The Holy Family
December 29, 2013
Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14;
Psalm 128; Colossians 3:12-21; Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23
The
family of Jesus is honored during the Christmas octave, but we encounter them
on the run as they flee to Egypt from Judea to escape the deadly plans of the
conniving Herod. From the beginning of his life, Jesus becomes a refugee.
During his time away, the insecure king orders the murder of all boys in
Bethlehem and the surrounding area to destroy the threat of the prophecy that
the King of Israel would rise from Bethlehem. The parents of Jesus are able to
give him safety, shelter, and a peace-filled upbringing until it was time to
return to their homeland. The family nurtures him and allows him to grow in
freedom, and it is freedom that Jesus eventually gives us.
We
are often stuck with the dilemma of human freedom. Parents watch their children
make terrible mistakes and they wish they could make decisions for those they
love, but they know perfect love does not mean making choices for others but
letting them choose their own course of action. In fact, every one of us has
someone whom we love who we wish would follow our advice. People harm
themselves and keep themselves from doing better in life and it breaks our
heart that they do not listen to sound, loving words of support. Instead, we
sit back and watch harm get piled upon hurt, and we feel their pain.
Herod
made his decision based on his insecurity. He felt threatened at the thought of
a new king who would challenge his rule would arise. He wanted to circumvent
scripture and change human history. Therefore, he killed many innocent boys and
ruined the lives of many mothers and fathers in Bethlehem and Judea. I can
imagine he had advisors who asked him to listen to them and choose a different
course of action, but alas, he did not. If he had only listened, lives would
have been spared. If he had only put on the garment of love that gives freedom,
not fear, so others may prosper and live in peace. Governments today act out of
fear and insecurity; wars are still waged; bullies try to control and dominate
others. The cycle will unduly continue until we teach others the way of peace
and love and it is our responsibility as Christians to begin this long-desired
process.
The
wisdom figure, Sirach, gives proverbs and aphorisms for the golden rules of
family life. He teaches them how to let tender love reign in our hearts – just
as the Christmas message of Jesus teaches us. Sirach teaches respect for
elders, children, and in fact, all people. He knows the way of truth and light
will win out over the ways of self-centeredness and self-absorption. He
instructs people to rule with both head and heart and peace will reign in the
household, and God will always remember the good we do to others.
Paul,
after having his heart converted by Jesus Christ, learns a new way to live and
he gives the most beautiful instructions of our Christian lives. He says, “put
on heart-felt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing
with one another and forgiving one another. And over all these things, put on
love, the bond of perfection.” Other than sounding so beautiful, it shows us
that we have to choose to be kind to others and we have to choose to love. The
image of actively putting on these attributes is an apt one because it details
the choices we make. We wear who we are and we have to deliberately make
ourselves up every day and choose what sort of person we will be. We have
instant decisions to make when someone is mean to us; we can be mean back or we
can go against that impulse and put on kindness. The mercy we show others, the
compassion we give, show others that Christ has been born into our lives and
that these traits are hallmark expressions of our faith. It is not easy, but it
is worth it.
Most
of us can stand to be a little kinder and more patient with others and if we do
not have these qualities, how are we going to teach our young ones? The family
and the schools are our principal sources of learning our virtues and values,
and our actions teach with greater impressions than do our words. When we think
of a person who has been a hero in our lives, it is usually because of an
extraordinary kindness they offered to us. We cherish those moments of
learning. What is it that my actions teach others?
We
have plenty of resources. When we choose to put on love, we are putting on
Christ. We have to listen to him as he guides us in the right paths. We know
that his love will protect us; therefore, we do not have too much to risk in
reaching out and being kind to others – even when we do not feel like doing it.
Forget your individual transgressions, but look on your whole effort in life
and watch how Christ is growing within your choices and actions. He did not
grow up all of a sudden to become our Savior. It took him a lifetime of
learning and choosing. Now, we can let him nourish and teach us to put on those
virtues he values so much. Be patient with yourself as you continue to learn.
There is a great promise for the future when you return from your Egypt, from
all that weighs you down, and you put on Christ as a garment. He makes all
things new and he gives you a whole new family of faith to support you and
encourage you. Choose to put on Christ today and life in his promise of
salvation.
Themes for this Week’s Masses
First
Reading: John the Evangelist lets people know that their
sins have been forgiven by the Christ event. Therefore, they are not to love
the world or the things of the world. John tells them that they are in the last
hours of the world and many antichrists will arise to try to derail those who
believe in the Holy One of God. Stay close to the truth and you shall be fine.
