The Favour of God Was upon Him
Introduction: May you continue to grow in appreciation and love for each member of
your family, whether you live with them or not.
Family
life is an essential aspect of any society. If family life is devalued, then a
community will soon fail to function properly. Family is more than a blood
connection with relatives. It is not just a natural, physical process by which
we are united with others. It takes a lot of work by each member of a family
for them to truly be a family. Mutual support, care, and love are hallmarks of
a family. GOD gives us examples of what it means to be a family. We must look
to these role models and try to incorporate the most important elements into
our relationship with those with whom we are bound.
Today
we focus on the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, and through that focus,
we reflect on the qualities that should mark all families. The Genesis reading
portrays the faith of Abraham. His trusting GOD allowed him to become the
father of many nations. The reading from Sirach is an exposé on the Fourth
Commandment: “Honor your father and your mother.” The psalms parallel one of
Old Testament readings: Psalm 105 praises GOD for fulfilling the promises to
Abraham about his many descendants; Psalm 128 praises family life and shows the
blessings in store for those who care for their families while trusting GOD.
The reading from the Letter to the Hebrews carries on the focus of Abraham’s
family being blessed by the faith of their ancestor. The reading from St.
Paul’s letter to the Colossians presents attributes that should mark the
members of a family and their relationship to one another. The Gospel passage
gives us an insight into the family values of Mary and Joseph.
First Reading; Genesis 15:1-6,21:1-3
Your heir shall be your own flesh and blood
Commentary: Firstly,
the Genesis story shows us the miraculous birth by which God’s promise of descendants
to Abraham was fulfilled, for Sarah was too old to have children naturally. Several
such miraculous births occur in the Old Testament as signs of God’s special care
for his People, but never a virgin birth. Secondly, the divine promise fulfilled
was a promise that would bring salvation not only to the Jews but to all nations,
as many as the stars in the heavens, so ‘a light of revelation to the gentiles’
as Simeon puts it.
Responsorial Psalm 105:1-6,8-9
He, the Lord, is our God. He remembers his covenant forever.
The
Psalms parallel one of the Old Testament readings: Psalm 105 praises GOD for
fulfilling the promises to Abraham about his many descendants. It celebrates
God's wondrous works, calls for gratitude and praise, and emphasizes the
enduring nature of His covenant. The psalmist encourages the people to seek the
Lord continually and to remember the miraculous deeds and promises made to
their forefathers, particularly Abraham and Isaac.
Second Reading: Hebrews 11:8,11-12,17-19
The faith of Abraham and of Sarah
Commentary: The horrific and
dramatic story of the near-sacrifice of Isaac in Genesis 18, on which this reading
reflects, is appointed for reading both at the Easter Vigil and on the Second Sunday
of Lent in Year B. It is the supreme example of Abraham’s trust in the LORD. After
his hopes of a line of heirs had been miraculously raised, they seemed about to
be cruelly dashed again. And yet, even in this fierce test, he trusted in God until
the very end, trusted that God would rescue him from this dreadful deed and that
God would somehow assure his inheritance through Isaac. It was not what Abraham
did that justified him; it was his faith, his persevering trust against all appearances.
As the list of Old Testament believers throughout this chapter of Hebrews makes
clear, Abraham’s unwavering trust in his sorrow is the model for the trust of Christians
and all believers in the fulfilment of God’s promises through thick and thin. By
a slight extension, ‘figuratively speaking’, the saving of Isaac from death is also
seen as a foretaste and type of the resurrection of Christ and of the Christian.
Gospel: Luke 2:22-40
My eyes have seen your salvation
Commentary: The story of the
Presentation of the child Jesus in the Temple is dominated by Simeon’s welcome,
a light to enlighten the Gentiles and the glory of your people Israel’, and by his
warning to Mary, a sword will pierce your heart’. Simeon reiterates the angel’s
promise that the child would fulfil the destiny of Israel and Israel’s task to the
nations. Much like any family life, the promised future included the delights of
the growing, developing child, and the background fear that the great destiny of
each child may include sorrow and even heartbreak. How much did Mary and Joseph
know about the precious child they were nurturing? As he grew to independence did,
he become more loving and supportive? How did his contemporaries find him? Was he
a leader? Did he stand out from the pack? Each of us has a private picture of the
child, the boy, the adolescent, and the young man. All we know for sure is that
‘the child grew to maturity’, and that Mary ‘pondered all these things in her heart’,
with Simeon’s welcome and warning before her mind.
