A Man of Silence and Remarkable Faith

 Solemnity of Saint Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary

19 March 2022

 

First Reading: 2 SM 7:4-5a, 12-14a, 16

Responsorial Psalm: PS 89:2-3, 4-5, 27 and 29

Second Reading: ROM 4:13, 16-18, 22

Gospel: MT 1:16, 18-21, 24a

 

Reflection

By: Jose Paulo M. Gonzales

 

On this eventful day, we commemorate St. Joseph, a man with remarkable faith. A carpenter by trade, Joseph is often described as a man of righteous industry, silent dignity, and intimate devotion to his wife, Mary. Such was his devotion to Mary that in the Gospel today, in view of Mary's sudden conception, in order not to expose her shame, Joseph decided to divorce her in silence. Still, upon instruction from the angel of the Lord, Joseph took Mary as his wife, further as mother to what would be Jesus, the Christ.

The message of the angel of the Lord gives us a clear view into faith. The angel told Joseph: "Do not be afraid." It was the possible derision of the people along with all the unknown consequence(s) of Joseph's prospective choice to commit that were likely to have instilled fear in him, but the angel told him how to respond in faith: "Do not be afraid." As we realize today, not to be afraid is not necessarily to be without an inkling of fear, but to step out in faith regardless of whether we are fearful or not.

The second reading for today (Romans 4:13, 16-18, 22) gives us an important distinction between faith and fear. If the blessings that Abraham and his descendants were endowed with came from the righteousness born of faith and not of the fear that comes from the law, it follows that it is our affirmative actions in agreement to God's invitations and instructions by which we are blessed more than our merely following the law. To follow the law is fundamentally necessary to observe what is due to God and all creation, but to follow the law is only to perform the actions necessary to rule out offense or punishment. To follow the law is minimally provident and is overall restrictive, but to live in faith is to surpass the requirements of the law to make for more procreative forms of good towards God and all creation. The law can tell a tenant to give from his or her yield to the landlord a fruit or two or any appropriate proportion, but faith... love tells us to give even when we have few, to give even when others are prosperous, to give even when we could not rationalize it anymore. Faith tells us, as in the words of St. John Paul II: "Nobody is so poor he has nothing to give, and nobody is so rich he has nothing to receive."  A poor widow can give two coins out of the few she has in full and still be considered by the Lord generous in giving (Mark 12:41-44), and a rich man with all his wealth still stands to receive good lessons on giving and humility from Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31). Like Joseph in today's Gospel, to act in faith is to accept our "Mary"—to accept and make best of the many things she could represent from our Model Mother to our divine lot—to follow the Lord out of our good hearts than our fearful minds—to follow the Lord even when we do not know the way and nothing seems to make sense, grounded in our belief that He is good, and that to us, He is God, He is our loving Father.

As we remember the Solemnity of St. Joseph today, may we forge of ourselves earnest workers especially in the work of good who know how to be silent when there is a need, if in our silence we can hear God and others better, and if in our silence we espouse a humbler attitude inclined towards loving others more than placing ourselves first.

Prayer

Lord, Thank You for being our good and loving Father and for all the graces You give us. As we remember St. Joseph today, may we grow in his qualities You want us to espouse ourselves, especially if in such keeping, we become more delightful children to You. We also ask for Your forgiveness in times when we fall short of this standard. These we ask, in Jesus' most holy Name, Amen.

