Reading 1
Sir 3:2-6, 12-14
God sets a father in honor over his children;
a mother’s authority he confirms over her sons.
Whoever honors his father atones for sins,
and preserves himself from them.
When he prays, he is heard;
he stores up riches who reveres his mother.
Whoever honors his father is gladdened by children,
and, when he prays, is heard.
Whoever reveres his father will live a long life;
he who obeys his father brings comfort to his mother.
My son, take care of your father when he is old;
grieve him not as long as he lives.
Even if his mind fail, be considerate of him;
revile him not all the days of his life;
kindness to a father will not be forgotten,
firmly planted against the debt of your sins
—a house raised in justice to you.
Ps 128:1-2, 3, 4-5
Responsorial PsalmR. (cf. 1)
Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways.
Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD,
who walks in his ways!
For you shall eat the fruit of your handiwork;
blessed shall you be, and favored.
R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways.
Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine
in the recesses of your home;
your children like olive plants
around your table.
R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways.
Behold, thus is the man blessed
who fears the LORD.
The LORD bless you from Zion:
may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
all the days of your life.
R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways.
Reading 2
Col 3:12-21
Brothers and sisters:
Put on, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved,
heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience,
bearing with one another and forgiving one another,
if one has a grievance against another;
as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do.
And over all these put on love,
that is, the bond of perfection.
And let the peace of Christ control your hearts,
the peace into which you were also called in one body.
And be thankful.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly,
as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another,
singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs
with gratitude in your hearts to God.
And whatever you do, in word or in deed,
do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Wives, be subordinate to your husbands,
as is proper in the Lord.
Husbands, love your wives,
and avoid any bitterness toward them.
Children, obey your parents in everything,
for this is pleasing to the Lord.
Fathers, do not provoke your children,
so they may not become discouraged.
or
Col 3:12-17
Brothers and sisters:
Put on, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved,
heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience,
bearing with one another and forgiving one another,
if one has a grievance against another;
as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do.
And over all these put on love,
that is, the bond of perfection.
And let the peace of Christ control your hearts,
the peace into which you were also called in one body.
And be thankful.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly,
as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another,
singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs
with gratitude in your hearts to God.
And whatever you do, in word or in deed,
do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Gospel
Mt 2:13-15, 19-23
When the magi had departed, behold,
the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said,
“Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt,
and stay there until I tell you.
Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him.”
Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night
and departed for Egypt.
He stayed there until the death of Herod,
that what the Lord had said through the prophet might be fulfilled,
Out of Egypt I called my son.
When Herod had died, behold,
the angel of the Lord appeared in a dream
to Joseph in Egypt and said,
“Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel,
for those who sought the child’s life are dead.”
He rose, took the child and his mother,
and went to the land of Israel.
But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea
in place of his father Herod,
he was afraid to go back there.
And because he had been warned in a dream,
he departed for the region of Galilee.
He went and dwelt in a town called Nazareth,
so that what had been spoken through the prophets
might be fulfilled,
He shall be called a Nazorean.
Meditation: Sirach 3:2-6,12-14
The Holy Family
He who honors his father atones for sins; he stores up riches who reveres his mother. (Sirach 3:3-4)
Promises like these might make us uncomfortable. What if our parents live far away? What if our own children occupy all of our time? What if our parents have died? Will God’s blessings be withheld from us?
Of course not! God’s love is like a waterfall constantly flowing. So why does Sirach connect God’s blessings to our family relationships? If we continue with the image of the waterfall, we can see that to receive the blessings that are constantly flowing, we need to be under that waterfall. We need to move away from unrepented sins or unresolved family issues and place ourselves squarely under that heavenly torrent.
The church teaches that the Christian family is the first school of faith. It is the first place where children can practice the art of giving and receiving love. So it’s only natural that family relationships are central to a healthy and full relationship with God!
It’s not so much that we earn God’s blessings by treating our parents well. Rather, as we learn a respectful, self-sacrificing attitude—especially toward our parents—we become more open to being in a right relationship with God. Whether we are children relating to parents, parents to children, or brothers and sisters, our family relationships reveal a lot about our disposition toward God.
On this day when we honor Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, let’s vow to live with one another in love. Let’s make it a point to never let our sins or failings overshadow our concern for each other (1 Peter 4:8). Let’s remember that God is with our family to help us and guide us. So as you take time to reflect at the end of the year, consider the advice that St. Paul gave to families so long ago. Let’s clothe ourselves with patience. Let’s bear with one another. Let’s love each other (Colossians 3:12-14).
“Heavenly Father, help me to bring your love into my family. I don’t want to stand outside the flow of your grace!”
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Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion
(Sirach 3:2-6,12-14; Psalm 128:1-5; Colossians 3:12-21; Matthew 2:13-15,19-23)
1. In the first reading, the book of Sirach teaches us of our responsibilities to our parents, with special focus on our fathers, and the rewards that go along with honoring them. As a son or daughter, how do you stack up against these responsibilities? If your father is still alive, what steps can you take to honor him?
2. In what way has your relationship with your earthly father helped or hindered your relationship with your Heavenly Father, and your experience of his great love for you? If it has hindered your relationship, what steps can you take to change this?
3. The responsorial psalm tells of the blessings for those who “fear” the Lord? What does “fear of the Lord” mean in your life? What are the positive and negative sides of this fear?
4. The second reading presents the authentic atmosphere of a Christian family where kindness, love, mutual understanding, forgiveness, prayer, thanksgiving and joy in the Holy Spirit should be present. Which of these elements is the Lord asking you to bring more deeply into your home environment?
5. St. Paul also reminds us that forgiveness is a gift we have received from the Lord, and “that as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do.” This means we must give this gift to others. To whom is the Lord asking you to give the gift of forgiveness to?
6. In the Gospel Joseph is the model of Godly obedience, ever ready to follow the Lord’s instructions wherever they might lead him. How open are you to changing your plans if the Lord asks? How do you discern the Lord’s will in your life?
7. The meditation presents us with these challenging words: “Whether we are children relating to parents, parents to children, or brothers and sisters, our family relationships reveal a lot about our disposition toward God.” What do you think these words mean? What steps can you take to restore family relationships that have been damaged over the years?
8. Use the prayer at the end of the meditation as the starting point for praying that you would bring the Lord’s love into your family.
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