December 29
Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph
“Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways.”
Readings
Reflection
This week, we experience the family life of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. As we all know, family life is sometimes a little (or a lot) messy. Parents do their best to bring up their children with faith, goodness and responsibility, but sometimes things go in a different direction. As children grow into adulthood, they develop minds of their own. Often, they choose to go in a different direction than their parents had intended. Such is the way of family life.
Our readings speak to us about how the love of God unfolds in our lives. In the book of Samuel, we see the wonderful story of Hannah, the mother of the great prophet Samuel. She longed for a child, and prayed fervently for a son. Miraculously, she went from being barren and cursed by God, to being a mother, giving birth to Samuel. She was so overcome by her good fortune that she dedicated him to God, and as soon as she could, she brought him to Eli, who was in charge of the temple and gave him to God.
Our second reading from the first letter of John the Apostle, we hear about how, as the children of God, we are expected to live our lives with love and peace. In the Gospel from Luke, we see Jesus, who is now twelve years old, choosing to go off on his own to take care of the business that his Father has put him on this earth to do–to become the offering for our sins that eventually takes him to the cross. Mary and Joseph are frantically searching for him, going through the worst possible scenario that a parent can experience–when their child is out of their protection and subject to the dangers of the world. It all came out in a positive way, but we can bet that both Mary and Joseph learned a hard lesson in those three days, with the wrinkles and grey hair to show for it.
Family life is challenging. But being in the family of God is different. Let us rejoice as children of God. Our Father wants only good for us, and if we are faithful, only good will come for us after we live this life of messiness and uncertainty. Our brother Jesus is always there for us.
Keep the faith,
Deacon Dare
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