31 December, 2023 | Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

 Gospel Lk 2:22-40

When the days were completed for their purification 

according to the law of Moses, 

They took him up to Jerusalem

to present him to the Lord,

just as it is written in the law of the Lord, 

Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord, 

and to offer the sacrifice of

a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons, 

in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord.

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon.

This man was righteous and devout,

awaiting the consolation of Israel, 

and the Holy Spirit was upon him.

It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit 

that he should not see death 

before he had seen the Christ of the Lord.

He came in the Spirit into the temple; 

and when the parents brought in the child Jesus 

to perform the custom of the law in regard to him, 

He took him into his arms and blessed God, saying:

“Now, Master, you may let your servant go

in peace, according to your word,

for my eyes have seen your salvation,

which you prepared in sight of all the peoples,

a light for revelation to the Gentiles,

and glory for your people Israel.”

The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him; 

and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, 

“Behold, this child is destined 

for the fall and rise of many in Israel,

and to be a sign that will be contradicted 

—and you yourself a sword will pierce— 

so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

There was also a prophetess, Anna, 

the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher.

She was advanced in years, 

having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage, 

and then as a widow until she was eighty-four.

She never left the temple, 

but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer.

And coming forward at that very time, 

she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child 

to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem. 

When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions

of 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 favor of God was upon him.

Reflections:

Jesus was a perfect human being who belonged to a perfect human family. ‘Perfect’ in the sense that the family like any human family, had to deal with problems and difficulties of daily life, having to attend to daily chores, earn a living to put food on the table, join social gatherings, support social causes, obey rules and laws and so on. The family was not spared of gossips and prejudice even. But considering that Mary was ‘Full of grace’; Joseph, ‘a righteous man’; and Jesus, ‘the Son of God’, surely every virtue was practised, making their home a dwelling place where love, peace and unity reigned. Today, as we celebrate the feast of the Holy Family, we are invited to emulate Mary, Joseph and Jesus in the way we live our faith, in the way we love and treat each other, and more so in the way we fulfil God’s will in our life. And also, today being the last day of the year, we are invited to thank God for all the blessings God has showered on us during the past year, and welcome the new year with equal gratitude, surrendering to him our future, knowing that God loves and cares for us more than we do ourselves.  

Activity: 

Let us spend our day in gratitude for the gift of our families, and also for the gift of the past year. And let us entrust our families to the care of the Lord and also the year that is coming and ask him to guide us day by day.