 

With a Worker's Heart

 

Memorial of St. Joseph the Worker

1 May 2021 

 

First Reading:  GN 1:26B-2:3 or COL 3:14-15, 17, 23-24

Responsorial Psalm:  PS 90:2, 3-4, 12-13, 14 and 16

Gospel:  MT 13:54-58

 

Reflection

By: Pietro Albano

 

For 30 years, Jesus lived under the watchful care of Joseph and Mary. Being recognized as "the carpenter son", I think, would have made Jesus proud of his adoptive father. Carpentry may not be a lucrative job, but it is an honorable job, nonetheless. By the sweat of his brow, Joseph not only ensured that there is food on the table, but more so, he nurtured Jesus in such a way that prepared our Lord to proclaim the Gospel at the right time. St. Josemaria Escriva once wrote, "Jesus worked in St. Joseph's workshop and by Joseph's side...Jesus must have resembled Joseph: in his way of working, in the features of his character, in his way of speaking. Jesus' realism, his eye for detail, the way he sat at the table and broke bread, his preference for using everyday situations to give doctrine–all this reflects his childhood and the influence of Joseph."

In this time of pandemic, our front liners have come to the fore. We, and especially the young members of our parish, may have also been identified as children of "doctors, nurses, storekeepers, and supermarket workers, cleaning personnel, caregivers, transport workers, men and women working to provide essential services and public safety" (Pope Francis). Like our Lord, we may have felt proud to be identified as such. Like Jesus, we may have been inspired, influenced by, and had the same job as our elders, or perhaps have chosen a different career.

As we celebrate the feast day of St. Joseph the Worker, let us give thanks for the gift of work and for the gift of laborers all over the world. Let us also take this moment to think of the reality and harshness of unemployment. As Pope Francis wrote in Patris Corde: "The loss of employment that affects so many of our brothers and sisters, and has increased as a result of Covid-19 pandemic, should serve as a summons to review our priorities. Let us implore St. Joseph the Worker to help us find ways to express our firm conviction that no young person should be without work!"

• What lessons can you take to be identified as a child, relative, or friend of a front liner?
• "Working persons, whatever their job may be, are cooperating with God himself, and in some way become creators of the world around us" (Pope Francis). How does your work cooperate with God's work in the world?
• How can St. Joseph influence you as a Catholic worker?
  

Prayer

 

Lord Jesus, thank You for Your Word today. Through the prayers and example of St. Joseph, bless all workers that their work may mirror Your mercy. Bless too all those who are struggling with poor and unjust working conditions as well as those who are unemployed. Amen.

 

 

 

The Only Name That Matters

Solemnity of Saint Joseph,

husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary

19 March 2021 

 

First Reading:  2 SM 7:4-5a, 12-14a, 16

Responsorial Psalm:  PS 89:2-3, 4-5, 27 and 29

Second Reading:  ROM 4:13, 16-18, 22

Gospel:  MT 1:16, 18-21, 24a

 

Reflection

By: Pietro Albano

 

In 1997, Tanghalang Anluwage staged a musical play on the life of St. Joseph, our patron saint. After reading the script for the play, Vlad Reyes (one of the musical directors and my friend) joked at me "St. Joseph was a silent man in the Bible, but you made him talkative in this play!" True, there was no record of any word that this great man has uttered. His actions spoke louder than his words. In one of the play's acts, St. Joseph lovingly and jubilantly repeated "Jesus...Jesus...Jesus" after the Baby Jesus was circumcised.

In today's Gospel, the angel of the Lord told Joseph not to be afraid to welcome Mary into his home. As for Mary's Child, he was instructed "you are to name Him Jesus". Some have commented [T]hough not a direct quotation, the one word attributed to Joseph in Sacred Scripture is the holy name of Jesus." I guess, like any parent, St. Joseph would have said the name of Jesus many times–when he woke up after that blessed sleep; when he conversed with Mary throughout their years of being together; when he saw the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in the manger (Luke 2:7); when He was circumcised and presented in the Temple (Luke 2:21-39); when he escaped into Egypt with his family (Matthew 2:13-15); when he cuddled the Lord; when he taught Jesus his trade as a carpenter as well as the Jewish faith; when he prayed and played with Jesus; and when Jesus was lost in the Temple for three days (Luke 2:41-52). I would imagine St. Joseph saying that beautiful name when he breathed his last. I also imagine him now mentioning Jesus' mighty name, in praise and thanksgiving, and in making intercession for God's people, the Church.

