Reading I
The LORD said to Moses:
“Speak to Aaron and his sons and tell them:
This is how you shall bless the Israelites.
Say to them:
The LORD bless you and keep you!
The LORD let his face shine upon
you, and be gracious to you!
The LORD look upon you kindly and
give you peace!
So shall they invoke my name upon the Israelites,
and I will bless them.”
Responsorial Psalm
R. (2a) May God bless us in his mercy.
May God have pity on us and bless us;
may he let his face shine upon us.
So may your way be known upon earth;
among all nations, your salvation.
R. May God bless us in his mercy.
May the nations be glad and exult
because you rule the peoples in equity;
the nations on the earth you guide.
R. May God bless us in his mercy.
May the peoples praise you, O God;
may all the peoples praise you!
May God bless us,
and may all the ends of the earth fear him!
R. May God bless us in his mercy.
Reading II
Brothers and sisters:
When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son,
born of a woman, born under the law,
to ransom those under the law,
so that we might receive adoption as sons.
As proof that you are sons,
God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts,
crying out, “Abba, Father!”
So you are no longer a slave but a son,
and if a son then also an heir, through God.
Alleluia
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets;
in these last days, he has spoken to us through the Son.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
The shepherds went in haste to Bethlehem and found
Mary and Joseph,
and the infant lying in the manger.
When they saw this,
they made known the message
that had been told them about this child.
All who heard it were amazed
by what had been told them by the shepherds.
And Mary kept all these things,
reflecting on them in her heart.
Then the shepherds returned,
glorifying and praising God
for all they had heard and seen,
just as it had been told to them.
When eight days were completed for his circumcision,
he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel
before he was conceived in the womb.
MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS,
We have been blessed this year with celebrating the Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God on this Sunday in the Octave of Christmas. This does not happen often. The last time we did this was back in 2016. Today we would usually be celebrating the Feast of the Holy Family, but instead that was switched to January 30th with Mary the Mother of God taking precedence. Even though this is the case, nothing prevents us from reflecting on the message that both these celebrations bring into our lives. The Holy Family invites us to contemplate the various roles we take on in our lives as Christians. As fathers, mothers, sons, and daughters we can face unique challenges fulfilling our obligations all the while trying to live a virtuous life in the face of a society that is growing more hostile to those of us who follow a higher truth grounded in the teachings of Jesus Christ. The Family Social Unit, arguably the most influential and important social unit, is under assault from institutions and people who want to redefine the roles of the mother and the father. Traditional values, grounded in the teachings of God, are criticized, and deemed as outdated by those who wish to influence the thoughts and behaviors of our children in order for them to think and act in away that is counter to the expectations of what is understood as the proper way of doing things. As a result, there is conflict and opposition to a life that is grounded in the teachings of the Church.
Over the past several years, this has intensified. At the same time, we as a community were prevented from gathering to worship. There was a perception that this was done intentionally to further weaken the influence of God in society. Weddings, funerals, baptisms, other Sacraments and rituals were denied, which provided necessary comfort and spirituality in times of joy and in times of mourning. We were forced to change our habits and behaviors to comply with earthly powers that arguably did not have our best interests in mind. The question was asked several times: “Why could we go shopping at Walmart, Home Depot, and the supermarket but we could not gather for worship? The answer was always the same: there wasn’t one. Meanwhile, major social upheaval was occurring as the defining roles of the basic principles and understanding of the family, the mother, the father, and the expectations of children were being fundamentally altered. Social Engineering was at the root of all these things. A dramatic and intentional push to alter the consciousness of society.
What I just described might be a very dark and bleak picture, but there is always light which opposes the darkness. That light is Jesus Christ. The presence of Jesus Christ is more evident when it is present in contrast to the things that are against Him. The image of the Holy Family, in its beatific simplicity, is a powerful force that reveals a higher truth which cannot be denied. All the darkness, all the evil, cannot prevail against that which is so innocent and undefiled. The Word became flesh and entered this world. Joseph, the stepfather of Jesus, led his family through trial and tribulation. A role which he accepted and embraced. He was faced with scandal, the loss of stature and livelihood, and faced impending death. Yet he persevered. Mary, barely 15 years of age, carried the Christ-child and raised Him as her own. All other social obligations were set aside for this higher obligation to ensure that this most unique family would be intact and would persevere against all odds.
All of us have the same obligations and expectations as the Christian Faithful. We all are fathers, mothers, sons, and daughters. With that comes certain duties and expectations that cannot be ignored. When we commit to our roles, then things become all the clearer in a world filled with fear and anxiety. We honor our mother and father. We love our children. We struggle and fight for the safety and security of all those we love. We right the wrongs. We admit our faults while committing to doing better in the future. We make the adjustments necessary to bring our will in communion with that of God’s. In fact, we surrender our will over to God. This brings about truth and true joy.
When the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary to proclaim that she was chosen to be the Mother of God, she humbly accepted. We, on this wonderful day, are encouraged to accept our role as Children of God. We are encouraged to reject the allures of this world and the temptations to pursue selfish things for selfish gain. We are destined for a higher purpose, guided by our relationship with Jesus Christ. At the same time, we have a great advocate. Mary is our mother. She is with us also, advocating for our best interests, praying constantly to her son on our behalf. When we fulfill our duties and expectations only good things can result. Perseverance, as in the parable of the persistent widow, can only render good things. These good things will become evident when we keep our focus.
Deacon Tom
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