They took him up to Jerusalem This Sunday has been chosen by the Church for the celebration of the Feast of the Holy Family; the liturgy of the day, as expressed in the Gospel, harmonizes well with the mystery of this Feast, for it carries us forward to the childhood of our Emmanuel and gives us those wonderful words of His Blessed Mother, we must ever ponder within our hearts: "And He went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was … The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB’s) mission is to encounter the mercy of Christ and to accompany His people with joy. Everything in the life of the Holy Family takes place with simplicity and naturalness. before he had seen the Christ of the Lord. The scene takes place in the Temple of Jerusalem, where the Holy Family, as Luke mentions in the next verse (cf. And be thankful. your own issue shall be your heir.” Gospel for the 1st Sunday of Christmas, Solemnity of the Holy Family (Cycle B), and commentary. The Infancy narratives of the New Testament record the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies as they unfold in their historical sequence. Today we celebrate the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. rejoice, O hearts that seek the LORD! Luke also gives us a brief summary of the parents’ joy and amazement on watching their Child grow and mature quickly. Sir 3:2-6, 12-14. consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. Living the Paschal Triduum with Pope Francis. Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever. Commentary on the Gospel for Easter Sunday: Jesus is alive! When he prays, he is heard; firmly planted against the debt of your sins and the Holy Spirit was upon him. so they may not become discouraged. all the days of your life. young pigeons.”. And it had been Children, obey your parents in everything,  Influence of the Holy Family on Jesus: We know that the family of Jesus was steeped in Scripture. at the set time that God had stated. R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever. and to offer the sacrifice of Though Jesus suffered his bitter agony alone, his mother, Mary, was there with him. of the law of the Lord, Luke stresses three times that they did everything “according to the law of the Lord.” This expression emphasizes the pious docility of the Holy Family to the Mosaic precepts. 1) Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways. and he received Isaac back as a symbol. It illuminates our days and fills them with meaning, for we are ordinary Christians who lead an ordinary life, just like millions of other people all over the world.”[1]. awaiting the consolation of Israel,  Even if his mind fail, be considerate of him; descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky The word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying: the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for proclaim all his wondrous deeds. So it was that there came forth from one man, bearing with one another and forgiving one another,  An authentically Christian education cannot neglect the experience of prayer. he who obeys his father brings comfort to his mother. R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways. R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever. Whoever honors his father atones for sins, he did for her as he had promised. and have as my heir the steward of my house, Eliezer?” R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways. Hail Mary… for my eyes have seen your salvation, The day of Jesus’ presentation in the Temple was marked by both great joy and suffering. This man was righteous and devout, Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine and as countless as the sands on the seashore. What was their secret? The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him;  The LORD took note of Sarah as he had said he would; and by his oath to Isaac. “Look up at the sky and count the stars, if you can. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly,  as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another,  My son, take care of your father when he is old; —and you yourself a sword will pierce—  Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as The excerpts from the Sunday readings are prepared by Joe Thiel. as is proper in the Lord. Whoever honors his father is gladdened by children, In a truly holy family all members are respected, cherished, nurtured, and supported, united through the bond of love. to perform the custom of the law in regard to him,  Yet they were at peace. He reasoned that God was able to raise even from the dead, Their love, brought the love of God in the person of Jesus to birth. who credited it to him as an act of righteousness. Give thanks to the LORD, invoke his name; for he thought that the one who had made the promise was trustworthy. In this scene, we see the Holy Family as a model of virtue and ordinary family life. Holy Family is a welcoming Eucharistic community of disciples of Jesus Christ connecting faith with life and reaching out to those in need. In two dreams, Joseph receives two sets of divine instructions aimed at keeping his family safe. But Abram said, I have been thinking of Christ’s Passion in light of the Holy Family. and the favor of God was upon him. He, the LORD, is our God; throughout the earth his judgments prevail. The Holy Family had also gone to Bethlehem to fulfil a Roman decree, thus showing their docility to the civil authority. and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother,  On the Feast of the Holy Family, we offer a Franciscan Gospel reflection and questions written by Fr. God wants your family to be holy. [1] Saint Josemaria, Christ is Passing By, no. a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons,  By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place him according to the custom of the law, he took him up in his arms and The Most Ordinary Extraordinary Family: The Second Person of the Most Holy Trinity, the Incarnate Son of God, came to dwell in a small town in Nazareth with Mary and Joseph. The subject became popular in art from the 1490s on, but veneration of the Holy Family was formally begun in the 17th century by Saint François de Laval, the first bishop of New France, who founded a confraternity. Mass Readings: Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14; Psalm 128:1-5; Colossians 3:12-21; Luke 2:22-40. Speaking of the 'Gospel of the Family' as if Jesus’ good news was about family life is deviates from the New Testament witness. She never left the temple,  from her virginity, and as a widow till she was eighty-four. grieve him not as long as he lives. He lived in obscurity, but, for us, that period is full of light. Or Again, a … The family is not an accident. Just so,” he added, “shall your descendants be.” Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name and he who had received the promises was ready to offer God wants your family to be the best it can possibly be and the best place for children. --and Sarah herself was sterile-- The Gospel focuses on the Holy Family. make known among the nations his deeds. He, the LORD, is our God; The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph Lectionary: 17. Whoever you are, whatever age or stage of life you are in, whether you are a Catholic or not, practicing or not, we hope you will feel that you have found a … revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before This Gospel passage for the solemnity of the Holy Family contains several scenes from Jesus’ childhood recounted by Saint Luke. Paul Gallagher, OFM for your prayer. in the recesses of your home; R. Alleluia, alleluia. I am your shield; having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage,  Can non-Catholic Christians and non-Christians belong to Opus Dei? R. Alleluia, alleluia. God sets a father in honor over his children; R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever. in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord. giving thanks to God the Father through him. The Holy Family had many trials as does every family and overcame them through prayer and faith. The family is the first school of prayer where, from their infancy, children learn to perceive God thanks to the teaching and example of their parents. and, when he prays, is heard. so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” Reading 1 . that is, the bond of perfection. the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus,  Mary and Joseph bring their newborn Child to the Temple to pay Jesus’ ransom as first-born son and offer the ritual sacrifice of purification for his mother. Glory in his holy name; rejoice, O hearts that seek the LORD! When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever. GOSPEL ACCLAMATION Alleluia, alleluia! V: Behold the handmaid of the Lord. and when the parents brought in the child Jesus  of whom it was said, It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit  and to be a sign that will be contradicted  Since the Holy Family is truly poor, all they can offer are two turtle doves. And coming up at that very hour she gave thanks to God, and spoke She did And let the peace of Christ control your hearts,  We know that Jesus’ family had a deep life of piety that included pilgrimages and prayer to the angels. Matthew’s Gospel makes sixteen references to fulfilled prophecy (1:22; 2:5, 15, 17, 23; 3:3; 4:14; 8:17; … After the wise men had left, the angel of the… R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways. to their own town of Nazareth. As much as we would like it to be so, there are always pressures, always dangers, always issues that complicate and make family … Then the word of the LORD came to him: And coming forward at that very time,  there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of throughout the earth his judgments prevail. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. The Holy Family is an icon of the domestic Church, which is called to pray together. Their faithful fulfilment of God’s law when they go to the Temple would also be reflected in all their ordinary life, in their relationships with others, in their way of working and resting and even in their external bearing. Just the word “family” triggers an instant reaction in many people, in positive, and sometimes not so positive ways. In today’s narrative, we see the prophetess Anna, who on witnessing the scene praised God and spoke of Him to the pious people waiting for the redemption. Laura Kazlas Today is the Feast of the Holy Family, and all of the readings for Mass today are about families. whom Sarah bore him. Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. “Fear not, Abram! Holy Family of Nazareth, may families never again experience violence, rejection and division: may all who have been hurt or scandalized find ready comfort and healing. Holy Mary, Mother of God, prayer for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer. of the law of the Lord,  with gratitude in your hearts to God. Background on the Gospel Reading. and the favor of God was upon him. And You descendants of Abraham, his servants, sons of Jacob, his chosen ones! This feast developed only in the 17 th century. his only son, Built on the Gospel accounts, this family is looked upon as an excellent domestic unit representing the ideal family life. Holy Family, as a theme in Christian art, representation of the infant Jesus with his immediate family. for this is pleasing to the Lord. He remembers forever his covenant in peace, according to your word, No matter how much we may have reflected on all this, we should always be surprised when we think of the thirty years of obscurity which made up the greater part of Jesus' life among us. heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, Alleluia! what is said in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two For you shall eat the fruit of your handiwork; The family we really celebrate today is the whole, holy family of humankind, bound together across the ages by the God who loves us into life — now and forever, amen. to present him to the Lord, in these last days, he has spoken to us through the Son. The love of God is shared with Joseph and Mary, and their love participates in the Divine Love, which is a communion of persons, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. constantly seek his face. Reflect, today, upon your own family life. 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