My dear parishioners,
God is Good!!! All the time!!! And all the time!!! God is Good!!!
Sirach’s respect for the law of God as the source of all wisdom is plainly evident in this reading. Sirach here draws a number of valuable lessons from the fourth of the Ten Commandments. By tradition, this wise teacher collected his teachings into a single work so that later generations would find them a reliable guide for their spiritual journeys.
Honor. Three times the word “honor” appears in this relatively brief reading. Parents should be held in honor because it is by a special gift from God that they bring children into the world. Man and woman are made in God’s image and likeness and by God’s grace this likeness continues in the generations that follow. Thus, it truly is God who confirms the authority of parents over their children. When children honor their parents, they receive blessings only God can give. Their prayers are heard and their sins forgiven.
The Gospel for the feast of the Holy Family is taken from Luke 2:22–40. A careful reading of the text shows that it is about more than just the tiny family from Nazareth: Mary, Joseph, and Jesus. This Gospel is also about the family of Israel as well as the greater family of the world. This is all part of Luke’s favorite theme of universalism.
The tiny family of Nazareth. The story begins in Jerusalem where Mary, Joseph, and Jesus are depicted as fulfilling the law regarding purification (Lev 12:2–8) as well as the consecration of the firstborn (Ex 13:1–2). The focus is on the traditional piety of this family. They are faithful Jews observing the teachings of the Torah. At this point in the narrative there is nothing strange or unusual—a pious family being faithful.
Simeon sees the Christ. The focus shifts when a man named Simeon enters the story. He is portrayed as righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel. The Holy Spirit was upon him. The Holy Spirit had revealed to Simeon that he would not die before he had seen the Christ. The moment he sees the child Jesus, Simeon knows his desire has been realized. The centerpiece of the whole Gospel is Simeon’s response (Lk 2:29–32). He has seen the universal light for revelation to the gentiles and glory for the people Israel. This extends the Holy Family in two ways: it now includes Israel as well as the whole world. It shows how Jesus will be the fulfillment of God’s promises which extend back as far as Abraham. But Jesus has come for the salvation of all peoples. Ultimately it will be the world that is the family of Jesus
Excerpts from “Sunday Homily Helps”, is used by permission of Franciscan Media. www.FranciscanMedia.org
Sincerely in Christ,
Fr. Aloysius