FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY C:
Summary of ideas of the Mass readings.
This Sunday’s Gospel underlines the fact that the Son of God who became man consecrated the family as the normal and natural environment to be born, to grow in wisdom, age, and grace with the loving collaboration and care of the parents.
- “He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart. And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and favor before God and man.”
The 1st reading (1 Sam 1:20–22, 24–28) speaks to us of the importance of the duty of the parents to educate their children in the faith and to entrust their life to God, being supportive of their children’s vocation, whichever path God shows them to follow.
- “Once the child is weaned, I will take him to appear before the Lord and to remain there forever; I will offer him as a perpetual nazirite.”
Once Samuel was weaned, Hannah brought him up with her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and presented him at the temple of the Lord in Shiloh. After the boy’s father had sacrificed the young bull, Hannah, his mother, approached Eli and said: “Pardon, my lord! As you live my lord, I am the woman who stood near you here, praying to the Lord. I prayed for this child, and the Lord granted my request. Now I, in turn, give him to the Lord; as long as he lives, he shall be dedicated to the Lord.” Hannah left Samuel there.
The 2nd reading (1 Jn 3:1–2, 21–24) reminds us of living the family life in Our Lord. With God as the foundation, center, motor and goal of the family, mutual patience, forgiveness and above all love, which is the fountain of unity, are possible. If God’s commandments are observed in the life of a family, there would be no broken families, no violence and ill-treatment would ensue.
- “Those who keep his commandments remain in him, and he in them, and the way we know that he remains in us is from the Spirit that he gave us.”
The Holy Family is the model par excellence of all families, of how virtues are lived in family life, and of unity in love.
O God, who were pleased to give us the shining example of the Holy Family, graciously grant that we may imitate them in practicing the virtues of family life . and in the bonds of charity, and so, in the joy of your house, delight one day in eternal rewards. Through our Lord. Collect prayer, Mass proper
A Blessed Holy Family Sunday to all! Fr. Rolly Arjonillo
MASS AND READINGS FOR THIS SUNDAY FEAST HERE.
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