Reflection: Do you know the
favor of the Lord? After Jesus' birth, Mary fulfills the Jewish right of purification
after childbirth. Since she could not afford the customary offering of a lamb, she
gives instead two pigeons as an offering for the poor. This rite, along with circumcision
and the redemption of the firstborn points to the fact that children are gifts from
God. Jesus was born in an ordinary home where there were no luxuries. Like all godly
parents, Mary and Joseph raised their sons in the fear and wisdom of God. He, in
turn, was obedient to them and grew in wisdom and grace. The Lord's favor is with
those who listen to his word with trust and obedience. Do you know the joy of submission
to God? And do you seek to pass on the faith and to help the young grow in wisdom
and maturity?
The Holy
Spirit reveals the presence of the Savior of the world
What is the significance
of Simeon's encounter with the baby Jesus and his mother in the temple? Simeon was
a just and devout man who was very much in tune with the Holy Spirit. He believed
that the Lord would return to his temple and renew his chosen people. The Holy Spirit
also revealed to him that the Messiah and King of Israel would also bring salvation
to the Gentile nations. When Joseph and Mary presented the baby Jesus in the temple,
Simeon immediately recognized this humble child of Bethlehem as the fulfillment
of all the messianic prophecies, hopes, and prayers. Inspired by the Holy Spirit
he prophesied that Jesus was to be "a revealing light to the Gentiles".
The Holy Spirit reveals the presence of the Lord to those who are receptive and
eager to receive him. Do you recognize the indwelling presence of the Lord with
you?
The 'new
temple' of God's presence in the world
Jesus is the new temple
(John 1:14; 2:19-22). In the Old Testament God manifested his presence in the "pillar
of cloud" by day and the "pillar of fire" by night as he led them
through the wilderness. God's glory visibly came to dwell over the ark and the Tabernacle
(Exodus 40:34-38). When the first temple was built in Jerusalem God's glory came
to rest there (1 Kings 8). After the first temple was destroyed, Ezekiel saw God's
glory leave it (Ezekiel 10). But God promised one day to fill it with even greater
glory (Haggai 2:1-9; Zechariah 8-9). That promise is fulfilled when the "King
of Glory" himself comes to his temple (Psalm 24:7-10; Malachi 3:1). Through
Jesus' coming in the flesh and through his saving death, resurrection, and ascension
we are made living temples of his Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16-17). Ask the Lord
to renew your faith in the indwelling presence of his Spirit within you. And give
him thanks and praise for coming to make his home with you.
Mary receives
both a crown of joy and a cross of sorrow
Simeon blessed Mary
and Joseph and he prophesied to Mary about the destiny of this child and the suffering
she would undergo for his sake. There is a certain paradox for those blessed by
the Lord. Mary was given the blessedness of being the mother of the Son of God.
That blessedness also would become a sword that pierced her heart as her Son died
upon the cross. She received both a crown of joy and a cross of sorrow. But her
joy was not diminished by her sorrow because it was fueled by her faith, hope, and
trust in God and his promises. Jesus promised his disciples that "no one will
take your joy from you" (John 16:22). The Lord gives us a supernatural joy
that enables us to bear any sorrow or pain and which neither life nor death can
take away. Do you know the peace and joy of a life surrendered to God with faith
and trust?
The Holy
Spirit renews our hope in the promise of God
Simeon was not alone
in recognizing the Lord's presence in the temple. Anna, too, was filled with the
Holy Spirit. She was found daily in the temple, attending to the Lord in prayer
and speaking prophetically to others about God's promise to send a redeemer. Supernatural
hope grows with prayer and age! Anna was pre-eminently a woman of great hope and
expectation that God would fulfill all his promises. She is a model of godliness
to all believers as we advance in age.
