THE FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY, YEAR C

1 Samuel 1:20-22.24-28
Psalm 83
1 John 3:1-2.21-24
Luke 2:41-52

THE HOLY FAMILY

We celebrate today the feast of the Holy Family. Thus, we are called to take a fresh look at our families and model them after the example of the family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph.

The first reading presents a polygamous family in which one woman, Hannah, was barren. She prayed and God listened to her prayer. She bore a son, named him “Samuel” and offered him to God. What is particular about this family is that it was a God-fearing family and used to worship together.

According to the second reading, two irreplaceable things contribute to the success of our relationship with God our Father and our relationship within the family: faithfulness to God through the observance of his commandments and love for one another. As children of God, we are all brothers and sisters. As such, we manifest our belonging to God’s family if we love and serve one another.

The gospel presents one of the unpleasant situations that the Holy Family experienced. At the end of the feast of Passover at Jerusalem, Jesus, then at twelve years, got missing. Mary and Joseph looked for him everywhere and found him in the Temple after three days.  After that they went back to Nazareth.

The home of Nazareth teaches some important virtues that we can cultivate so as to have a peaceful and harmonious family even amidst challenges and difficulties. These are godliness, unity, patience and humility. Going to church together, praying together, eating together, doing things together and being patient with one another are priceless gestures that can help the family stay together. May the family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph intercede for us so that we may have holy and united families.
Amen.

SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR B

1 Samuel 3:3-10.19
Psalm 39(40)
1 Corinthians 6: 13-15.17-20
John 1: 35-42

OUR CHRISTIAN CALL

Life is a vocation. The Christian life is also a vocation. It begins with the encounter with a person, Jesus Christ. In any vocation, it is God who calls and man responds. In today's first reading, it is God who calls Samuel by his name (1Sam. 3:3-10.19). In the gospel reading, it is Jesus who initiates the conversation by asking the two disciples of John: "What are you looking for?" Then, he told them : "Come and see" (John 1:35-42)

Christian life is therefore a call to be with the Lord. Being with him requires certain attitudes. Two of these are proposed to us in today's readings:

1. Listening
Like Samuel, we need to listen to God who speaks to us. Eli the priest taught the young boy to respond to the unknown voice: "Speak, Lord, your servant is listening". God continues to speak to us, but we find it difficult to respond to him, because our life is full of noise. Even in prayer, we like speaking to God without allowing him to speak to us.

Mother Teresa of Calcutta once said: "God is the friend of silence. He cannot be found in noise and restlessness." Do you want to find God, do you want Him to speak to you? Learn the art of silence.

2. Bringing others to Jesus
The encounter with Jesus is a wonderul experience one cannot keep for himself alone. It must be shared. That was what Andrew did. When he met Jesus the Messiah, he told his brother Simon and brought him to Jesus.

We too must bring others to Jesus. Witnessing is that which authenticates our faith. Ironically, the more Christian chruches multiply, the more immorality abounds in our world today. Hence, St Paul advices us to avoid immorality. God has called us to dedicate our bodies to him (1Cor. 6:13-15.17-20). May he bless and keep all of us.

Amen.