• How often and in what occasions do you say the name of Jesus?
• How can you welcome Jesus into your life and home?
• "Jesus wished to become indebted to St. Joseph for the necessities of life, and of this holy patriarch alone it may be said that he saved the life of his Saviour" (St. Madeleine Sophie Brat). How can you become a new St. Joseph in the world today?

Prayer

 

Lord Jesus, thank You for Your word today. Through the prayers and example of St. Joseph protect us from evil one and lead us to salvation where we will sing the praises of Your powerful Name forever and ever. Amen.

Suggested Lenten Penance: Pray with special devotion to St. Joseph.

 

 

 

Obedience

Saint Joseph
Husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary 

19 March 2020

First reading                                                                        2 Samuel 7:4-5,12-14,16
The word of the Lord came to Nathan:

  ‘Go and tell my servant David, “Thus the Lord speaks: “When your days are ended and you are laid to rest with your ancestors, I will preserve the offspring of your body after you and make his sovereignty secure. (It is he who shall build a house for my name, and I will make his royal throne secure for ever.) I will be a father to him and he a son to me; if he does evil, I will punish him with the rod such as men use, with strokes such as mankind gives. Yet I will not withdraw my favour from him, as I withdrew it from your predecessor. Your House and your sovereignty will always stand secure before me and your throne be established for ever.”’

Second reading                                                         Romans 4:13,16-18,22

The promise of inheriting the world was not made to Abraham and his descendants on account of any law but on account of the righteousness which consists in faith. That is why what fulfils the promise depends on faith, so that it may be a free gift and be available to all of Abraham’s descendants, not only those who belong to the Law but also those who belong to the faith of Abraham who is the father of all of us. As scripture says: I have made you the ancestor of many nations – Abraham is our father in the eyes of God, in whom he put his faith, and who brings the dead to life and calls into being what does not exist.

  Though it seemed Abraham’s hope could not be fulfilled, he hoped and he believed, and through doing so he did become the father of many nations exactly as he had been promised: Your descendants will be as many as the stars. This is the faith that was ‘considered as justifying him.’

Gospel                                                                     Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24

Jacob was the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah.

Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife.

Reflection

By Fely Santiago

“When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him.”

I have known St Joseph to be a low profile foster father of Jesus. There’s not much story about him in the Bible. He must be a very good carpenter and must be a loving husband to Mama Mary and for sure loving father to Jesus. He accompanied Jesus for about 30 years and it must be from him and of course Mama Mary that that Jesus learned the value of obedience.

Nowadays obedience is an expensive virtue. Because of the world we live in today or the influence of the world, many children and even parents don’t value obedience anymore. Children have become so open minded that they question what their parents would tell them to do. Of course there are still exceptions.

I grew up in a very authoritative environment having a father who is from the military. Discipline was really instilled on us his children and the Fourth Commandment “Honor Thy Father and Thy Mother” is a common reminder. He always tell us “obey, there’s no other way!”. So I’ve grown to be an obedient child. And I guess this has also prepared me in my spiritual journey to always listen to God and do His will. And it has also helped me in rearing my children as most of them obey us their parents.

One of my favorite verses from the Old Testament is from Jeremiah 7:23 “Listen to my voice; then I will be your God and you shall be my people. Walk in the ways that I command you, so that you may prosper.” St Joseph must have also put these words in his heart as he was very obedient to what the angel of the Lord told him. And I believe God chose him to be the foster father of Jesus because of his obedient heart. He follows what God tells him to do and remained faithful. He is also a very cool man. I love the statue of the sleeping St Joseph. It keeps me still when the troubles of the world overcome me. We can go to St Joseph to calm us down and learn from his obedient and faithful heart.

