea 11:1. The reference is to the basic experience of salvation, the exodus from Egyptian bondage. Jesus is presented as reenacting in his own life the career not only of Moses but of all Israel, for He leads the New Israel.
19 When Herod had died, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt 20 and said,
This story is the last we will hear of Joseph in Matthew’s gospel.
“Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child’s life are dead.”
This is a command which closely resembles the command given to Moses in Exodus 4:19.
21 He rose, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go back there. And because he had been warned in a dream, he departed for the region of Galilee. 23 He went and dwelt in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, “He shall be called a Nazorean.”
The text which is quoted is found nowhere in the Old Testament. Nazareth is not mentioned in the Old Testament. The most probable explanation of the quotation is that it is a wordplay based on the Hebrew text of Isaiah 11:1, “A shoot shall rise from Jesse, and a branch (nezer) shall sprout from his roots.” St. Jerome himself, in his Commentary on Isaiah 11:1, stated that the name “Nazorean” fulfills the prophecy as Christ is the branch (nezer) of the entire race of Abraham and David.
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.
1st Reading - Sirach 3:2-6, 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, it will serve as a sin offering – it will take lasting root.
The sin offering is offered in purification after childbirth (Leviticus 12:6,8), purification from leprosy (Leviticus 14:19,22,31), purification from contact with death (Numbers 6:11,14,16), and purification from bodily uncleanliness (Leviticus 15:15,30). Note that all these faults are committed unwittingly; there is no ritual atonement or expiation for sin committed with full and deliberate malice. Forgiveness for such sins is obtained only by repentance.
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 3:16 and 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).
Gospel - Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23
The story of the visit of the wise men and the flight into Egypt is contained only in the Gospel of Matthew. Matthew’s gospel makes the point that Jesus Messiah is the new Moses and the new Israel, and the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets. This thesis could only be directed at a Jewish audience. As such, the second chapter of Matthew emphasizes the parallel life which Jesus had like Moses: both survived the slaughter of the innocents (Matthew 2:16 = Exodus 1:22), both had to flee (Matthew 2:14 = Exodus 2:15), both returned (Matthew 2:19 = Exodus 4:19), both led the people out of slavery and to the promised land (Moses to the Land of Canaan, Jesus to the New Jerusalem). Today we hear of the escape of the Holy Family into Egypt.
13 When they [the magi] had departed,
Greek: magoi. Originally this term designated the learned priestly caste of the Persians; later it came to mean anyone skilled in occult knowledge and power (much like our “magician” which is derived from the same word). The mention of the star in Matthew’s gospel shows they were called magoi because of their knowledge of astrology, hence the identification is some translations as astrologers.
behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him.” 14 Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt. 15 He stayed there until the death of Herod, that what the Lord had said through the prophet might be fulfilled, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”
Hosea 11:1. The reference is to the basic experience of salvation, the exodus from Egyptian bondage. Jesus is presented as reenacting in his own life the career not only of Moses but of all Israel, for He leads the New Israel.
19 When Herod had died, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt 20 and said,
This story is the last we will hear of Joseph in Matthew’s gospel.
“Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child’s life are dead.”
This is a command which closely resembles the command given to Moses in Exodus 4:19.
21 He rose, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go back there. And because he had been warned in a dream, he departed for the region of Galilee. 23 He went and dwelt in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, “He shall be called a Nazorean.”
The text which is quoted is found nowhere in the Old Testament. Nazareth is not mentioned in the Old Testament. The most probable explanation of the quotation is that it is a wordplay based on the Hebrew text of Isaiah 11:1, “A shoot shall rise from Jesse, and a branch (nezer) shall sprout from his roots.” St. Jerome himself, in his Commentary on Isaiah 11:1, stated that the name “Nazorean” fulfills the prophecy as Christ is the branch (nezer) of the entire race of Abraham and David.
St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, Picayune, MS http://www.scborromeo.org
FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY, AND JOSEPH
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 29, MATTHEW 2:13-15, 19-23
(Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14; Colossians 3:12-21 or 3:12-17; Psalm 128)
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 29, MATTHEW 2:13-15, 19-23
(Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14; Colossians 3:12-21 or 3:12-17; Psalm 128)
KEY VERSE: "Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt and stay there until I tell you" (v. 13).
TO KNOW: Because of his skill in interpreting dreams, the patriarch Joseph rose to prominence in the service of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt (Gn 41:46). In Egypt, Joseph saved his whole family from starvation (47:12). Later, Moses, the great lawgiver, fled from Egypt because of the Pharaoh's wrath. When those who sought Moses' life were dead, the Lord told him to return to Egypt and lead his people to freedom (Ex 4:19). Matthew cites the Holy Family's flight to Egypt to show that Jesus relived Israel's deliverance in the Exodus in fulfillment of the prophecy, "Out of Egypt I called my son" (Hos 11:1; Mt 2:15). When King Herod died, an angel told Joseph to return to Israel. Joseph was afraid to go to Judea since Herod's son Archelaus now ruled half of the kingdom with the same cruelty as his father. So Joseph took his family to Nazareth, an obscure village in Galilee in the "land of the Gentiles." Isaiah prophesied that it was in this region that a "great light" was destined to arise (Is 8:23).
