FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY - Gospel (Lk 2:41-52) - The Word of God for Everyone
FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY, AND JOSEPH Gospel (Lk 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 Gospel of the Lord: Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ. The Word of God for Everyone Dear People of God, In today's Word of God, God wants to say to all humanity, especially families who walk in God's grace to run to God. Above all, turn to Him. Let us be happy and truly peaceful families under God's Providence, like Elkanah and Hannah's family in today's first reading. With fervent prayers, obedience to God's will, and living simply to please Him, He answered the mother's prayer. He gave the family a son, who later became a great prophet of God, the prophet Samuel. God calls all of His children, when living in a family, to obey His will in all things from small things to great things. It is similar to the image of the Holy Family of Nazareth: the Virgin Mary, Saint Joseph, and the Child Jesus. This holy family has always known how to fear and obey God everywhere and at all times, trusting and completely entrusting themselves to God's providence and guidance in their lives on this earth. Likewise, families today must know how to fear and listen to God's Words, not follow their own will, to have peace and happiness. Otherwise, Satan will be able to rampage into families with disasters, calamities, difficulties, and sufferings, so that God can awaken families to their faith and trust in God. And He will also go through Satan's temptations in order to test their love for Him and for others. In today's Word of God, God continues to call on families to always contemplate the image of the Holy Family, turn to Him, and absolutely believe that God is the master of their family. It is He who guides their family from words to actions in this world. Without God's providence, protection, and care, their family cannot become a happy home like the Holy Family. Instead, it will only be a place filled with hatred and death and will turn into hell where Satan resides. Under the working of the Holy Spirit, God calls all His children: for their family to be happy, each member must know how to live in the grace and love of God, to be protected and sheltered by Him. Each member must know how to love and protect each other in the grace of God by listening to the Word of God, putting the Word into practice, and listening to each other as Jesus Christ always obeyed his mother and father, Mother Mary and Saint Joseph. Because He is God, He humbled Himself to become a child dependent on humanity, dependent on the care and nurturing of the family and society. Today, God also calls all His children, when living in a family, to obey their true superiors, parents, brothers, and sisters, and to live according to God's teachings.
