BUILDING THE HUMAN FAMILY IN THE DIVINE FAMILY
(Luke 2: 22-40)
The question about culture and
religion that always comes up with regard to which one is superior, gets some
clarifications in today's Gospel message.
The question of where marriage is
in the Bible has made a good number of persons not to value and appreciate the
Christian institution of marriage. Such persons maintain that the sacrament of
matrimony is not necessary after the agreement by the two families. Some even
do it just "to fulfil all righteousness" without actually believing
in its importance.
The family of Joseph and Mary
presented to us today is a good example for us. They had agreed traditionally
to get married with each other. Under the same tradition, Joseph was allowed to
send Mary away. But the higher authority of God came in to bless the union.
Under the above tradition, man was allowed to divorce wife with just a letter.
But Jesus, teaching about the Christian marriage cancels divorce in marriage.
This is a Christian marriage and never that of Judaism. What makes a marriage
Christian is the presence of Christ in it. Jesus was present at that marriage
at Cana to sanctify the union of the couple who invited Him. Today, Jesus is
taken into the temple to reclaim what is done there with regard to the family.
We saw clearly how Simeon gave way and prayed his 'nunc dimittis', as
holy and righteous as he was, as correct and knowledgeable as he was, through
him, tradition gave way for God to take absolute control. The presentation was
not necessary for Jesus, it was necessary for us to learn what God wants from
us as members of the new family and worshipping community He forms in Christ.
God intervenes in the human
family just as he did in the first reading from the book of Genesis
15:1-6;21:1-3. He tells us what a real family should be; an abode built on the
foundation of faith and not just human inclination. Thus, He points out what
should be expelled from the family for it to maintain its holy worth.
I am talking on marriage at this
introductory level because, it is marriage that brings the family into
existence. The union of Joseph and Mary created an avenue for God to enter into
the human family to bless it and reveal the power of Emmanuel in families.
This feast fits so well this
period we are celebrating the incarnation. The divine family, the trinitarian
family came to abide in the human household ratifying all her activities,
upholding the noble ones while discarding the obnoxious ones.
In the light of today's feast of
the Holy Family of Jesus Mary and Joseph and the scriptural readings of today,
let us see what God wills for our families.
SEE EACH OTHER AS A GIFT FROM
GOD
The husband and wife are
encouraged to see one another as special gifts from the Lord. You're special
presents from the Almighty for each other. Thus, wish each other well, pray for
and with one another. Feel the other's pain and your partner's excitement. Do
you react accordingly as God wants you to react to your husband or wife? Adam
reacted: Oh, the bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh. Joseph cuddled, consoled
and reaccepted Mary. Why is it that you have not welcomed that your husband or
wife as your gift from God whether he/ she is sweet or bitter?
PRESENT THE CHILDREN TO GOD
The father and mother who
presents each other as a gift to one another should as well present the fruit
of their union to God. As you take them to school to train their minds, send
them also to all the activities of the Church for spiritual exercises that
train and form their consciences. Do we still have parents who ask their
children when last they went to confession and why they failed to receive the
Holy Communion on Sundays? Do parents make the mistake of presenting their
children to the world and not to God? If they do the world swallows them.
That's what we see today. Take them to the Lord from infancy. Don't make any
mistake at the foundation, foundation once destroyed...
LET THE CHILDREN MAKE THEIR
PARENTS TO MARVEL
Mary and Joseph marvelled at
everything said about the child Jesus. Parents will like to hear successful
stories and good news about their children. As a child in your own family, what
do your parents hear about you? What news do you usually bring to them?
Hypertension among parents is usually caused by their thinking about their
children. Do well, save yourself and your parents from shame. May your children
bring you joy. May they be strong and wise like Jesus and be decorated with
divine favour.
THE BEREAVED MEMBERS OF THE
FAMILY OF GOD
We may not have noticed this
aspect of the family. Most of the time we talk only about the complete family
consisting of the father, mother and children. At a time, when God chooses,
some members of the family depart. One of the persons we saw in the temple
where Jesus was presented was Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, who lived with her
husband only for seven years and became a widow.
God reveals to us through her
that when the challenges that face the family strike, we should not lose our
faith. Anna never departed from the temple till old age. Do not abandon God if
any misfortune has come on you in your family.
God will never abandon us. He
will keep establishing our families in His love. May we not stop loving Him.
LET US PRAY
Thank you Lord God Almighty for
instituting the human family and desiring to pattern it after the divine
family. Make our homes sacred abodes for your dwelling. May we follow the
examples of Jesus, Mary and Joseph in our living and activities in this world.
Bless our homes and everyone therein. Answer the prayers we make at our family
altars on daily basis through Christ our Lord. Amen.
God bless your family.
Happy Holy Family Sunday and
merry Christmas to you. (Feast of the Holy Family, Year B)
Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh
#HolyFamily
Image from: The Feast of the Holy Family Prepares Your Family for the New Year - The Best Catholic
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