Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph (C)

December 30, 2018 

Readings:

First Reading: 1 Samuel 1: 20-22, 24-28

Psalm: 84

Second Reading: 1 John 3: 1-2, 21-24

Gospel reading according to Luke 2: 41-52

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Homily:

Joseph and Mary usually go to the temple in Jerusalem every year to attend the Feast of Passover, in commemorating the passing over of their ancestors from slavery in Egypt (from death) to liberation in the Promised Land, the land of flowing of mild and honey (to new life). It is their tradition as members of priestly and kingly families to show up on this Feast.  “Each year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover . . .” (Lk. 2: 41). As true Jewish descendants of King David and Aaron, Joseph and Mary offer gifts to God (Yahweh, or Elohim, or El Shaddai or Allah) and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give thanks for the freedom their country received from God and continue praying for the liberation of their country to their new conqueror – the Roman Empire.  

When Jesus, son of Mary and Joseph, turned twelve years old, he was brought by his parents in the temple in Jerusalem to attend and celebrate the Feast of the Passover, “. . . and when he was twelve years old, they went up according to festival custom” (Lk. 2: 42), to train him in giving thanks to God who delivered his ancestors from slavery.  Yet, later on, he will deliver his people from slavery of sins.  Jesus was very excited to see the House of His Father, the place of prayer, worship, offerings and of learning. 

When everything was done in celebrating the feast of the Passover, the family of Jesus and his relatives and friends decided to go home in Nazareth.  “After they had completed its days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it” (Lk. 2: 43).  Jesus decided to stay and remain behind in his Father’s House without the knowledge of his parents, or relatives or friends.  He did not ask permission that he will stay for a few days more in Jerusalem.  While his parents were thinking he went and joined together with his relatives or friends or townsmen in going home in caravan. “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” (Lk. 2: 44-45). After a day or two, they looked for Jesus in the convoy but they did not find him.  They asked their companions, relatives and friends if they saw Jesus but with no avail.  They still are looking for Jesus, until they decided to go back in Jerusalem to search for him.

On the third day of looking and searching they found their son, Jesus, in the temple in Jerusalem. “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” (Lk. 2: 46-47). They found him in the temple together with the scholars, scribes, Pharisees, priests, and elders, almost all people living in the temple, scrutinizing Jesus by asking him questions and he answered them with his full knowledge and wisdom (coming from his Father who is with him in the Temple).  He too asked questions to those experts in the Book of Moses, the Prophets and History.  In the end, all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers, and questions.     

His parents saw and heard also everything Jesus in answering questions and in asking questions, they too were amazed of the great knowledge and wisdom of their son.  “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’.” (Lk. 2: 48).  They were struck awe; but Mary, a truly worried mother like those who have lost a child, was excited to find and see her child in good condition and with the elders and leaders of the temple, she cannot control herself and uttered to Jesus her worries, “Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.”   It is difficult to Mary to lose her only son.

But Jesus has his own plan and can already decided on his own for he was already twelve years old.  He already reached the age of reason.  “And he said to them, ‘Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?’” (Lk. 2: 49).  Again, Jesus reminded his parents about the things they have learned from the angel before he was born. They were reminded the role they will play in the life of their child and in God the Father.  Although they knew before-hand what is the plan of God for their son, still they cannot held their emotions when they found him, in the House of his Father.   

His saying was not clear.  They required a deeper devoutness to understand what Jesus meant when he said that he must be in his Father’s house and doing his God’s occupation.  “But they did not understand what he said to them” (Lk. 2: 50).  Despite they knew very well their son, still he manifested some strange ideas and works and words that are difficult to comprehend, for he was occupied in the name of his Father.

After a long good byes and asking forgiveness for whatever Jesus said and did to the leaders and elders in the temple, his parents made sure that he will not be lost again at their sight.  The three of them went in Nazareth in Galilee to their home.   “He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart” (Lk. 2: 51).  As he grew older, Jesus manifested obedience to his parents, to Joseph and Mary; and Mary kept all the things that are happening to her son, Jesus, in her heart.  “And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and favor before God and man” (Lk. 2: 52). Jesus continues learning the art of wisdom, grows in age, and finds favor in the eyes of the Lord God and of men and women.