DIVINE LOVE IS REFLECTED BY ONE'S ACTIONS.
The readings...
"The kindness shown towards parents is credited against one's sins." [Sir. 3:2-6, 12-4]
"Clothe yourself with love, bearing with one another, forgiving one another. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly." [Col. 3:12- 21]
"The Holy Family's actions reflect obedience to God." [Mt. 2:13-5, 19-23]
The homily...
Good morning my brothers and sisters. I trust you all enjoyed a wonderful Christmas.
Today's readings are a continuation of the spirit of Christmas, emphasizing the need for us Christians to walk a daily life of joy and peace. The readings teach us that once the Day of Christmas has passed, we should not return to our old nature. We are called to clothe ourselves with love towards one another, parents loving their children and children loving their parents. We are called to bear with one another, seeking forgiveness and forgiving others for their trespasses. That way, the Word of Christ can richly dwell in us.
Today, we are celebrating the Feast of the Holy Family. The Catholic Church commemorates the Feast of the Holy Family because this Feast is the perfect model of the Christian family today as it was about 2,000 years ago at Nazareth of Judea. The Holy Family, Jesus, Mary and Joseph, represent the highest and holiest standards of family life and virtue. Jesus, the Prince of Heaven, is the Son of God, God Himself having incarnated in human flesh and bones. Mary and Joseph, the guardians of Jesus' home in Nazareth, are the models of all Christian parents.
In the Gospels, we find bits and pieces of the history of the Holy Family. The Holy Family lived an average life. Like many of us, they were poor, humble and obscure. They endured sorrow, changes and suffering. And, like what awaits all of us, the members of the Holy Family, one by one, left this world.
The one glory that is found in the Holy Family is its priceless gem, a blooming flower, the Child Jesus, who's history is thus briefly told: "And He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them; and His Mother kept all these things carefully in her heart. And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and grace before God and men." [Lk. 2:51-2]
As Jesus was subject to His parents in early childhood, He continued to serve others later on in His adult life. We learn of this when Jesus washed the feet of the Apostles. This example teaches us that the Christian life is one of loving one another, this including serving on another.
One may wonder, "What can be gained from serving?" Obviously there must be something to gain from it since the Virgin Mary also did it by serving Jesus. The Gospel of Luke tells us that when things did not go Mary's way, or she did not understand what was happening, she kept all these things carefully in her heart.
You see my brothers and sisters, when we serve others in love, we gain spiritual qualities that strengthen our souls. We walk our faith as the Lord called us to walk our faith. We become as shining examples to others as Mary and Joseph are examples to us.
If we carefully keep in our hearts the Christian service that we perform towards others as Mary did when she served Jesus, surely, the Lord will enlighten us, teaching us the message that He wants us to gain. We might realize that some of us have to learn patience. Others may have to learn humility. Maybe some of us have to learn to see Jesus in others. We cannot learn these things until such time as we perform our Christian duties towards others and then reflect upon those actions in our heart.
After having done so, we can then be assured that our spiritual growth will be on its increase for the glory of the Heavenly Father.
Total: 590 words
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