Prayer
Father God, Thank You for giving us St Joseph to be the foster father of Jesus and our spiritual father. Teach us to be like him, humble and obedient, calm but strong. Help us to be like St Joseph who always listen to Your words that we may always follow Your holy will in our life. All this we asked in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen. 

Listen and Obey

Saint Joseph
Husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary 

19 March 2019

First reading                                                                        2 Samuel 7:4-5,12-14,16
The word of the Lord came to Nathan:

  ‘Go and tell my servant David, “Thus the Lord speaks: “When your days are ended and you are laid to rest with your ancestors, I will preserve the offspring of your body after you and make his sovereignty secure. (It is he who shall build a house for my name, and I will make his royal throne secure for ever.) I will be a father to him and he a son to me; if he does evil, I will punish him with the rod such as men use, with strokes such as mankind gives. Yet I will not withdraw my favour from him, as I withdrew it from your predecessor. Your House and your sovereignty will always stand secure before me and your throne be established for ever.”’

Second reading                                                         Romans 4:13,16-18,22

The promise of inheriting the world was not made to Abraham and his descendants on account of any law but on account of the righteousness which consists in faith. That is why what fulfils the promise depends on faith, so that it may be a free gift and be available to all of Abraham’s descendants, not only those who belong to the Law but also those who belong to the faith of Abraham who is the father of all of us. As scripture says: I have made you the ancestor of many nations – Abraham is our father in the eyes of God, in whom he put his faith, and who brings the dead to life and calls into being what does not exist.

  Though it seemed Abraham’s hope could not be fulfilled, he hoped and he believed, and through doing so he did become the father of many nations exactly as he had been promised: Your descendants will be as many as the stars. This is the faith that was ‘considered as justifying him.’

Gospel                                                                     Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24

Jacob was the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah.

Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife.

Reflection

By Bernard M. Borja

Saint Joseph. Many people know the name. If I am to look while I walk or drive around my hometown, it won’t take me five minutes just to see a street, a building, a school, a hospital, or even stores like hardware and drug stores, with the name of Saint Joseph in it. When it comes to structures, the name is pretty popular not just in churches and non-government organizations. Several places in the Philippines, may it be cities or small towns, are named after the man who faced a lot of controversies that still goes on up to the present day.

Many images of Saint Joseph reflects wearing a traditional green and gold colors, sometimes holding a staff with flowers in it, sometimes holding carpentry tools, holding baby Jesus in his arms, or beside the child Jesus holding his hand. Most common images are the sleeping Joseph and, of course, the Holy Family. But how well do we really know Saint Joseph?

His story was only mentioned in two Gospels of the Bible - Matthew and Luke. His name was only mentioned once in the Gospel of John when Jesus came back to His hometown (John 6:41), but was never mentioned in the Gospel of Mark in the same scene at Nazareth (Mark 6:3). In Mark’s Gospel, the neighbors called Jesus “the son of Mary” instead of mentioning his father. For someone who had a very important role in the life of Jesus, there is surprisingly little information about him. However, these information are always enough to point to Jesus. Though we may have read very little about the one called “the foster father of the Messiah”, this does not alter the fact that Saint Joseph, with his wife Mary, became one of the most implored intercessor by people up to this day.

As I child, I’ve known Saint Joseph as the father of Jesus through the image of the Holy Family in our house. Growing up, I learned that he is a worker and a good provider. I used to join processions and celebrations in honor of Saint Joseph as the patron of our parish. I remember the time when I was looking for a job. Months after graduation I was not lucky enough to land on the right job until I prayed and asked for Saint Joseph’s intercession. I got hired after a month and stayed with the company for years. Ever since, I constantly prayed for strength of body and mind to do my work well. Saint Joseph became my inspiration of hard work and perseverance. And maybe it’s because my perception of Saint Joseph is like the titles given to him during his time - the carpenter, the father, the Son of David, the just, compassionate and caring man, a righteous man. But it did not end there.

