Feast of the Holy Family (Cycle B, Year II)
Community Word: We celebrate God’s presence in us at all times.
Theme: God’s presence keeps us respectful and obedient to our fathers and mothers.
Promise: “Whoever reveres his father will live a long life; he who obeys his father brings comfort to his mother.” (Sir 3:6)
The Christmas holiday is, for all intents and purposes, over. Gifts have been exchanged, and people are now looking forward to the New Year. The feast of the Holy Family is a natural extension or continuation of Christmas, the family being central to celebration of Christmas as the basic unit of society all over the world.
Anyone carefully reading the gospel will see that the Holy Family had their share of trials and difficulties. Joseph showed a father’s courageous and protective instinct as he shielded his family from hostility and from the evil intentions of Herod. Learning in a dream of Herod’s evil plot to kill the baby Jesus he quickly fled to Egypt, with Mary and the Christ Child, where they lived in exile for a designated period of time, refugees in a foreign land.
The most basic Christian community is the family into which we are born. The purpose of this feast is to demonstrate the importance and sacredness of the family as the fundamental unit of Church life. It provides us with an opportunity to reflect upon the quality of our home and family life, and our community. Family life is not so much about parents and children living under one roof, but about their hearts beating as one in harmony and love. This can happen only if the family is founded on the message of Christ. It is where Christian teaching on values begins, grows, and emanates, with parents, through mutual respect, affection, tenderness and care for one another, teaching their children by word and example.
The family is where we develop a sense of self-worth, where we see our faith lived, where we see the virtues St. Paul describes in the second reading being practiced, where attitudes towards God, prayer and the Church are powerfully formed, and we learn our first and most important lessons on accountability, responsibility, self-reliance, self-control and getting along with others – all basic coping mechanisms we need in dealing with others and the world. The template first takes shape within the family because the family is the source of our initial experience of community life and interaction with others. Although families may be imperfect, the love within the family can germinate the seeds for the Body of Christ. Even a family with one parent is still the place where people can grow in character and faith.
Whatever your age, home is where you should feel free to talk about your problems, a venue to share hopes and struggles for the present, and visions and dreams for the future. Religion, particularly, the fear of God, is first learned at home and parents are the first teachers in the ways of faith. There is no point urging the children to pray, if prayer is not a part of the parent’s own lives.
The true manifestation of divine love is the life of Jesus Christ who is the sign of contradiction, who suffers and dies and rises again. Joseph and Mary deeply shaped Jesus’ human nature. This feast is a reminder that Jesus came to the earth to earn a place for each one of us in God’s family.
A Happy and Blessed New Year to all!
Prayer
Heavenly Father, may the example of the Family in Nazareth always reign in our homes. May our homes always be a place where we truly feel ‘at home’, free to share our troubles and anxieties as well as our hopes and joys, as we surrender in faith to Jesus Christ, the foundation of our family lives. Search our hearts and know our thoughts, strengthen the bonds of love in our families for more honest worship of you and for more willing service to others. In a very special way we pray for each member of our families and in particular for the one in most need of prayer.
Reflection Guides
1. How do you make the truth and love of Christ be manifested in your family and home so that family members may grow and mature spiritually?
2. How can we promote humble obedience and respect in our children towards their parents?
3. How can I foster understanding, forgiveness, and love in my family, workplace and community?
This Week’s Daily Mass Reading Guide:
December 31, 2017 (Sun) -Sir 3:2-6,12-14/ Ps 105:1-2,3-4,6-7,8-9/ Col 3:12-21/ Lk 2:22-40
January 1, 2018 (Mon) – Nm 6:22-27/Ps 67:2,3,5,6,8/Gal 4:4-7/Lk 2:16-21
January 2, 2018 (Tues)- 1Jn 2:22-28/Ps 98:1-4/Jn 1:19-28
January 3, 2018 (Wed) -1Jn 2:29-3:6/Ps 98:1,3-6/Jn 1:29-34
January 4, 2018 (Thur) – 1Jn 3:7-10/Ps 98:1,7-9/Jn 1:35-42
January 5, 2018 (Fri) – 1Jn 3:11-21/Ps 100:1-5/Jn 1:43-51
January 6, 2018 (Sat) – 1Jn 5:5-13/Ps 147:12-15,19,20/Mk 1:7-11
“Ignorance of the Bible is ignorance of Christ. Read your Bible daily!”
