The Holy Family and Us

FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY

OF JESUS, MARY & JOSEPH

[ Luke 2: 22-40 ]

   And the Christmas season continues…

We are still in Christmas season.

This Sunday is the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Through the Holy Family, God has given His Son, His Only Begotten Son to the entire human family. Christmas Day is over, but the Christmas Season continues until the Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord. The mysteries of the Incarnation (the-Word-made-flesh) and Emmanuel (God-with-us), as well as God’s plan for our Salvation, continue to unfold before our very eyes.

Pope John Paul II [The CTS New Daily Missal, 2012] tells us that, “If we aspire to a deeper understanding of Jesus’ life and mission, we must draw close to the mystery of the Holy Family of Nazareth to observe and listen… For every believer, and especially for Christian families, the humble dwelling place in Nazareth is an authentic school of the Gospel. Here we admire, put into practice, the divine plan to make the family an intimate community of life and love; here we learn that every Christian family is called to be a small ‘domestic church’ that must shine with the Gospel virtues…”

   Lessons from the Holy Family.

The Gospel reading this Sunday presents to us an account of the Presentation of Our Lord. And here are some points for us to ponder:

The fourth joyful mystery of the Holy Rosary:
The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple.

   1) Mary and Joseph took Jesus to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord as required by the Law of Moses.

   Laws are necessary to order our own selves and the society at large. Without laws, there will be no moral boundaries, and the world will be in chaos. It is therefore imperative for parents to set good examples to children and to teach them to obey the laws.

   How many times have we Catholics complained that the Church is full of rules and regulations?

   And how often have we Catholics suggested (directly or indirectly) that there is no need to obey the Commandments of God or the teaching of the apostolic Church?

   Remember Jesus says [Mt 4: 17-19], “Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfil them. For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but he who does them and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”

   We must therefore imitate the obedience of Mary and Joseph, to live the faith and share the faith as it is, without watering down the teaching of Christ and His Church.

   2) They offered sacrifice of a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.

   According to the Law of Moses, the sacrifice required was supposed to be a lamb. The poor man’s alternative was the sacrifice of two doves or two pigeons.

   Yes, all parents will want to give the best to their children, but not every parent can afford that. It is not how much we give, but rather how much love we put into the giving. Mary and Joseph had shown us what it means to be poor in spirit’ - being poor at heart, being indifferent (not attached, not clinging or not addicted) to all created things, and being dependent on God and His Word.

   How have we ignored the poor and the marginalized, the last, the lost, the least and the little?

   How often have we brainwashed our children (or others) to put money above all things, and to pursue for fame and fortune at the expense of others?

   And how often have we promoted and promised the ‘Gospel of prosperity’ to those who come seeking for Christ?

   Jesus was poor. What we fail to do to the poor and the marginalized, the last, the lost, the least, and the little, we fail to do to Jesus. We cannot serve both God and money [Mt 6: 24].

   3) “…and a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

The seven sorrows of Mary.

   Simeon pointed out that Jesus was special – He was the Christ of the Lord. And he told Mary that her journey as the Mother of the Lord would be heart-piercing and gut-wrenching.

   We are all called to holiness; our families are called to imitate the Holy Family. Holiness does not mean problem-free. Like any family, the Holy Family had its own headaches and heartaches.

   Even our life journey as Catholics too is not a bed of roses – it will be challenging, heart-piercing and gut-wrenching. Mary and Joseph were faithful to God throughout their lives. Like Mary and Joseph, we need to be faithful to our baptismal promises – to always depend on God and His graces.

Let our fervent prayer be:

   “Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, make my family and the entire human family one with You.”

Let us also pray that God’s justice, peace, truth and love may prevail in Malaysia, Israel-Palestine, Ukraine, Sri Lanka and Nicaragua.

   [Note: This Gospel reflection was adapted from Porta Fidei, Gospel Reflection, 27 Dec 2020.]