We may have known him through these titles but we rarely focus on him being the husband of Mary and the details he may have gone through even before they got married. Christmas will always be about the reason for the season - Jesus Christ, the begotten Son of God, given to the world for the forgiveness of sins. While we also remember Mary, the mother of God, let us also honor her husband whose life has always pointed to who matters most and that is Jesus.

I can relate to Saint Joseph with his worries and anxieties. But when we think about it, he always had a very simple antidote to his struggles. He listens and obeys. He has always been faithful to God even though he knew the difficulties he may face. From the time he worried about Mary’s pregnancy and taking her as his wife, to taking care of the child Jesus to prepare for his mission, his life has always been a reflection of every virtue and title given to him that manifested the goodness of God. We can also say that Saint Joseph has given his all to save and protect the one who eventually saves the whole world. Even though his story was only a brief part of the Scriptures, he has been and always will be a big part of this world who inspires and remind us to be faithful, to listen and obey, and surrender everything to God


Prayer
Saint Joseph, we honor you as the true husband of Mary. Your marriage to Mary was a sacred contract by which you and Mary gave yourselves to each other. Mary really belonged to you with all she was and had. You had a right to her love and obedience; and no other person so won her esteem, obedience, and love. Saint Joseph, we thank God for your privilege of being the virginal husband of Mary. As a token of your own gratitude to God, obtain for us the grace to love Jesus with all our heart, as you did, and love Mary with some of the tenderness and loyalty with which you loved her.  Amen. (From a novena in honor of St Joseph)

The Gift of Work

St Joseph the Worker 

01 May 2018

First reading                                                                       Genesis 1:26-2:3
God said: "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and the cattle, and over all the wild animals and all the creatures that crawl on the ground." God created man in his image; in the divine image he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them, saying: "Be fertile and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and all the living things that move on the earth." God also said: "See, I give you every seed-bearing plant all over the earth and every tree that has seed-bearing fruit on it to be your food; and to all the animals of the land, all the birds of the air, and all the living creatures that crawl on the ground, I give all the green plants for food." And so it happened. God looked at everything he had made, and he found it very good. Evening came, and morning followed—the sixth day. Thus the heavens and the earth and all their array were completed. Since on the seventh day God was finished with the work he had been doing, God rested on the seventh day from all the work he had undertaken. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work he had done in creation. 
Gospel                                                                     Matthew 13:54-58

Jesus came to his native place and taught the people in their synagogue.
They were astonished and said,
"Where did this man get such wisdom and mighty deeds?
Is he not the carpenter's son? Is not his mother named Mary
and his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas?
Are not his sisters all with us? Where did this man get all this?"
And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them,
"A prophet is not without honor except in his native place
and in his own house."
And he did not work many mighty deeds there
because of their lack of faith.

Reflection

By Pietro S. Albano

Work has been an essential part of our life since the world was created. In the First Reading, we read how God has given us dominion over His creation. Such dominion requires work. Take for example how the farmers till the land patiently so that we could have rice, fruits, vegetables, etc. Or the fishermen catching bangus, salmon, oysters, etc. Or the teacher preparing and delivering mind-challenging lessons for her students. Or perhaps a parent working abroad for their family's better future. At times, work gets the better of us that we don't have anytime for God such as attending Mass. There are also occasions when we don't have time for our family either.

Through work, St Joseph provided for Jesus and Mary. We could just imagine the effort and sacrifices he made to ensure that there is food on the table and roof under their heads. We could only imagine how busy he was. And yet, he remained docile to God's will through prayer and living in the presence of Christ. Fr Gabriel of St Mary Magdalen, OCD once wrote "Saint Joseph teaches us the blessed secret of a life of combined activity and contemplation, so that, following his example, we may give ourselves to the active life without neglecting our life of intimate union with God." As we celebrate Labor Day, let us think of the benefits of work, be grateful, and work assiduously.  Let us also think of those times when we have been too preoccupied with work and ask St Joseph to teach us his secret.

