Cycle B - Year I:  

28 December 2014: Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph 

(Liturgical color: White)

Luke 2:22-40

God loves the family!

The Philippines is known to celebrate the longest Christmas season. From the start of the "ber" months, (September to December) the festive atmosphere of Christmas becomes alive. But time seems to pass so fast, and Christmas 2014 will soon be part of history.

How did we celebrate Christmas this year? Was it all only just material celebration?

In the Christian world Christmas is when the almighty God comes to our world as a "helpless" infant. The Lord of lords and King of kings chooses to be born in a human family. with Mary as His mother and Joseph as protector. Thus, this reality speaks loudly how God regards family life.

The Gospel narrative from St. Luke for the Feast of the Holy Family places Jesus, Mary and Joseph in the Temple as they came to Jerusalem to present the child Jesus to the Lord in accordance with the Law of Moses.

We can learn from this event on the humble obedience of the Holy Family in adhering to the requirements of the Law of Moses, even though Jesus had no real reason to be presented in the Temple, because it was the Lord Himself being presented to the Father. But in the drama of the Presentation in the Temple, Jesus closes the Mosaic Law and begins the fulfillment of that Law in His very Person.

The Church proposes this narrative on the Presentation of the child Jesus in the Temple on this Feast of the Holy Family in order for us to meditate on the importance of the family in God's design for salvation. For God willed that His only begotten Son be subject to human parents and receives His human formation within a family. Thus, God is showing us how Jesus truly identifies with our human experiences, including family life.

What is the message of the Feast of the Holy Family on us today?

In practical life, we can start with the reality that family life is challenging and never easy. This fact was no different for Mary and Joseph. They had to work through, with a little divine intervention perhaps,  the circumstances of Jesus' conception. And Mary had to give birth to Jesus away from home, in the town of Bethlehem. And soon after the birth of Jesus the Holy Family had to flee to Egypt to avoid King Herod who was searching for the child Jesus in order to kill Him.

We can learn something from the examples of the Holy Family on their love, concern and respect for each other. God loves the family. By the incarnation of God the Son, God unites Himself with everyone through the family. Mother Teresa wrote: "The family that prays together stays together, because such a family learns something about how God loves each one of us."

It is in His human family, fraught with trials and challenges of everyday living that Jesus grew in wisdom, age and grace as He prepares for His saving work. In much the same way, God intends to prepare us for the many challenges in life in the environment of a family to make us strong through the ups and downs of family life through His grace.

Thus, in fulfilling our role in caring and sustaining our respective families, it is important for both parents to be close to God, to be prayerful and to have an obedient spirit so that we can hear God speak and follow His plan for the family entrusted to our care and guardianship.

Let us pray that our celebration of the Feast of the Holy Family makes us realize how

highly God regards family life. May we dedicate ourselves to building a strong relationship with Christ so that we can be a member of our own family that builds unity through our sincere caring attitude and virtuous deeds.

A blessed Sunday to us all. And thank you for a moment with God.

Ad Jesum per Mariam!