DAILY- HOMILY

30 December 2016, Friday

THE HOLY FAMILY 

Feast.  White.   

Sir 3: 2- 6, 12 –14 / Col 3: 12 – 21 / Mt 2: 13 –15, 19-23

From the 1st Reading: Sir 3: 2- 6, 12 -14

For the Lord established that children should respect their father; he confirmed the right of the mother over her sons.  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 children and will be heard when he prays?  Whoever glorifies his father will have a long life. Whoever obeys the Lord gives comfort to his mother. . . .

My son, take care of your father in his old age, do not cause him sorry 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.

From the 2nd Reading: Col 3:18 – 21 

Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as you should do in the Lord, Husbands, love your wives and do not get angry at 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.

Gospel Reading: Mt 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.  He was given further instructions in a dream, and went up to the region of Galilee.  There they settled in a town called Nazareth. In this way what was said by the prophets was fulfilled: He shall be call a Nazorean.

Reflection

Pope Francis has always stressed the importance of the family.  At his Manila visit in January 2015 he said, "Families have an indispensable mission in society.  It is in the family that children are trained in sound values, high ideals and genuine concern for others. But like all God's gifts, the family can also be disfigured and destroyed. It needs our support."

Today's Mass readings for the Feast of the Holy Family stress on relationships within families which strengthen families and avoid their destruction. 

Obedience is the key word, the foundation of which is developed in the family.  When we honor and obey our parents, our children follow our example and become obedient to their parents.  We begin to destroy our families when we set bad examples in defying or not respecting our parents and our children see this.

What happens in the family reflects on the larger society to which we belong.  In our modern society where information is so easily accessible, some children become so knowledgeable to the point of being arrogant and self-sufficient.  They may not realize that it is the wisdom and experience of their parents and elders in the family which maintain harmony in the family.  In the Gospel reading we see God working with instructions through St. Joseph, the head of the Holy Family, who was then responsible for the safety and well being of his family.

At the same time parents should also avoid being arrogant and over-bearing and also respectful of their children.  

Can we imagine what our society would be like if families lived with due respect and love for each other?  We pray that our families may emulate the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. 

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY

     Vicky Liao

     Allan N. Garcia

     Rizalito R. Reyes

WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

     Don & Lalaine Camina

IN MEMORIAM (+)

     Luy Tan Ban

     Peggy Lim Furukawa (Jan 4, 1941 – Dec 30, 2011)

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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