Prayer

Loving Father, we thank You for entrusting the care of the world to us through the gift of work. Through the example and prayer of St Joseph, may we always give ourselves generously for Your glory and in the service of Your people. Amen.

St Joseph, Patron of Workers, pray for us.

Grounded

Saint Joseph
Husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary 

19 March 2018

First reading                                                                        2 Samuel 7:4-5,12-14,16
The word of the Lord came to Nathan:

  ‘Go and tell my servant David, “Thus the Lord speaks: “When your days are ended and you are laid to rest with your ancestors, I will preserve the offspring of your body after you and make his sovereignty secure. (It is he who shall build a house for my name, and I will make his royal throne secure for ever.) I will be a father to him and he a son to me; if he does evil, I will punish him with the rod such as men use, with strokes such as mankind gives. Yet I will not withdraw my favour from him, as I withdrew it from your predecessor. Your House and your sovereignty will always stand secure before me and your throne be established for ever.”’

Second reading                                                         Romans 4:13,16-18,22

The promise of inheriting the world was not made to Abraham and his descendants on account of any law but on account of the righteousness which consists in faith. That is why what fulfils the promise depends on faith, so that it may be a free gift and be available to all of Abraham’s descendants, not only those who belong to the Law but also those who belong to the faith of Abraham who is the father of all of us. As scripture says: I have made you the ancestor of many nations – Abraham is our father in the eyes of God, in whom he put his faith, and who brings the dead to life and calls into being what does not exist.

  Though it seemed Abraham’s hope could not be fulfilled, he hoped and he believed, and through doing so he did become the father of many nations exactly as he had been promised: Your descendants will be as many as the stars. This is the faith that was ‘considered as justifying him.’

Gospel                                                                     Luke 2:41-51a

Every year the parents of Jesus used to go to Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up for the feast as usual. When they were on their way home after the feast, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem without his parents knowing it. They assumed he was with the caravan, and it was only after a day’s journey that they went to look for him among their relations and acquaintances. When they failed to find him they went back to Jerusalem looking for him everywhere.
  Three days later, they found him in the Temple, sitting among the doctors, listening to them, and asking them questions; and all those who heard him were astounded at his intelligence and his replies. They were overcome when they saw him, and his mother said to him, ‘My child, why have, you done this to us? See how worried your father and I have been, looking for you.’
  ‘Why were you looking for me?’ he replied. ‘Did you not know that I must be busy with my Father’s affairs?’ But they did not understand what he meant.
  He then went down with them and came to Nazareth and lived under their authority.

Reflection

By Pietro S. Albano

Opposition does not only happen outside the home. I note how the young Thomas Aquinas' decision to become a Dominican was met with strong opposition by his family. They were pining for him to be a Benedictine because his uncle Sinibald was abbot of the local Benedictine abbey at that time. While drinking from a spring on his way to Rome, his brothers captured and imprisoned him for a year in their parents' castle. Such 'house arrest', the family hoped, would dissuade Thomas from joining the mendicant order. So much was their desperation that two brothers even hired a prostitute. Story has it that Thomas drove the woman away holding a fiery iron. Eventually, they yielded to Thomas' plan.

In today's Gospel, Joseph and Mary were making sense of the young Jesus' decision to stay behind to be up and about in His Father's affairs. Although they know their son and His future mission, His action at a tender age came as a shock. I guess this has been a common experience among parents. My mother was totally supportive of my active involvement in church during my teenage years. However, she started to notice how frequently I have been coming home very late at night (or very early in the morning). One time she had had enough. She warned me that if I do it again, she will tell me to my father.  While I got a verbal warning, some of my confreres were either subjected to curfew or grounded by their parents. We all learned our lesson and became conscious of their concern, of striking a balance between study, apostolate, and home. Eventually, our parents understood our involvement in church.

