DAILY- HOMILY

DECEMBER 27, 2009
FEAST, THE HOLY FAMILY - C

SIRACH 3:2-6,12-14
For the LORD sets a father in honor over his children; a mother's
authority he confirms over her sons. He who honors his father atones
for sins; he stores up riches who reveres his mother. He who honors
his father is gladdened by children, and when he prays he is heard. He
who reveres his father will live a long life; he obeys the LORD who
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 with him; revile him not in the fullness of your strength.
For kindness to a father will not be forgotten, it will serve as a sin
offering--it will take lasting root.

COLOSSIANS 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.

LUKE 2:41-52
Each year Jesus' parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover,
and when he was twelve years old, they went up according to festival
custom. After they had completed its days, as they were returning, the
boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know
it. Thinking that he was in the caravan, they journeyed for a day and
looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances, but not
finding him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him. After three
days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the
teachers, listening to them and asking them questions, and all who
heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers. When
his parents saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him,
"Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been
looking for you with great anxiety." And he said to them, "Why were
you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's
house?" But they did not understand what he said to them. He went down
with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his
mother kept all these things in her heart. And Jesus advanced in
wisdom and age and favor before God and man.

REFLECTION
It is disheartening to hear and see the gradual decimation and demise
of the family. We are more aware of the realities of broken homes, the
single parents' phenomenon, child abuse, and parental addictions. Such
scenario is alarming because of its far-reaching consequences. When
mothers, fathers or both have to leave their families to earn abroad,
there are not only economic gains but also social costs. Is the effort
worth it?

The family, no matter what its shortcomings and flaws are, remains to
be the fundamental human connection. None of our families is holy and
perfect; each is a combination of all sorts of conflicts, compulsions,
and craziness that put to test our love and forgiveness. But in the
midst of all that, God remains present. There is no other place to
find Him. It is the place where He found us.

Yet the understanding of family has to be expanded. At the center of
Jesus' family life and at the center of his ministry is his Father.
That relationship is for Jesus the most important in his life because
that gives him direction and support that will sustain him in his
suffering and death. When Jesus describes his family in Scriptures, he
says that it is not a relationship of blood but rather a relationship
of fidelity to the Word of God. That is why he said: "My mother and
brothers are those who hear the Word of God and hear it."

Like Jesus, we are thus tasked to focus our lives on the Word of God.
Whether we live alone or in a family, whether we have many relatives
or none, we can be all part of Jesus' new and expanded family. The
only requirement is to hear the Word of God and fulfill it. Since
Jesus extended his family, today's Feast of the Holy Family truly
belongs to all of us. Look around then and see the people around us
are indeed members of our family.

We then pray in gratitude for our respective families both in its
usual and expanded meaning. We pray for a greater familiarity and
unity of sense as we become better witnesses of God's love.

PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the
unborn.
… for the strength and healing of:
- Francis Torres
- Mon Torres
- Jessy
- Brenda
… for healing and peace: Metodio Alapide
… for the safety of the residents of Albay, threatened by the eruption
of Mayon volcano
… for the victims of natural disasters
… for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Birthday: Lydia Cu
- Birthday: Athena Limketkai Sy
- Birthday: Dinna Santos
- Birthday: Ma. Dolores Santiago
- Birthday: Rebecca Basañes Vicente
- Birthday: Mother Cecilia Calaguas, OP
- Birthday: Fr. Tom Steinbugler, S.J.
- Prayer Intention: Virgilio & Ma. Concepcion Calimon
- Wedding Anniversary: Reginald & Adeline Ngo
- Wedding Anniversary: John & Cynthia Tan
… for the healing and peace of all families

Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers
and for those who need our prayers the most.

Have a good day!

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Parish Priests' e-mail:
Fr. J. Cesar R. Marin, S. J. parishpriest@marythequeen.org

Assistant Parish Priests' e-mails:
Fr. R. Hart, S. J. rodneyhart@marythequeen.org
Fr. Thomas O'Gorman, S. J. thogorman@marythequeen.org
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