Advancing age and
the disappointments of life can easily make us cynical and hopeless if we do not
have our hope rightly placed. Anna's hope in God and his promises grew with age.
She never ceased to worship God in faith and to pray with hope. Her hope and faith
in God's promises fueled her indomitable zeal and fervor in prayer and service of
God's people.
Our hope
is anchored in God's everlasting kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy
What do you hope for?
The hope which God places in our hearts is the desire for the kingdom of heaven
and everlasting life and happiness with our heavenly Father. The Lord Jesus has
won for us a kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans
14:17). The Holy Spirit gives hope to all who place their trust in the promises
of God. God never fails because his promises are true, and he is faithful. The hope
that God places within us through the gift of the Spirit enables us to persevere
with confident trust in God even in the face of trials, setbacks, and challenges
that may come our way.
Is there anything
holding you back from giving God your unqualified trust and submission to his will
for your life? Allow the Lord Jesus to flood your heart with his peace, joy, and
love. And offer to God everything you have and desire - your life, family, friends,
health, honor, wealth, and future. If you seek his kingdom first, he will give you
everything you need to know, love, and serve him now and enjoy him forever.
Lord Jesus, you are
my hope and my life. May I never cease to place all my trust in you. Fill me with
the joy and strength of the Holy Spirit that I may boldly point others to your saving
presence and words of eternal life.
Daily Quote from the Early Church Fathers: Christ who was rich became poor, by Origen of Alexandria (185-254 AD)
"For this reason, it seems wonderful that the sacrifice of Mary
was not the first offering, that is, 'a lamb a year old,' but the second, since
'she could not afford' (Leviticus 5:7) the first. For as it was written about her,
Jesus' parents came 'to offer a sacrifice' for him,' according to what is said in
the law of the Lord, "a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons."' But
this also shows the truth of what was written that Jesus Christ 'although he was
rich, became a poor man' (2 Corinthians 8:9). Therefore, for this reason, he chose
both a poor mother, from whom he was born, and a poor homeland, about which it is
said, 'But you, O Bethlehem Ephrata, who are little to be among the clans of Judah'
(Micah 5:2), and the rest. (excerpt from HOMILIES ON LEVITICUS 8.4.3)
FAMILY FEUD
“The Child’s father
and mother were marveling.” —Luke 2:33
The holy families
of today are walking through a minefield. One false step and the family is blown
up. Christian parents must be Josephs who know exactly when to leave and where to
go. Parents must be divinely inspired and guided because today even more Herods
are searching for their children to destroy them (see Mt 2:13). Parents must know
and live the Bible and the teachings of the Church or they will be hopelessly confused,
their families will suffer. Family prayer has never been more necessary. Wives must
be submissive, and husbands must sacrificially love their wives (Col 3:18-19). Now
more than ever, children must obey their parents “in everything as the acceptable
way in the Lord” (Col 3:20).
Today’s holy families
need order, guidance, prayer, power, and protection. Families need God, His amazing
grace, and daily if not hourly, miracles. Holy families don’t be discouraged! The
Lord promises: “Those who oppose you I will oppose, and your sons [and daughters]
I will save” (Is 49:25). “All your sons [and daughters] shall be taught by the Lord,
and great shall be the peace of your children” (Is 54:13). This Christmas, let these
words become flesh in your family (Jn 1:14).
Prayer: Father, may parents
be hopeful and confident about their families’ future and eternity because of Your
saving love and almighty power. “The Child grew in size and strength, filled with
wisdom, and the grace of God was upon Him.” —Lk 2:40. “Give to the Lord, you families
of nations, give to the Lord glory and praise” (Ps 96:7).
The
personal action for today: How can the life of the Holy Family of Jesus,
Mary, and Joseph, strengthen me in my relationships with members of my family?
Do I see that being “holy” and “blessed” does not necessarily mean that I don’t
have problems and challenges in living out my relationships within my family or
community? What is my reaction when I think of my family and its interrelations
as being called to reflect the relationships within the Godhead? What positive
action will I take today and in the days ahead to bolster the relationships
within my family/community?