On the Feast of Mary, Moses tells Aaron how to bless the Israelites, “The Lord
bless you and keep you! The Lord let his face shine upon you, and be gracious
to you! The Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace!” John the Evangelist
encourages the people to let what they have heard from the beginning remain in
you. The presence of the Lord will do its work to keep you faithful. “See what
love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God.
We are God’s children now.” Do not be deceived by anyone. The one who is
righteous will act righteously.
Gospel:
Anna the prophetess comes forward to meet Mary and Joseph. She gave thanks to
God and was relieved to know that all that was spoken about the child has come
true. The Prologue of John presents Jesus as the Word of God who comes down to
dwell among us. In Galatians on the feast of Mary, Paul tells the people that
God sent the Son, born of a woman, under the law, to ransom those under the
law, so that we might receive adoption as sons and daughters.” The Shepherds
went in haste to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph, with the infant lying in
a manger. John the Baptist is questioned about his origins. He denies that he
is the Christ, but that there is one who is coming who is the stronger one, the
one sent by God. The Baptist points towards Jesus and declares, “Behold, the
Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” He is the one who ranks
ahead of John and will come baptizing in the Spirit. Two of John’s disciples
were watching and saw Jesus walk by. John points him out and they go over to
the camp of Jess. Andrew and his brother Simon were brought to Jesus and Andrew
declares, “We have found the Messiah.”
Saints of the Week
December 29: Thomas Becket, bishop and martyr
(1118-1170), was the lord chancellor and archbishop of Canterbury in
England during the time of King Henry II. When he disagreed with the King over
the autonomy of the church and state, he was exiled to France. When he
returned, he clashed again with the king who had him murdered in Canterbury
Cathedral.
December 30: The Family of Joseph, Mary, and Jesus,
was a feast instituted in 1921. It was originally the 3rd Sunday after
Christmas. The Holy Family is often seen in Renaissance paintings - and many of
those are of the flight into Egypt.
December 31: Sylvester I, pope (d. 335), served the
church shortly after Constantine issued his Edict of Milan in 313 that publicly
recognized Christianity as the official religion of the empire and provided it
freedom of worship. Large public churches were built by the emperor and other
benefactors. Sylvester was alive during the Council of Nicaea but did not
attend because of old age.
January 2: Basil the Great and Gregory Nanzianzen,
bishops and doctors (fourth century), are two of the four great doctors of
the Eastern Church. They are known for their preaching especially against the
Arian heretics. Basil began as a hermit before he was named archbishop of
Caesarea. He influenced Gregory who eventually became archbishop of Constantinople.
Their teachings influenced both the Roman and Eastern Churches.
January 3: The Name of Jesus was given to the
infant as the angel foretold. In the Mediterranean world, the naming of person
stood for the whole person. Humans were given the power to name during the
Genesis creation accounts. If one honors the name of the person, they honor the
person. The name Jesus means “Yahweh saves.”
January 4: Elizabeth Ann Seton, religious (1774-1821),
was born into an Episcopalian household where she married and had five
children. When her husband died, she became a Catholic and founded a girls’
school in Baltimore. She then founded the Sisters of Charity and began the
foundation for the parochial school system in the U.S. She is the first
native-born American to be canonized.
This Week in Jesuit History
·
Dec 29, 1886. Publication of the
beatification decree of the English martyrs.
·
Dec 30, 1564. Letter from Pope Pius IV
to Daniel, Archbishop of Mayence, deploring the malicious and scurrilous
pamphlets published against the Society throughout Germany and desiring him to
use his influence against the evil.
·
Dec 31, 1640. John Francis Regis died.
He was a missionary to the towns and villages of the remote mountains of
southern France.
·
Jan. 1, 1598: Fr. Alphonsus Barréna,
surnamed the Apostle of Peru, died. He was the first to carry the faith to the
Guaranis and Chiquitos in Paraguay.
·
Jan. 2, 1619: At Rome, John Berchmans
and Bartholomew Penneman, his companion scholastic from Belgium, entered the
Roman College.
·
Jan. 3, 1816: Fr. General Brzozowski
and 25 members of the Society, guarded by soldiers, left St. Petersburg,
Russia, having been banished by the civil government.
·
Jan. 4, 1619: The English mission is
raised to the status of a province.