TO LOVE: In what ways is the Holy Family a model for my family?
TO SERVE: Jesus, Mary and Joseph, pray for the deliverance of refugees and all who live in fear for their lives.
Sunday 29 December 2019
Holy Family
Ecclesiasticus 3:2-6, 12-14. Psalm 127(128):1-5. Colossians 3:12-21. Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23.
Happy are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways – Psalm 127(128):1-5.
‘He made his home in a town called Nazareth.’
Ecclesiasticus 3:2-6, 12-14. Psalm 127(128):1-5. Colossians 3:12-21. Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23.
Happy are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways – Psalm 127(128):1-5.
‘He made his home in a town called Nazareth.’
The so-called ‘hidden life’ of Jesus, those years spanning his
childhood and early adulthood, is a source of wonder and much speculation for
Christians. For many, this is born out of an aspiration toward a deeper
understanding of Jesus’ life and mission. The readings for today offer us a
chance to meditate on the community of love from which the Gospel emerged. A
spirit of sacrifice, work and solidarity are typical features that make the
family of Nazareth a model for every home. When put into practice, our own
families cannot help but emanate the light of the Gospel to the world.
Jesus, Word made flesh and splendour of the Father, you bring
life to the world. Show us your companion presence amongst us, that we might
imitate you and your common life with your family. Be for us the encouragement
we need to be made magnanimous in your sight.
Saint Thomas Becket
Saint of the Day for December 29
(December 21, 1118 – December 29, 1170)
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| Saint Thomas of Canterbury | photo by Lawrence OP | flickr |
Saint Thomas Becket’s Story
A strong man who wavered for a moment, but then learned one
cannot come to terms with evil, and so became a strong churchman, a martyr, and
a saint—that was Thomas Becket, archbishop of Canterbury, murdered in his
cathedral on December 29, 1170.
His career had been a stormy one. While archdeacon of
Canterbury, he was made chancellor of England at the age of 36 by his friend
King Henry II. When Henry felt it advantageous to make his chancellor the
archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas gave him fair warning: he might not accept all
of Henry’s intrusions into Church affairs. Nevertheless, in 1162 he was made
archbishop, resigned his chancellorship, and reformed his whole way of life!
Troubles began. Henry insisted upon usurping Church rights. At
one time, supposing some conciliatory action possible, Thomas came close to
compromise. He momentarily approved the Constitutions of Clarendon, which would
have denied the clergy the right of trial by a Church court and prevented them
from making direct appeal to Rome. But Thomas rejected the Constitutions, fled
to France for safety, and remained in exile for seven years. When he returned
to England he suspected it would mean certain death. Because Thomas refused to
remit censures he had placed upon bishops favored by the king, Henry cried out
in a rage, “Will no one rid me of this troublesome priest!” Four knights,
taking his words as his wish, slew Thomas in the Canterbury cathedral.
Thomas Becket remains a hero-saint down to our own times.
Reflection
No one becomes a saint without struggle, especially with
himself. Thomas knew he must stand firm in defense of truth and right, even at
the cost of his life. We also must take a stand in the face of
pressures—against dishonesty, deceit, destruction of life—at the cost of
popularity, convenience, promotion, and even greater goods.
Saint Thomas Becket is the Patron Saint of:
Roman Catholic Secular Clergy
Lectio Divina: THE HOLY FAMILY (A)
Lectio Divina
Sunday, December 29, 2019
The flight into Egypt and the return to Nazareth
Matthew 2:13-23
Matthew 2:13-23
1. LECTIO
a) Opening prayer:
God, our Creator and Father, You decreed that Your Son,
generated before the dawn of the world, should be like us in all things through
His incarnation in the womb of the Virgin Mary by the working of the Holy
Spirit. Send that same life-giving Spirit upon us, so that we may become ever
more docile to Your sanctifying action, allowing ourselves to be gently
transformed by the same Spirit into the image and likeness of Jesus Christ Your
Son, our brother, savior and redeemer.