Like St Joseph let us strive to remain grounded in God's grace so that we may become more supportive and understanding of our youth who, like the young Jesus, are slowly discovering the purpose of their life. Let us also entrust the youth to St Joseph's care that they too may imitate Jesus whose obedience made Him truly grounded, i.e. sensible, realistic, unpretentious.


Prayer
Heavenly Father, You call each of us to a particular vocation. Through the intercession of St Joseph, open our hearts to respond to You and to be an inspiration to others, especially our young people. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

The Season for the Family

The Holy Family   31 December 2017

First reading

Book of Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14

The Lord honours a father above his children,
and he confirms a mother’s right over her children.
Those who honour their father atone for sins,
and those who respect their mother are like those who lay up treasure.
Those who honour their father will have joy in their own children,
and when they pray they will be heard.
Those who respect their father will have long life,
and those who honour their mother obey the Lord;
My child, help your father in his old age,
and do not grieve him as long as he lives;
even if his mind fails, be patient with him;
because you have all your faculties do not despise him.
For kindness to a father will not be forgotten,
and will be credited to you against your sins

                

Second reading

Colossians 3:12-21

As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and never treat them harshly. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is your acceptable duty in the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, or they may lose heart.

Gospel

Luke 2:22-40

When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord”), and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying, “Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.” And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, “This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed — and a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day. At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. When they had finished everything required by 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 favour of God was upon him.

Reflection

by Jessa Janelle Padilla

Christmas is the season where every family member does their best to be with their loved ones and become complete to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.  This is the season when most of our countrymen who work abroad or out of town come home to spend time with their family. The family is the center of this season and this is underscored as we celebrate today the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.

How much do we value, love, and care our family - not only our spouse and children, but also our parents, and even our siblings? Are we an obedient sons or daughters? Our first reading from the Book of Sirach says, “Whoever honors his father atones for sins, and preserves himself for them. When he prays, he is heard.” Prophet Sirach encourages every child to honor and obey their father since it will bring comfort to the mother. We, the children of our parents, must always obey and honor them because all their commands, against or not in our will, are for our own sake. They are chosen by God to be our guardians and to make us God-fearing children. We are forever indebted to our parents and to God, who choose them, since without them we are nothing.

In our second reading from the letter of Saint Paul to the Colossians, Saint Paul says “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God”. Let’s welcome Jesus in our hearts and lives. Let our works be done in honor to Him and let us sing songs that glorify Him. May we include in our playlist, songs glorifying Him and not just songs that remind us how broken we are or rock and roll songs.  Spiritual songs uplift our faith and our well being. It calms us and makes us happy. It would be nice too if we could involve the whole family in singing praises to God, at home or in the church.

Our Gospel reading is all about how Mary and Joseph became obedient to the Law of Moses. They took Jesus to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord. In today’s situation, some parents are not willing to surrender their children to the service to the Lord. They discourage their children from entering the convent or seminary because of personal reasons. They want their children to have a family of their own. In contrast, other parents are willing to surrender their children to the service to the Lord. They’ve become supportive to their children’s decision to become a priest or a religious. Whatever path the children may choose depends on how good and disciplined the parents are. Also in our Gospel, Simeon recognizes and gave honor to Jesus. In our daily lives, how do we recognize Jesus? We can see Jesus in our family, friends, neighbors, children, the sick, the dying, the poor, and unemployed. Jesus is close to the children, the elders and the poor. Let us all treat one another as how we treat Jesus. May we become like Simeon who recognizes Jesus.


May our family be like the Holy family of Mary, Joseph, and Jesus: open and obedient to God's will. May we also consider everyone as family, blood or not blood related, since we are all children of God. 

Prayer

Almighty God, we thank You most sincerely for bringing Jesus in our life through Mary and Joseph. Their Holy family is a perfect example of a family. May our family imitate the Holy Family. May our families become closer and open to one another. May You bless every family. We ask this through the Holy Family of Mary, Joseph, and Jesus. Amen.