Octave of Christmas – Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph (feast) (B)
Liturgy of the Hours proper
On the Sunday that falls within the eight days after Christmas, the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph is solemnly celebrated. The common thread running through the three readings is faith: first understood as trust in God, then as a new way of seeing that enables us to recognize in that child the Son of God, the long-awaited Messiah. From the Holy Family, we learn to make everything revolve around Jesus: he is the source of love.
Texts taken from the missal “On Your Word” – November-December 2020.
FIRST READING
From the Book of Genesis (Gen 15:1-6; 21:1-3)
In those days, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield; your reward will be very great.” Abram replied: “Lord God, what will you give me? I am going childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus.” Abram continued: “See, you have given me no offspring, and so a servant of my household will be my heir.” Then the word of the Lord came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; your heir will be one who is your own flesh and blood.” Then he brought him outside and said: “Look up at the sky and count the stars, if you can count them.” And he added: “Such will your descendants be.” Abram put his faith in the Lord, who credited it to him as righteousness. The Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did for Sarah as he had promised. Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the time that God had appointed. Abraham named the son who was born to him Isaac, whom Sarah bore him. – The word of the Lord.
Commentary on the First Reading
On the Sunday that falls within the eight days after Christmas, the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph is solemnly celebrated. The common thread, the recurring theme of the three readings, seems to be faith: first understood as trust in God, then as a new way of seeing that enables us to recognize in that child the Son of God, the long-awaited Messiah. In the first reading, Abraham turns to the Lord; he is disappointed and embittered because he has no true descendants of his own, and the Lord responds: “‘Look up at the sky and count the stars, if you can count them.’ And he added: ‘Such will your descendants be.’ Abram put his faith in the Lord, who credited it to him as righteousness.” The vision of the stars, representing the abundance of his people, leads Abraham to renew his trust in God and in his promises. He is righteous because he is upright and sincere before God: he expresses his fears and accepts the Lord’s sign of goodwill. Let us now think of our families: do we not often seem to be banging our heads against the wall of apparent uselessness? Abraham can teach us that trust in God gives meaning to our days.
SECOND READING
From the Letter to the Hebrews (Heb 11:8, 11-12, 17-19)
Brothers and sisters, by faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance, and he set out without knowing where he was going. By faith, Sarah herself, though past the age, received the power to conceive, because she considered him faithful who had made the promise. Therefore, from one man, and moreover one as good as dead, descendants were born as numerous as the stars of the sky and as countless as the sand along the seashore. By faith Abraham, when put to the test, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was ready to offer his only son, of whom it had been said: “Through Isaac descendants shall be named for you.” He reasoned that God was able even to raise the dead; hence, figuratively speaking, he received him back. – The word of the Lord.
Commentary on the Second Reading
The second reading consists of several short passages about Abraham, contained in an entire chapter of the Letter to the Hebrews. These pages focus on the exemplary faith of the ancestors and reach their high point in the following chapter, when they arrive at the summit of faith: Jesus Christ, “the one who initiates and perfects faith.” This reading, like the first, emphasizes Abraham’s faith: “By faith Abraham, when put to the test, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was ready to offer his only son.” This supernatural faith, this trust in God, can easily be confused with naivety or being foolish. How often does the family seem to be fighting against the wind because everyone appears to think differently: about the value of marital fidelity, the life of the unborn, all the various aspects of raising children, accompanying people through suffering and at the end of life. One risks feeling alone or even betrayed at times by the counter-testimony of friends, relatives, the faithful and pastors in the Church. Yet let us remember that, as in the Holy Family, God is with us; he is Emmanuel: let us place our trust in him!
GOSPEL OF THE DAY
From the Gospel according to Luke (Lk 2:22-40)
When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, [Mary and Joseph] brought the child [Gesù] up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord – 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, as prescribed 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. Prompted by the Spirit, he came to the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the law required, 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 the 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. 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, serving God night and day with fasting and prayer. And she arrived at that very moment and 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. – The Gospel of the Lord.
Commentary on the Gospel of the Day
In this Gospel passage, the protagonists of today’s feast, Jesus, Mary and Joseph, do not say a single word. They act and listen. They are amazed by the signs and words surrounding the Son and the Mother. This is the initial experience of the Holy Family: this family is not only filled with the Holy Spirit, but is also surrounded by people such as Simeon and Anna, full of wisdom. Today’s family, on the other hand, perhaps first of all risks being torn apart from within. Let us ask ourselves why this happens: perhaps because there are more words than listening? Are we still able to ensure that everyone helps everyone else carry each person’s burdens? Is there someone who risks remaining in the background, forgotten and disappointed? And again: where are the Simeons and Annas of our time? Who accompanies engaged couples, young newlyweds and families who open themselves to the gift of life? A couple in difficulty is normally directed to a psychologist or directly to a lawyer. Instead, it would be an excellent experience of faith for priests, religious men and women, and married couples to become involved in intense and deeply painful conversations! How beautiful it is to find moments, beginning with the couple, in which to open one’s heart while seeking the best path!
