Promises

Feast of the Holy Family
28 December 2008

Let us worship Christ, the Son of God, who made himself obedient to Mary and to Joseph.


First reading Genesis 15:1-6,21:1-3
The word of the Lord was spoken to Abram in a vision, ‘Have no fear, Abram, I am your shield; your reward will be very great.’

‘My Lord,’ Abram replied ‘what do you intend to give me? I go childless...’ Then Abram said, ‘See, you have given me no descendants; some man of my household will be my heir.’ And then this word of the Lord was spoken to him, ‘He shall not be your heir; your heir shall be of your own flesh and blood.’ Then taking him outside he said, ‘Look up to heaven and count the stars if you can. Such will be your descendants’ he told him. Abram put his faith in the Lord, who counted this as making him justified.

The Lord dealt kindly with Sarah as he had said, and did what he had promised. So Sarah conceived and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the time God had promised. Abraham named the son born to him Isaac, the son to whom Sarah had given birth.

Second reading Colossians 3:12-17
You are God’s chosen race, his saints; he loves you, and you should be clothed in sincere compassion, in kindness and humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with one another; forgive each other as soon as a quarrel begins. The Lord has forgiven you; now you must do the same. Over all these clothes, to keep them together and complete them, put on love. And may the peace of Christ reign in your hearts, because it is for this that you were called together as parts of one body. Always be thankful.
Let the message of Christ, in all its richness, find a home with you. Teach each other, and advise each other, in all wisdom. With gratitude in your hearts sing psalms and hymns and inspired songs to God; and never say or do anything except in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Gospel Luke 2:22,39-40When the day came for them to be purified as laid down by the Law of Moses, the parents of Jesus took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord.
When they had done everything the Law of the Lord required, they went back to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. Meanwhile the child grew to maturity, and he was filled with wisdom; and God’s favour was with him.

Reflection
By Grace Madrinan

“Promises are made to be broken.”

We always hear this phrase. It may be true for men but not for our Father in Heaven. Looking back, I cannot recall a time when He did not fulfill His promises in my life. Even during the time when I thought He already had other plans, all the while He is working towards its completion.

In all of the readings and Gospel for today, God’s faithfulness to His words is apparent. It started with God’s covenant to Abraham to make him the father of all nations. Then comes the Word of God to Simeon that he will not see death until he sees the Lord Jesus Christ. These are just two separate occasions of the many promises that He fulfilled. The God who made a covenant to Abraham is the same God who made a promise to Simeon. He is still the same God who is with us today, fulfilling our needs.

Today we are celebrating the feast of the Holy Family. Like Joseph, Mary and Jesus, we are also part of God’s Holy family. Let us continue to be His abiding children and we can be assured that He will complete the covenant He has begun in us.





Father, You are ever present yesterday, today and tomorrow. May we be ever faithful to Your Word until You have completed the covenant You have set before us. Amen.