b) A reading from the Gospel of Matthew:
13 After they had left, suddenly the angel of the Lord appeared
to Joseph in a dream and said, 'Get up, take the child and His mother with you,
and escape into Egypt, and stay there until I tell you, because Herod intends
to search for the child and do away with Him.' 14 So Joseph got up and, taking
the child and His mother with him, left that night for Egypt, 15 where he
stayed until Herod was dead. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken
through the prophet: I called my son out of Egypt. 16 Herod was furious on
realizing that he had been fooled by the wise men, and in Bethlehem and its
surrounding district he had all the male children killed who were two years old
or less, reckoning by the date he had been careful to ask the wise men. 17 Then
were fulfilled the words spoken through the prophet Jeremiah: 18 A voice is
heard in Ramah, lamenting and weeping bitterly: it is Rachel weeping for her
children, refusing to be comforted because they are no more. 19 After Herod's
death, suddenly the angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt 20
and said, 'Get up, take the child and His mother with you and go back to the
land of Israel, for those who wanted to kill the child are dead.' 21 So Joseph
got up and, taking the child and His mother with him, went back to the land of
Israel. 22 But when he learned that Archelaus had succeeded his father Herod as
ruler of Judaea he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he
withdrew to the region of Galilee. 23 There he settled in a town called Nazareth.
In this way the words spoken through the prophets were to be fulfilled: He will
be called a Nazarene.
c) A moment of silence:
so that the Word of God may penetrated into our hearts and
enlighten our life
2. MEDITATIO
a) A key to the reading:
Matthew’s Gospel has been called “the Gospel of the Kingdom”.
Matthew invites us to reflect on the coming of the kingdom of heaven. Some have
seen in the structure of his Gospel narration a drama in seven acts that deal
with the coming of this Kingdom. The drama begins with the preparation for the
coming of the Kingdom in the person of the boy Messiah and ends with the coming
of the Kingdom in the suffering and triumph of the passion, death and
resurrection of Jesus Christ, Son of God.
The Gospel passage presented to us for reflection is part of the
so-called first act where Matthew introduces to us the person of Jesus as the
fulfillment of the Scriptures. Matthew’s is the Gospel that often quotes the
Old Testament to show that in Christ the law and the prophets are fulfilled.
Jesus, the fulfillment and perfection of the Scriptures, came into the world to
re-establish the kingdom of heaven already proclaimed in the covenant made by
God with His people. With the coming of Christ, this covenant is no longer
reserved for the Jewish people alone but is extended to all peoples. Matthew
addresses himself to a community of Christian Jews, persecuted by the
synagogue, and invites it to be open to the gentiles. He is the wise scribe who
knows how to draw from his treasury that which is old and new. His Gospel was
first written in Aramaic and then translated into Greek.
Matthew 2:13-23 is part of the section that deals with the birth
and childhood of “Jesus Christ son of David, son of Abraham” (Mt 1:1). Jesus is
the son of His people, but He is also son of the whole of humanity. In His
genealogy we find foreign influences (Mt 1:3-6). After Mary His mother, the
first called to pay homage to the newborn Messiah are the Magi (Mt 2:11). With
His light, the Messiah draws the wise to Himself and offers them salvation (Mt
2:1-12). The Magi receive this salvation, unlike Herod and the troubled
citizens of Jerusalem (Mt 2:3).
From the very time of His birth, Jesus relives the painful
experience of His people in exile, humbled again and again. The Gospel shows us
this by telling us of the flight into Egypt and the murder of the innocents.
The drama of these events unfolds before us in the following details:
i) The angel who appears in a dream to Joseph after the Magi leave, and the flight into Egypt (Mt 2:13-15).
ii) Herod who becomes aware of the deceit of the Magi and kills all the male children in Bethlehem (Mt 2:16-18).
iii) The death of Herod and the “clandestine” return of the Holy Family, not to Bethlehem but to Galilee (Mt 2:19-23).
i) The angel who appears in a dream to Joseph after the Magi leave, and the flight into Egypt (Mt 2:13-15).
ii) Herod who becomes aware of the deceit of the Magi and kills all the male children in Bethlehem (Mt 2:16-18).
iii) The death of Herod and the “clandestine” return of the Holy Family, not to Bethlehem but to Galilee (Mt 2:19-23).
The theme of kings killing those whom they fear is common in the
history of every royal dynasty. Apart from this scene of Herod seeking out the
child Jesus to kill Him, in Bible literature in the Old Testament we find
similar stories. In the first book of Samuel, Saul who has been rejected by the
Lord feared David and sought to kill him (1 Sam 15; 18; 19; 20). Michal and
Jonathan help David to flee (1 Sam 19; 20). Again in the first book of Kings,
King Solomon in his old age, unfaithful to the God of his fathers and with a
perverted heart, commits what is evil in the sight of the Lord (1 Kings
11:3-13). For this, the Lord raises up an adversary against Solomon (1 Kings
11: 14), Hadad the Edomite, who during David’s reign flees and takes refuge in
Egypt (1 Kings 11: 17). Another of Solomon’s adversaries is Jeroboam who takes
refuge in Egypt to get away from the king who wanted to kill him (1 Kings 11:
40). Such were the dangers of a degenerate kingdom. In the second book of
Kings, this time in the context of the siege of Jerusalem, “In the ninth year
of his [Nebuchadnezzar’s] reign, in the tenth month, on the tenth day of the
month” (2 Kings 25:1) of the year 589, we read of the sacking of Jerusalem and
of the second deportation of the people in the year 587 (2 Kings 25:8-21). The
people who “remained in the land of Judah” (2 Kings 25:22) submit to Gedaliah
who was appointed governor by Nebuchadnezzar. “Ishmael […] and ten men
with him […] murdered Gedaliah, as well as the Judeans and the Chaldeans who were
with him”. Then from fear of the Chaldeans, they fled into Egypt (2 Kings
25-26). In the book of the prophet Jeremiah, we also find the story of Uriah
“another man, too, who used to prophesy in the name of Yahweh” (Jer 26: 20).
