Holy Gospel of Jesus according to Saint Luke 2, 41-52
Each year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the feast
of Passover,
and when he was twelve years old,
they went up according to festival custom.
After they had completed its days, as they were returning,
the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem,
but his parents did not know it.
Thinking that he was in the caravan,
they journeyed for a day
and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances,
but not finding him,
they returned to Jerusalem to look for him.
After three days they found him in the temple,
sitting in the midst of the teachers,
listening to them and asking them questions,
and all who heard him were astounded
at his understanding and his answers.
When his parents saw him,
they were astonished,
and his mother said to him,
“Son, why have you done this to us?
Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.”
And he said to them,
“Why were you looking for me?
Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”
But they did not understand what he said to them.
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 Holy Family
On this Sunday we celebrate the feast of the Holy Family. On this day there are so many families going through a crisis as well as so many families that are being born today. Let us meditate:
1) Mary. In the figure of Mary we see a humble young woman. Her humility is such that she always puts herself last “your father and I were looking for you.” Look at that attitude, she puts herself last. How many mothers also do that daily! And they put up with so much for the family. I’m thinking of all those mothers who are even martyrs of the family.
2) Jesus. A child is a blessing and not a mistake. A child brings happiness to the family; the nine months of pregnancy are nine months of hope in a home. I’m thinking of those who dream of having a child and cannot; I’m thinking of those who struggle to adopt a child to enlarge their hearts and battle against so many obstacles. A son or a daughter is sacred. In baby Jesus we see each one who considers himself or herself a child of God.
3) Joseph. He is the figure of the generous, hard-working, attentive and gentle father. Imagine the delicacy with which he treated Mary, the respect for Jesus. How many men today take care of their family! Men who do not take vacations, for example, in order to give the best to their family.
In Joseph we see the figure of men who face adversity and are able to swallow tears so as not to worry their family. Brave men who dream and work for their family’s wellbeing.
Jesus, Mary and Joseph are our models to renew our family. Jesus, Mary and Joseph, protect our families.
God bless you in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. And don’t forget Heaven is our goal.
