31/12/2006 - SUNDAY of the HOLY FAMILY - Year C
First Reading 1 Sam 1:20-22; 24-28 Psalm 83
Second Reading 1John 3:1-2; 21-24 Gospel Luke 2: 41-52
St. Peter (1Pet 1:18) writes that we have inherited "futile ways"
from our ancestors, and that we were ransomed, thanks to the "precious
Blood of Christ"! Our way of living is a "futile way"; that is,
a vain way of living, founded on futility; therefore, it will never satisfy
us, because it disappoints us daily and will continue to disappoint us. It is
our faith in Jesus and our love for Him that gives everything meaning, that
fills our days, and makes them significant. If not for this News, what would
be the reason for living? Our joy would be short-lived and superficial; it would
be a passing joy, and our suffering would be unbearable. Why do we need to suffer?
We try, at every turn, to eliminate physical and moral suffering, even to the
point of turning to irrational means. Is it not irrational to turn to magicians
and card readers, and to healers of all kinds? Yet, how many people empty their
wallets to them, just to have the promise of relief! The heredity left to us
by Adam is a very poor thing, and those who don't know how, or choose no to,
substitute it with God's gift of His Son, will continue to be more and more
disappointed every day, and their lives will be filled with despair. The disappointments
in our own lives, in many ways, help to increase the burden of world suffering,
because it opens the door, for us, to committing a long list of sins and to
justifying our actions. With our empty behaviour, we are not aware of the presence
of the suffering of others, we close ourselves off in our own selfishness and
are always seeking new ways in which to find enjoyment. We become superficial,
incapable of discerning what might harm those around us, incapable of overcoming
temptation, even when they are so terrible as to cause division among families.
Within this empty behaviour, the Good News of God's holiness must enter, so
that He can give meaning to one's life - a divine meaning!
Today's liturgy helps us to contemplate the Family in which Jesus was welcomed,
and it allows us to reflect and consider how we live and how we relate to one
another, in our own families. Jesus was welcomed within the chaste and holy
love of Mary and Joseph. The Word of God says nothing of how they loved one
another; instead, it tells us how they both obeyed God. When this willingness
is present among two spouses, everything is already known, right down to their
mutual relationship. When two spouses wish to obey the God of the covenant,
all their actions and all their desires are occasions for giving of themselves,
ready to renege themselves, happy to offer joy and to extend signs of holiness
to God. Joseph obeyed God and welcomed Mary, without further doubting her holiness
and her unrepeatable vocations, and was ready to serve, with all his ability,
Mary and her Son, whom she observed in silent prayer. We are used to seeing
and stopping to consider Jesus who was born in poverty, in a stable. Are we
capable of observing the spiritual climate of obedience to God, of faithfulness,
of detachment from earthly goods, of renouncing our own wants and enjoyment,
of paying attention to the eternal Word, the climate in which Jesus was welcomed
by Mary and Joseph?
When two spouses become aware of this climate of the Holy Family, they will,
then, be able to imitate it. Then, their children will grow in an environment
of peace, serenity, joy and freedom.
Many will say that, today, it is very difficult. Today, it is difficult to provide
children with an environment that is different from that of a world that deceives
and that, with its idols, ruins all relationships. What is difficult should
not scare us, if it is the way to life. We should fear the way to death, the
easy way. For Mary and Joseph, it was difficult, as well. For them, too, it
meant that they needed to go against the current, when they agreed to welcome
Jesus in a climate of obedience to God, if faith and of abandonment to the providence
of the Father.
Actually we need to ask ourselves: in a world such as ours, can parents create,
within their own families, an environment in which allows children can grow
and mature in serenity, peace, harmony and joy? There is no other road than
that which is lived decisively and in faith. Couples who give power to their
own beliefs will always be hesitant. Those who give power to faith in God are
sure: though they may suffer, as Mary and Joseph did, they provide their children
and society, in general, an environment of stability and of peace.
We must all pray, and pray a lot, so that this generation's families will be
founded on prayer! And the prayer of a family is supported by all. Do you want
healthy families? Do all you can so that holiness may enter into it! Do you
want peaceful families around you? Do not leave prayer to others. Observe Mary
and Joseph who, each year, work hard to clime Jerusalem for their pilgrimage.
They teach their Son to persevere in coming to the synagogue, every Saturday,
and to give God praise every morning and every night! Observe them more often
than you observe the broken families, on T.V. May Mary and Joseph intercede
for the families who do not look to them as the example to follow!