Feast of the Holy Family B

The speaker reflects on the Feast of the Holy Family and the significance of the Gospel passage from Luke. They discuss the importance of reading and meditating on Scripture, emphasizing the faithfulness and obedience of Joseph, Mary, Simeon, and Anna. The speaker encourages listeners to reflect on the passage and have a conversation with Jesus about its meaning. Greetings, friends. What a joy to share the Gospel. On the Feast of the Holy Family, we continue to celebrate the great Christmas mystery of the Word made flesh who has come to dwell with us. Let's prepare ourselves, intentionally opening our hearts and our spirits to the living Word of God which mediates to us now this mystery of the God who dwells with us. Let me invite you to take a moment to quiet your inner self. If you will, take a deep breath slowly in and slowly out. Come Lord Jesus, allow your Holy Spirit to bring your Word to life in me. May I hear your voice, Good Shepherd. The first step of the ancient prayer of Lectio Divina is simply to read the passage from Scripture. We read so as to become familiar with the narrative and to begin to open ourselves to the movement of the Holy Spirit carried on the words of the Gospel. A dear friend of mine, Father Francis Martin, has spoken of the words of Scripture almost like the carpet on the floor. We walk across the carpet of the floor to get from one place to another. The words of Scripture carry us into the arms of the Father, towards the embrace of the Good Shepherd. On this Feast of the Holy Family, we read from Luke's Gospel, Chapter 2, verses 22-40. When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, they took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. Just as it is written in the law of the Lord, every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord, and to offer the sacrifice of a pair of turtle doves or two young pigeons, in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord. There was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord. He came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform the custom of the law in regard to him, he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying, Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace according to your word. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in sight of all the peoples, a light of revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel. The child's father and mother were amazed at what was said about him. And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary his mother, Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted. And you yourself a sword will pierce, so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshipped night and day with fasting and prayer. And coming forward at that very time, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem. When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions of the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom, and the favor of God was upon him. This important narrative in Luke's Gospel so simply draws out certain telling aspects of the family in which Jesus, the Son of God, has come to dwell. First off, the account begins and ends in the same place. Joseph and Mary take Jesus to the temple, quote, in accordance with the dictate and the law of the Lord. And they leave the temple only after, quote, they had fulfilled all the prescriptions of the law of the Lord. These are, you see, humble, faithful, obedient children of Israel, eager to please God in all things. Further, the offering of a pair of turtle doves or two young pigeons indicates that Joseph and Mary are among the poorer class within today's society. They are simple and poor, living lives of tenuous dependence on God. In the middle of the narrative, we are introduced to two individuals whose lives, as well, are characterized by their long, humble, day-by-day faithfulness to God. Jeremiah and the prophetess Anna are longing to see and experience God's fulfillment of his promises. Don't overlook either the subtle but nonetheless direct prophecy of this newborn baby's destiny of suffering in the words spoken to Mary. The child will be a sign that will be contradicted, and a sword will pierce Mary's heart. The cross is already connected to the birth of Jesus. Turning to read the gospel a second time, like Simeon and Anna, let's anticipate the consolation of God's word to us. With Simeon, take the word into your arms, your heart. Be sensitive as the passage is read to how it speaks to you personally. Become aware of a word or phrase or image that stirs you as the gospel is proclaimed. Once again we open ourselves to the word as we read Luke, chapter 2, verses 22-40. When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, they took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. Just as it is written in the law of the Lord, every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord, and to offer the sacrifice of a pair of turtle doves or two young pigeons in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord. Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord. He came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform the custom of the law in regard to him, he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying, Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace according to your word. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in sight of all the peoples, a light of revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel. The child's father and mother were amazed at what was said about him, and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted, and you yourself a sword will pierce, so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshipped night and day with fasting and prayer. And coming forward at that very time, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem. When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions of the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom, and the favor of God was upon him. We come now to the second step of Lectio Divina, our praying with the Gospel, and that is meditation. In meditating on the Word, we pause to ponder and reflect on what has stood out to us, that word, phrase, or image from the Gospel that speaks most powerfully to us. What speaks to you in this Gospel passage? I'm not sure exactly why. Maybe it's because I'm getting older myself, now into my late fifties, but I am so attracted to those two figures in the middle of this passage, Simeon and Anna. Particularly, I'm inspired by their faithfulness, the long years of daily observance of the law of God, sticking to their time of prayer and their spiritual discipline, all of which has served, over those years, to increasingly fashion in them a deep sensitivity to the presence of God. Indeed, they have come to possess such precious, sanctified imaginations, filled with wisdom and insight, that is capable of seeing God in their midst. How much I want to see God and his gentle presence wherever I go. Lord Jesus Christ, by the work of your Holy Spirit in me, keep me faithful, day by day, to my relationship with God the Father. Fashion in me an imagination, a sensitivity of spirit, to see God in every place and each person I meet along the way. Friends, let me invite you again to continue to sit with this Gospel. What does it say to you? In prayer, begin a conversation with Jesus about his word and what it is doing in you now. Before leaving prayer, be sure to intentionally place the word you have received deep in your spirit, where the Lord might bring it forth throughout this week ahead. And friends, it is a joy to share the Gospel with you.