Feast of the Holy Family (Cycle A, Year II)

Community Word:The coming of Jesus Christ brings joy and hope in our lives.

Theme:There is joy and hope in our lives when we entrust our family to God’s care and protection.

Promise:“Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walk in his ways… for you shall be favoured.” (Ps 128:1 – 2)

Reflection:
We celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family, the family of Joseph, Mary, and Jesus, to remind us what a Christian family is. They loved and respected one another, they were united in worshipping and loving God and making Him the center of their lives. They lived out their lives and their respective roles in the family as prescribed by Holy Scriptures.

Joseph gives eloquent witness to his love for Mary and Jesus by remaining chaste, humble, harboring no bitterness, and providing for all the needs, care, and comfort of his family. He is a protective father, as we read in the Gospel. When warned in a dream of impending danger, he does not hesitate to take mother and child to Egypt and out of danger. And, as is the tradition of his time, Joseph teaches Jesus about Holy Scriptures.

Mary, on the other hand, is the ideal wife and mother, sewing clothes for her family, washing, cooking, and faithfully doing all the household chores expected of a dutiful wife and mother, as we read in Proverbs 31. She opens her mouth in wisdom and gives kindly counsel. It is she who, like any Jewish mother of her time, must have taught Jesus the fear of God.

Jesus, on the other hand is the obedient son to Joseph and Mary (cf. Lk 2:51b), honoring his parents as prescribed by the 4th commandment, and studying Holy Scripture like any Jewish child of his time. From Joseph, Jesus learns his craft and trade, as a carpenter.

The basic lesson we learn from the Holy Family is fear of God; they faithfully observe God’s commandments; give witness to God’s love in each other and to others. They lead simple lives in the small town of Nazareth – “Can anything good come Nazareth?” (Jn 1:46). Both Joseph and Jesus were carpenters – a humble trade spoken of with some derision even in Nazareth, “Is he not the carpenter…?” (Mk 6:3).

In the face of the gradual breakdown of the traditional family, we look up all the more to the family values exemplified by the Holy Family. We are encouraged to live and give witness to authentic Christian family values as the simplest, most effective form of fostering our living faith in God, through mutual respect, trust, and love for one another within our respective families.

We serve as inspiration and role models for other families when we do not forget our responsibilities as parents in bringing our whole family to the Lordship of Jesus Christ; when we do not tire of modeling Jesus to our children by our active presence in our homes; by constantly affirming their dignity and talents; by sharing their concerns, listening to their doubts and aspirations; giving them hope and being supportive of their individual struggles; by being merciful and forgiving when they fail us, and always praying for them.

In our role as fathers, mothers and children living the Christian faith, the Lord gives us this promise as we end the year: “Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walk in his ways… for you shall be favoured.” (Ps 128:1 – 2)

Prayer:
Lord, as we end this year and face a new one, grant us the grace to always honor and respect our parents as the anointed ones of God. Help us to be kind, humble, meek, and patient and bear with them in support and understanding. Grant them with strength, wisdom, guidance and knowledge as they witness to and lead us to Your beloved Son, Jesus. Bless all families to continue living in faith, hope and love. Amen.

Reflection Guide Questions:
1. How can I foster patience, humility, forgiveness, love, and unity in my family, in my workplace and community?

This Week’s Daily Mass Reading Guide:
December 29, 2019 (Sun) -Sir 3:2-7, 12-14/Ps 128:10-5/Col 3:12-21/Mt 2:13-15, 19-23
December 30, 2019 (Mon) -1Jn 2:12-17/Ps 96:7-10/Lk 2:36-40
December 31, 2019 (Tue) -1Jn 2:18-21/Ps 96:1, 2, 11, 12, 13/Jn 1:1-18
January 1, 2020 (Wed) – Nm 6:22-27/Ps 67:2, 3, 5, 6, 8/Jn 1:1-18
January 2, 2020 (Thu) – Nm 6:22-27/Ps 67:2, 3, 5, 6, 8/Gal 4:4-7/Lk 2:16-21
January 3, 2020 (Fri) – 1Jn 2:22-28/Ps 98:1, 2, 3, 4/Jn 1:19-28
January 4, 2020 (Sat) – 1Jn 3:7-10/Ps 98:1, 7-9/Jn 1:35-42

“Ignorance of the Bible is ignorance of Christ. Read your Bible daily!”