Happy Feast of Holy Family & Mary, Mother of God! Blessed New Year 2024!!
Happy Feast of Holy Family & Mary, Mother of God! Blessed New Year 2024!!
Merry Christmas! The Christmas season will last until the Baptism of the Lord, Monday, January 8th. Today we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family. What makes a family holy?
The mission of Mary and Joseph was to bring up the child Jesus and give Him to the world. It was not an easy journey for them. They had lots of unknown factors in their lives. We read in the Gospel that Mary kept pondering on them (Luke 2:19). Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but they didn’t live together. According to their custom after the betrothal, they are legally married. They didn’t live together until the wedding ceremony took place, which could be a year later. When Joseph came to know that Mary was pregnant, he struggled to receive Mary as his wife. Mary and Joseph followed the will of God. With the taking of Mary as his wife and the birth of Jesus, a new family is founded, and it is a holy one.
In the first reading, Ben Sirach reminds us of the Fourth Commandment, “Honor your father and mother.” We read in the book of Exodus 20:12 “Honor your father and your mother, that you may have a long life in the land the LORD your God is giving you.” Ben Sirach reminds us that those who honor their parents will gain riches and long life. In the second reading from the Colossians, St. Paul tells us about virtues in life. He describes a family code.
We see in the Gospel, that Mary and Joseph took Jesus into the Temple for presentation (Luke 2:22-40). The Presentation of the Lord is celebrated on February 2nd, but this passage is the reading for the Holy Family. In the book of Exodus 13:2, we see, “Consecrate to me every firstborn; whatever opens the womb among the Israelites, whether of human being or beast, belongs to me.” According to their custom, Leviticus 12:2; 6, on the eighth-day circumcision takes place and after forty days, purification and consecration occur. We see in the Gospel Mary and Joseph took Jesus to the Temple according to their custom.
When they came to the Temple, two people were waiting for this moment: Simeon and Anna. The Holy Spirit revealed to Simeon that he would not die until he had seen Christ (2:26). Simeon took the child into his arms and praised God by saying “Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation…” (2:29). Simeon tells Mary that she will suffer along with her son, Jesus, as he completes the salvific work. Anna the prophetess, who was staying at the temple praying and fasting, came forward and thanked God and spoke about this child. Simeon and Anna speak about the child, who is the consolation of Israel. They were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem and the restoration of God’s rule in Israel. The birth of Jesus brings these hopes to fulfillment. Mary was pondering on these words.
Monday, we embrace the New Year 2024, and the solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God. Let us ask for the blessing of the Holy Family as we embrace the New Year 2024. New Year, is a time to give thanks for the past, a time to ask for blessings…
As I mentioned at the Christmas Mass, we are in Eucharistic Revival Years and Maintenance to Mission years. Let us grow in love for the Eucharist and live the Eucharist in our daily lives. We are Eucharistic people, and it is our mission. Let us resolve to join the celebration of the Eucharist regularly and grow in love for the Eucharist in the New Year 2024. Women from our cluster bought a Christmas gift for us, “Beautiful Eucharist.” If you didn’t get one, please pick one up and read it. Let us thank them for the gift.
Let us take the passage from the book of Numbers and bless each other in this New Year 2024!
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!
Blessed New Year 2024 and Happy Feast of Mary, Holy Mother of God!
Thank you!: I would like to express my gratitude to cluster parishioners, councils and committees, organizations, cluster parish staff, deacons, musicians, and those who participated in different ministries, volunteers, and well-wishers. Thank you!