Sunday after Christmas – Cycle C
Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph
(Si 3:2-6. 12-14; Col 3:12-21; Luke 2:4-52)
We celebrate today the feast of Holy Family. The feast was established in 1921 by Pope Benedict XV. This feast is meant to be “a day for Christian families to examine themselves by comparing their way of life with that of the Holy Family at Nazareth.
Preoccupied with the dangers that threaten families everywhere, in 1981 the late Pope John Paul II issued a letter, addressed to all Christians to render them aware of the role that families are called upon to play in the church and in the world.
In today’s Gospel St Luke gives us a vivid picture of the Holy Family. St Luke affirms certain characteristics visible in the family at Nazareth.
First of all it was an intensely religious family. It submitted itself to the commandments of the religion.
St Luke writes, “Every year the parents of Jesus used to go to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover.
It was obligatory that all male Jews living within a reasonable distance of Jerusalem were bound to go on pilgrimage and worship at the temple. Three times a year. This obligation is prescribed in the book of Deuteronomy.
“Three times a year
All your men folk are to appear before Yahweh your God
In the place he chooses:
At the feast of unleavened bread,
At the feast of weeks
And at the feast of Tabernacles
The people living far away went up to Jerusalem once a year. This tradition was strictly observed by Joseph and Mary. So St Luke says “every year the parents of Jesus used to go to Jerusalem.”
The first lesson the Holy Family puts before us is to obey the commandments of the church. Attend Sunday Masses and Masses on the days of obligation. Introduce children to the activities of the church and the parish. But today in the fast pacing world we do not have time to attend full mass even on days of obligation. The only convenient thing to avoid is the church activities. Many try to limit their visit to the church only for special occasions in their life. Such people find uncomfortable when they make their visit once in a blue moon. This approach should change. We should encourage our children to participate in all the activities of the parish and actively participate in the liturgy.
Let’s recall the words of Simonies Gruenberg “Home is the place where boys and girls first learn how to limit their wishes, abide by rules, and consider the rights and needs of others.”
The next characteristic is initiation given to the children at the right time.
St Luke writes: “When he was twelve years old they went up for the feast as usual”.
A Jewish boy was declared an adult with all rights and obligations at the age of thirteen. Parents would take their children once a year before he was bound to attend. So Jesus was taken to the temple at the age of twelve.
The distance between Nazareth and Jerusalem was about 112 k m (70 miles). At that time most of the travelling was done on foot. The journey was often dangerous too. In spite of all the hardships they never failed to observe the prescriptions of the religion.
This perfect obedience of Joseph and Mary reminds us that we should never postpone administering sacraments on our children. Communion, confession, confirmation are now done at our convenience instead of the prescribed age. It passes a wrong message to the children. The leniency given by the church is often exploited. And sacraments are unduly delayed. Joseph and Mary carried out their obligations well on time that is why we read “Jesus stayed back in the temple.”
Our children too often stay back, in the theatre, in the park, in the game centre, and learn the wisdom of the world.
Instil these values in them and you will hear the good news that your children stay back in the church, listening to the word of God.
Again, the Holy Family was one that came together. We read in the Gospel “In the evening they went to look for him among their relations and acquaintances.”
When people went for pilgrimage they travelled in large groups together. Men in one group and women in another. Children could go with either group. But Joseph and May were particular that they should come together in the evening for meal and for rest... It is a great lesson to be imitated. One of the evils of modern civilization is lack of time for the families to come together. It began as a part of urban life. But now it has captured even the rustic population. Due to the busy schedule of and shift duties of parents children do not see them even for days. And on weekends they go for social engagements. Children are deprived of the company of parents and they get involved in internet chatting and mobile messaging. Once children get addicted to them it will be a herculean task to bring them back. So dear parents follow the example of the Holy Family and find quality time to share with your children. The words of Thomas Jefferson are not worthy: “The happiest moments of my life have been the few which I have passed at home in the bosom of my family”
The Holy family was one that rejoiced in their union. St Luke writes “They were over come when they saw him”
Today’s first reading sets forth a beautiful guideline for the families to be followed.
It invites the children to have deep respect for their parents, particularly when they are old.
The second reading also conveys the same message
Dear brothers and sisters, As we celebrate the feast of the holy Family of Nazareth let us imbibe the lessons the Gospel puts before us from the Life Style of the Holy Family and mould our families too after it.
“Nor need we power or splendour, wide hall or lordly dome;
The good, the true, the tender -- these form the wealth of home”. - (Sarah J. Hale)
The good, the true, the tender -- these form the wealth of home”. - (Sarah J. Hale)