REFLECTIONS ON THE WORD – 12/26/21 (Feast of the Holy Family)

Luke 2:41, 51

41 Now His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover. 

51 And He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and His mother kept all these things in her heart.

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https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/daily-readings

Blessed Feast Day of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph! After celebrating the Nativity of the Lord yesterday, we are honoring the Holy Family. In our gospel reading, the family of Jesus went to Jerusalem for the feast of passover. Jerusalem signifies the presence of God and the passover foreshadows the sacrifice of Christ. It shows that in order to be closer to God, we need to persevere in the sufferings as we embrace the crosses of our lives out of love for Christ. St. Joseph, as the head of the holy family, led them in their perseverance to Jerusalem. But, in order for us to persevere, we need to know God's will in our lives. This is seen in the example of our Mother Mary who kept all things in her heart. 

The purpose of entering marriage and starting a family is to lead each family member to the love of God. However, not every family is centered on God. Some parents may not be good examples for their children when it comes to leading holy lives. Some parents may not teach their children about the importance of prayers and meditation on Scriptures as a way to know God's message for us. Why does this happen especially in today's culture? Maybe, we do not recognize that it is God alone who can grant us strength and consolation in order to persevere in a life full of trials. Perhaps, we may not fully comprehend the reality of heaven that we forget how important it is to receive eternal life. What will happen when the parents do not lead their children in deepening their relationship with God, most specially through reflecting on Scriptures? The next generations may have lesser to no fear of committing sin and offending God. 

Jesus is showing to us the importance of reflecting on His Word as a way for the family to grow in holiness as we persevere amidst the trials of our lives. When we meditate on the Scriptures and apply it in our lives, we will be able to grow in our love for God and for our neighbors. God will teach us to be more humble like the holy family. He will grant us the grace of being more diligent in obeying God's will. We will receive Divine wisdom, and children will have stronger foundation in knowing what's good from evil. May we always pray for the families to persevere in their path to holiness towards heavenly Jerusalem through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Joseph. 

Amen +

 

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, be with us always until the hour of our death. Amen. +

 

May the Lord + bless us, protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life. Amen. +  

Reflection by: Dominic