FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY
In the House of the Father
It may come as a real surprise to us to hear Jesus ask Mary and Joseph: “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I had to be where my Father is?” Even Joseph and Mary had still to learn and to grow in their faith. Like the Holy Family, our families and each of us have also to grow in the faith. Perhaps it is through painful trials like the one of Mary and Joseph that our faith may become mature. We too are asked: Did you not know…?
Busy with the Father’s Affairs
It is perhaps hard for us to imagine that Jesus, God’s own Son, was really human, that he grew up not only physically but matured as a person and discovered little by little who he was. Of course, the whole Holy Family sought to do the will of God but we see Jesus affirm today that he has become aware that he is especially close to the Father and that God’s loving will is all that matters. Isn’t that all that matters for us, too, and should also we not grow closer to God? Let Jesus here in this Eucharist help us to become mature in God’s love.
First Reading: Sirach 3:2-6,12-14
Children of Wisdom are counted among the just; their generations are known for obedience and love. Yes, you children, listen to the advice of your parents. Follow it and you’ll be saved. Parents should be honored and respected by their children. Honor your mother and father and God will wipe out your past sins; he’ll help you deal with the occasions of present sins; he’ll hear your daily prayer. Honor your mother and it’s like putting money in the bank. Honor your father and your own children will honor you. Your prayers will be answered. You’ll live a longer life. Obey your father and your mother will rest well.
A father’s blessing enriches his children’s homes; a mother’s curse does major damage to a family. If your father messes up, don’t spread the news; his shame does no good for you. A man’s reputation comes from his father. A mother’s disgrace filters down to her daughter. Child, support your father in his old age; don’t do something that will make him sad. If he shows signs of senility, give him a pass. Don’t turn from him in his last days. Caring for a father won’t go unnoticed.
Second Reading: Colossians 3:12-21
Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective.
Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life—even though invisible to spectators—is with Christ in God. He is your life. When Christ (your real life, remember) shows up again on this earth, you’ll show up, too—the real you, the glorious you. Meanwhile, be content with obscurity, like Christ.
And that means killing off everything connected with that way of death: sexual promiscuity, impurity, lust, doing whatever you feel like whenever you feel like it, and grabbing whatever attracts your fancy. That’s a life shaped by things and feelings instead of by God.
So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.
Gospel: Luke 2:41-52
Every year Jesus’ parents travelled to Jerusalem for the Feast of Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up as they always did for the Feast. When it was over and they left for home, the child Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents didn’t know it. Thinking he was somewhere in the company of pilgrims, they journeyed for a whole day and then began looking for him among relatives and neighbours. When they didn’t find him, they went back to Jerusalem looking for him.
The next day they found him in the Temple seated among the teachers, listening to them and asking questions. The teachers were all quite taken with him, impressed with the sharpness of his answers. But his parents were not impressed; they were upset and hurt.
His mother said, “Young man, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been half out of our minds looking for you.”
He said, “Why were you looking for me? Didn’t you know that I had to be here, dealing with the things of my Father?” But they had no idea what he was talking about.
So he went back to Nazareth with them, and lived obediently with them. His mother held these things dearly, deep within herself. And Jesus matured, growing up in both body and spirit, blessed by both God and people.
Prayer
God our Father,
we give you all thanks and praise
that you chose for your Son a human family.
Through the prayers and example
of Mary and Joseph,
may we too learn
to make room for Jesus in our life,
that he may grow up in us day after day
and make us more like him.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord. Amen.