DAILY- HOMILY

December 30, 2018 – SUNDAY, HOLY FAMILY

Cycle C. Feast. White.

1 Sm 1: 20-22, 24- 28 [or Sir 3: 2-6, 12-14] / 

1 Jn 3: 1- 2, 21- 24 [or Col 3:12- 21] / 

Lk 2: 41 -52

[Rizal Day]

FROM THE 2ND READING:            1 Jn 3: 1: 23- 24

His command is that we believe in the Name of his Son Jesus Christ and that we love one another, as he has commanded us. Whoever keeps God's commands remains in God and God in him. It is by the Spirit God has given us that we know he lives in us.

FROM THE GOSPEL READING:     Lk 2: 45- 52

As they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem searching for him, and on the third day they found him in the Temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking questions. And all the people were amazed at his understanding and his answers.

His parents were very surprised when they saw him and his mother said to him, "Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I were very worried while searching for you." Then he said to them, "Why were you looking for me? Do you not know that I must be in my Father's house?" But they did not understand this answer.

Jesus went down with them, returning to Nazareth, and he continued to be subject to them. As for his mother, she kept all these things in her heart,

And Jesus increased in wisdom and age, and in divine and human favor.

REFLECTION

It is facinating that at age 12 Jesus requests his parents Mary and Joseph to respect the mission the Father has given him: "Do you not know that I must be in my Father's house?"

Years later in his early thirties, he affirms his submission to the Father's will when he taught his disciples to pray: "Your kingdom come and your will be done on earth as in heaven" (Mt 6: 10). At his agony in the garden on the night before he died, "Father, if it is your will, remove this cup from me; still not my will but yours be done." (Lk 22: 42) On the cross before he died, he said, "It is accomplished" (Jn 19: 30) and he gave up his spirit. "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit." (Lk 23: 46)

Like key brackets in his life Jesus lived to fulfill his Father's will, to do what he had become man for.

As we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, we focus on how the Holy Family's life was focused on doing God's will. Jesus was ever the obedient Son to his Father in heaven. Jesus was the obedient boy growing up in Nazareth, subject to his parents Mary and Joseph. With their love and care, "Jesus increased in wisdom and age, and in divine and human favor."

Mary was generous and obedient to God's will: "I am the handmaid of the Lord, let it be done to me as you have said." (Lk 1: 38) Joseph humbly followed the angel's commands in his dreams: "When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had told him and he took his wife to his home." (Mt 1:24)

May we follow the Holy Family's loving obedience to God's will in our lives. We join Pope Francis in his prayer to the Holy Family at the conclusion of his

Post-Synodal Exhortation on love in the family:

"Jesus, Mary and Joseph, in you we contemplate the splendor of true love; to you we turn with trust. Holy Family of Nazareth, grant that our families too may be places of communion and prayer, authentic schools of the Gospel and small domestic churches.

"Holy Family of Nazareth, may families never again experience violence, rejection and division; may all who have been hurt or scandalized find ready comfort and healing.

"Holy Family of Nazareth, make us once more mindful of the sacredness and inviolability of the family, and its beauty in God's plan.

"Jesus, Mary and Joseph, graciously hear our prayer. Amen."

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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