Our Holy Families

Dec. 31: Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

The Holy Family is, of course, Mary, Joseph, and Jesus. That family is supposed to be a model for our own families—our households centered on God. It’s true of our extended families, too, our parish communities. God is big enough that He can be the center of all of them.

Reading 1

Sir 3:2-6, 12-14

God sets a father in honor over his children; a mother’s authority he confirms over her sons. Whoever honors his father atones for sins, and preserves himself from them. When he prays, he is heard; he stores up riches who reveres his mother. Whoever honors his father is gladdened by children, and, when he prays, is heard. Whoever reveres his father will live a long life; he who obeys his father brings comfort to his mother.

My son, take care of your father when he is old; grieve him not as long as he lives. Even if his mind fail, be considerate of him; revile him not all the days of his life; kindness to a father will not be forgotten, firmly planted against the debt of your sins —a house raised in justice to you.

Sirach is a wisdom book, meaning it’s not really a story, so much as a series of wise sayings. Proverbs gets all the attention, and to a lesser extent Wisdom, but Sirach shouldn’t be ignored.

To pagans, the gods were larger than life, literally too large to care about what mortals were up to.¹ One of the biggest innovations of Jewish theology, besides monotheism, was that God is a personal god. He cares about each one of us individually.

Jesus, of course, took that further, and taught us that God is literally our Father. Sirach’s emphasis² on our relationships with, and responsibilities to, our parents presages Jesus's teaching.

But also, you know, it’s good advice. Take care of your parents, even when their minds fail.

Responsorial Psalm

Ps 128:1-2, 3, 4-5

R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways.
Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD,
who walks in his ways!
For you shall eat the fruit of your handiwork;
blessed shall you be, and favored.
R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways.
Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine
in the recesses of your home;
your children like olive plants
around your table.
R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways.
Behold, thus is the man blessed
who fears the LORD.
The LORD bless you from Zion:
may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
all the days of your life.
R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways.

A basic assumption in the bible is that families are great. This doesn’t always turn out to be true, but for the most part, a happy family is a reward for a life well lived.

Reading II

Heb 11:8, 11-12, 17-19

Brothers and sisters: By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; he went out, not knowing where he was to go. By faith he received power to generate, even though he was past the normal age--and Sarah herself was sterile--for he thought that the one who had made the promise was trustworthy. So it was that there came forth from one man, himself as good as dead, descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sands on the seashore.

By faith Abraham, when put to the test, offered up Isaac,  and he who had received the promises was ready to offer his only son, of whom it was said, “Through Isaac descendants shall bear your name.” He reasoned that God was able to raise even from the dead, and he received Isaac back as a symbol.

In this chapter, Paul draws upon the people and events of the Old Testament to paint an inspiring portrait of religious faith. Of particular relevance to us today are the families who put their trust in God even over their own natural instincts. And God, thankfully, rewarded them for it.

Alleluia

Col 3:15a, 16a

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Let the peace of Christ control your hearts;
let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Christ should be a part of your family, dwelling with you.

Gospel

Lk 2:22-40

When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, Mary and Joseph took Jesus up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, just as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord, and to offer the sacrifice of a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons, in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord. 

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord. He came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform the custom of the law in regard to him, he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying:

“Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in sight of all the peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.”

The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him; and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted—and you yourself a sword will pierce—so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer. And coming forward at that very time, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.

When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions of the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.

This reading is slightly longer than Friday’s, telling story of the prophetess Anna. Not much is known about her outside these three verses, but tradition tells us she also taught Mary about prayer and devotion when she was little.

We all know the little old ladies at church, who seem to always be around, helping take care of things and being friendly with everyone. The parish couldn’t run without them, and they rarely get thanked or even noticed. Anna seems to be like that, in the extreme, never even leaving the temple. Once she met Jesus, she became one of His first prophets.³ She told everyone about Him, even before He had actually done anything.

So, next time you go to mass and see an usher or sacristan getting everything set so you and everyone else can focus on the holy sacrifice itself, take a second to thank them. Maybe even say an extra prayer to St. Anna to bless them.

1. Or sometimes they cared a little too much, if you know what I’m sayin’.

2. Well, technically, “Yeshua Ben Eleazar Ben Sira’s emphasis,” but that takes too long to write. So why did I write this footnote explaining that I didn’t want to write it? Your guess is as good as mine.

3. John the Baptist is only six months older than Jesus, remember, so he’s not proclaiming the coming of the Messiah yet.