Saturday, December 28, 2013

 

Feast, the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph

December 29, 2013


Feast, the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph

 

Sir 3:2-6,12-14 / Ps 128: 1-2. 3. 4-5 / Col 3:12-21 / Mt 2:13-15,19-23

 

Sirach 3:2-6,12-14

For the Lord established that children should respect their father; he confirmed the right of the mother over her children. Whoever honors his father atones for his sins; he who gives glory to his mother prepares a treasure for himself. Whoever honors his father will receive joy from his own children and will be heard when he prays. Whoever glorifies his father will have a long life. Whoever obeys the Lord gives com fort to his mother. My child, take care of your father in his old age, do not cause him sorrow as long as he lives. Even if he has lost his mind, have patience; do not be disrespectful to him while you are in full health. For kindness done to one's father will never be forgotten, it will serve as reparation for your sins.

 

Colossians 3:12-21

Clothe yourselves, then, as is fitting for God's chosen people, holy and beloved of him. Put on compassion, kindness, humility, meekness and patience to bear with one another and forgive whenever there is any occasion to do so. As the Lord has forgiven you, forgive one another. Above all, clothe yourselves with love which binds everything together in perfect harmony. May the peace of Christ overflow in your hearts; for this end you were called to be one body. And be thankful. Let the word of God dwell in you in all its richness. Teach and admonish one another with words of wisdom. With thankful hearts sing to God psalms, hymns and spontaneous praise. And whatever you do or say, do it in the Name of Jesus, the Lord, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as you should do in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not get angry with them. Children, obey your parents in everything, because that pleases the Lord. Parents, do not be too demanding of your children, lest they become discouraged.

 

Matthew 2:13-15,19-23

After the wise men had left, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother and flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you, for Herod will soon be looking for the child in order to kill him." Joseph got up, took the child and his mother, and left that night for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. In this way, what the Lord had said through the prophet was fulfilled: I called my son out of Egypt. After Herod's death, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother and go back to the land of Israel, because those who tried to kill the child are dead." So Joseph got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. But when Joseph heard that Archilaus had succeeded his father Herod as king of Judea, he was afraid to go there. Joseph was given further instructions in a dream, and went to the region of Galilee. There he settled in a town called Nazareth. In this way, what was said by the prophets was fulfilled: He shall be called a Nazorean.

 

Reflection

Looking closely at the way Jesus, Mary and Joseph lived, we might find striking patterns and parallel lines of self-sacrifice, of self-giving. Mary opened herself to a far greater plan of God, instead of pursuing her own dream of settling down with Joseph in marriage, although she must have been scared with the uncertainty of being an unmarried mother. Joseph wanted to divorce Mary quietly, after finding himself in that uncomfortable truth about her. And yet he made a difficult decision to marry her, if only to protect her and her child from whatever harm that could befall on them. Jesus carried out the will of the Father to become one like us, setting aside the dignity of his divine origin, and living the life of a humble human being, and finally embracing the fearful and gruesome death with the words: "Not my will but yours be done, Father"– and all these for the sake of bringing us salvation!

 

This is what brought the Holy Family together; and it is the profile picture of both parents and the child who are identified with one sterling quality of being a person given to the other, to others. Life for them – at least the early part – must have been anything but a continuously idyllic and tranquil family life. They had to deal with great challenges. But how do you think Mary and Joseph managed to address the physical demands of traveling to Bethlehem, while she was pregnant, because they had to register for a census; and to seek accommodations for Mary who was about to give birth? How did she surmount giving birth to Jesus in an animal stable as her makeshift delivery room? And how could they have bravely gone through that dark night of tremendous threat to the life of their child, ending up in a foreign land, and having to relocate again afterwards to Nazareth? How did they go through all these heroically, if not for that willingness to give themselves to a higher cause, for the sake of something far greater than themselves, and for humanity awaiting redemption?

 

At a time when many families are breaking up and breaking down all over, the Holy Family presents itself as our source of great hope and consolation. There is perhaps no other way to keep each family intact and moving onwards except through the virtue of sheer self-sacrifice and self-giving for each other in the family .

 

May the Holy Family intercede for all families that they may remain one and united in the Cycle And years ahead!

 

Prayer Requests

We pray …

… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the unborn.

… for the speedy recovery and healing of

-                  Lorenzo Meoli

-                  Ditas dela Paz, Toots Monfort, Virginia Hernandez, and Fleur Torres

… for the personal intentions of

-                  Pauline

-                  Jacob H.

-                  Cherie Torres  

-                  Maricar H. de Guzman

… In Memoriam (+):

-                  Roperta Santiago, Soterania S. Santiago, Amado Santiago, Bernardo Santiago Jr.

-                  Rex Owen Lucena

… for the eternal repose of the soul of Cecilia C. Katigbak. Eternal rest grant unto them and may perpetual light shine upon them. May they and all the dearly departed rest in peace.

… for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.

-                  Thanksgiving: Wilson Chiu

-                  In Memoriam (+): Juanita Limqueco

-                  In Memoriam (+): Luisa So

-                  In Memoriam (+): Joaquin Tiu

… for families who are in need of healing

… for world peace and reconciliation.

 

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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