Sunday, December 28, 2003
Holy Family

1st Reading: Sir 3:2-6, 12-14

For the Lord established that children should respect their father; he confirmed the right of the mother over her children.
Whoever honors his father atones for his sins;
he who gives glory to his mother prepares a treasure for himself.
Whoever honors his father will receive joy from
his own children and will be heard when he prays.
Whoever glorifies his father will have a long life.
Whoever obeys the Lord gives comfort to his mother.
My child, take care of your father in his old age,
do not cause him sorrow as long as he lives.
Even if he has lost his mind, have patience;
do not be disrespectful to him while you are in full health.
For kindness done to one's father will never be forgotten,
it will serve as reparation for your sins.

2nd Reading: Col 3:12-21

Clothe yourselves, then, as is fitting for God's chosen people, holy and beloved of him. Put on compassion, kindness, humility, meekness and patience to bear with one another and forgive whenever there is any occasion to do so. As the Lord has forgiven you, forgive one another. When you have put on all these, take love as your belt so that the dress be perfect. May the peace of Christ overflow in your hearts; for this end you were called to be one body. And be thankful.

Let the word of God dwell in you in all its richness. Teach and admonish one another with words of wisdom. With thankful hearts sing to God psalms, hymns and spontaneous praise. And whatever you do or say, do it in the Name of Jesus, the Lord, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as you should do in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not get angry with them. Children, obey your parents in everything, because that pleases the Lord. Parents, do not be too demanding of your children, lest they become discouraged.

Gospel: Lk 2:41-52 (Listen to MP3 - The boy Jesus at the Temple)

Every year the parents of Jesus went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover, as was customary. And when Jesus was twelve years old, he went up with them according to the custom for this feast. After the festival was over, they returned, but the boy Jesus remained in Jerusalem and his parents did not know it.

They thought he was in the company and after walking the whole day they looked for him among their relatives and friends. 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.

Commentary

What are the qualities of parental loving at its best? A fine theologian, Wendy Wright, has suggested some characteristics of this special kind of loving. Hospitality, for one: a parent's capacity to welcome the unpredictability and mystery of the child's life into his or her own. Flexibility: the parent's ability to adapt to the changing developmental stages of the child. Discernment, as well: the practice of constantly asking what the loving thing to do for this child, at this stage in his or her life, is. Finally, empowerment, which involves the parent's ability to hand on both the skills for living and the wisdom to see what is worth living for, and the parent's capacity to let the child go, to live his or her own life. Surely, all these qualities are present in Mary and Joseph in today's gospel. The loss of Jesus afflicts them with deep anxiety. Discovering him and hearing his answer, which they cannot understand, they seek to adjust, to understand, to reflect. In the end, years after this incident in the temple, they let him go-not without heartache no doubt-to do the work that the Father had marked out for him, as they themselves had striven to do in their own lives. Holy family of Nazareth, pray for parents and children everywhere.

Read also: • Gospel Reflections by Fr. Gerry Pierse, C.Ss.R.
          • Biblical Commentaries fro Diario Biblico

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