Sunday Homily for December 30, 2018, Holy Family
Welcome in, Dearest Harper. I wish I could have been with you this morning, but next week for sure.
Readings:
1 Samuel 1, 20-22, 24-28, In those days Hannah bore a son
Psalm 84, Blessed are they who dwell in your house, O Lord.
1 John 3, 1-2, 21-24, See what love the Father has bestowed upon us.
Luke 2, 41-52, When he was 12 years old they went up according to the festival custom.
Thanks for your beautiful welcome Cindy & Dee.
HOMILY
Since the Church has always taught that Jesus was truly human, I like it when the Scripture gives an example of the family of Joseph, Mary and Jesus as an actual, real human family.
Rick, you make an excellent candle lighter. Thanks for your help.
Today’s Gospel gives such an example. Luke’s story hints at a family conflict caused by Jesus’ behavior. Luke gives us just a glimpse of the conflict, but I can imagine it going something like his mom, Mary saying, “How could you do this to us? Not telling us where you were all this time. This was hurtful to your father and me. We’ve been looking for you since last night; and were worried to death all this time! Don’t you know how disrespected we feel? We taught you better than this”…(and perhaps, both concerned parents, either Joseph or Mary said)…“Do not do this to us again!”
Thanks so much for your company yesterday, Mike. You sure helped me to wait patiently while my surgeon got delayed for almost 4 hours. We actually had fun in that OR waiting room. Like with the lady who was wanting nothing but a coffee while she waited.
As for Jesus, I can imagine his side too. Some claim Jesus had brothers and/or sisters. Whether he had siblings or not, he was twelve, equal to a teenager today, a time kids are practicing behaviors that are rebellious or just plain independent. Working with your Dad learning carpentry isn’t bad, but Jesus may have begun to experience it’s limitations. And being in the big city for the first time as a 12-year old probably exposed Jesus to opportunities he hadn’t considered before—like a chance to talk about the Scriptures with temple scholars.
Hi, Jan, Where is that crazy guy you hang out with, like you know, that Sir Charlie?
Luke had his own goal in mind, building up Jesus’ credentials as a kid wise beyond his years and already showing an advanced knowledge of the Scriptures. So we don’t get the whole story here, of Joseph and Mary and Jesus, being a working class Jewish family living all those years in a small town.
The Best Music with Shonda, Ben (where is your hat), and David.
Though just a glimpse, in this story Luke gives us a hint of the holy family being like a regular family I can identify with. How about you? Can you imagine from Luke’s story how the family of Joseph, Mary and Jesus acted and lived—and had conflicts—much like your own family?
John sharing another of his insightful homilies to end the year of 2018.