Uriah flees into Egypt because king Jehoiakim sought to kill him. The king in
fact did find him in Egypt and killed him (Jer 25: 20-24).
With these events as background to the flight of the Holy Family
into Egypt, Matthew shows us Jesus, from His very childhood, as partaking of
the fate of His people. Egypt, for Jesus, becomes the place of refuge, as it
was for the patriarchs:
- Abraham who “went down into Egypt to stay there for the time, since the land was hard pressed by the famine” (Gen 12:10).
- Joseph was threatened by his brothers who sought to kill him out of envy and was then sold to merchants who led him into Egypt and sold him to Potiphar (Gen 37:12-36).
- Israel (Jacob) who goes to Egypt called by his son Joseph (Gen 46:1-7).
- The family of Israel (Jacob) that goes to Egypt to establish themselves there (Gen 46–50; Ex 1:1-6).
- Abraham who “went down into Egypt to stay there for the time, since the land was hard pressed by the famine” (Gen 12:10).
- Joseph was threatened by his brothers who sought to kill him out of envy and was then sold to merchants who led him into Egypt and sold him to Potiphar (Gen 37:12-36).
- Israel (Jacob) who goes to Egypt called by his son Joseph (Gen 46:1-7).
- The family of Israel (Jacob) that goes to Egypt to establish themselves there (Gen 46–50; Ex 1:1-6).
Matthew turns the citation from Hosea 11:1 upside down: “I
called my son out of Egypt”, and interprets it as if God called his son Jesus
to flee into Egypt (Mt 2:15). The original meaning of Hosea was that the Lord
called his son Israel to leave Egypt in order to start a nation. Jesus’ flight
into Egypt and the killing of the innocents of Bethlehem remind us of the
oppression of Israel in Egypt and the killing of all the new-born males (Ex 1:
8-22).
The prophecy applied to the murder of the innocents is taken
from the book of consolation made up of chapters 30 and 31 of the book of
Jeremiah. The lamentation is connected to the promise of the Lord who consoles
Rachel, Jacob’s (Israel’s) spouse, mother of Joseph, who according to tradition
was buried close to Bethlehem, and promises her that she will be rewarded for
her sorrow, her children who are no longer will come back (Jer 31: 15–18).
When they come back from Egypt after the death of Herod, Joseph
decides to live in Galilee in a city called Nazareth. Jesus will be called the
Nazarene. Later also, His disciples will be known as Nazarenes (Acts 24:5).
Apart from indicating the name of a city, this name may also refer to the
“shoot”, that is the «neçer» of Isaiah 11: 1. Or it may refer to the rest of
Israel, the «naçur» (see Isa 42: 6).
b) Questions for personal reflection:
i) What strikes you most in this passage from Matthew?
ii) What does the kingdom of heaven mean for you?
iii) How does the kingdom of heaven differ from earthly kingdoms?
iv) Matthew introduces us to the person of Jesus as one who becomes one with the fate of His people. Read the passages cited in the key to the reading so as to reflect and pray on the events of the people of God, with which Jesus identified Himself. What are similar situations in our world? Ask yourself what you can do to better the conditions where you live and work, especially if they are at variance with the kingdom of heaven.
ii) What does the kingdom of heaven mean for you?
iii) How does the kingdom of heaven differ from earthly kingdoms?
iv) Matthew introduces us to the person of Jesus as one who becomes one with the fate of His people. Read the passages cited in the key to the reading so as to reflect and pray on the events of the people of God, with which Jesus identified Himself. What are similar situations in our world? Ask yourself what you can do to better the conditions where you live and work, especially if they are at variance with the kingdom of heaven.
3. ORATIO
a) Personal prayer in silence.
b) Conclude the lectio divina with this prayer:
Merciful Father, grant that we may follow the examples of the Holy
Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, so that we may always be strong in the trials
of life until the day when we may share in Your glory in heaven. We ask this
through Christ our Lord.
4. CONTEMPLATIO
May the peace of Christ reign in your hearts. (Col 3:15)
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