Read: 1st Reading: Genesis 15:1-6; 21:1-3/Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 105: 1-2.3-4.5-6.8-9 (R. 7a.8a) 2nd Reading: Hebrews 11:8.11-12.17-19/Gospel Acclamation: Heb.1:1-2/Gospel: Luke 2:22-40
Theme: FAMILIES PLANTED IN GOD ENDURE FOREVER
God must come first in our lives, or he comes nowhere – William Barclay Many things affect the survival of families. They include childlessness, irresponsibility, disease, infidelity and financial or economic burden. In spite of these challenges, families can find true peace and progress if they build strong inter and intra-relationships based on mutual love, care, affection and understanding. These are the virtues we see in God who is Trinity, a community of three equal Persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Thus, God in himself is a family of persons related in love and who are co-substantial and co-eternal. God, not wanting to keep this relatedness or interconnectedness within the Tri-personal union alone, wove it into his creations. Therefore, he wants all creatures to co-exist in harmonious relationships like a true family.
In the first reading, Abram (later, Abraham, meaning father of many nations – cf. Gen. 17:4-5), having waited for a long time in childlessness, expresses his anxiety to God: “O Lord God, what will you give me for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus … Behold, you have given me no offspring; and a slave born in my house will be my heir” (Gen. 15:2-3). To this complain, God assures Abram: “This man shall not be your heir; your own son shall be your heir” (Gen. 15:4). When Abram reaffirms his faith in the Lord, God’s promise is fulfilled, and Sarah gives birth to a son called Isaac, who, later becomes the father of Jacob, and Jacob, the father of the twelve tribes of Israel. Like the stars of heaven and the sand at the seashore, Abraham’s descendants – by direct descent or spiritual affiliation – now occupy every place on the planet. What a miracle! This miracle engenders exultant praise, for which the Responsorial Psalm harps: “He, the Lord, is our God; he remembers his covenant forever” (Ps. 105:7a-8a).
Therefore, God is a covenant-keeping and promise-fulfilling God. He loves, guides, protects and supports families especially those who put their trust in him. Like Abraham and Sarah in the first reading, the Gospel presents Mary and Joseph as those who cooperate with the divine will and with each other. To maintain a stable family life, the parents of Jesus embrace faith, obedience, love, patience, sacrifice, holiness and mutual understanding. Sometimes, marriage becomes tough and those moments call for faith. Hence, in the second reading, St. Paul highlights the example of Abraham, Sarah and Isaac in order to underscore the importance of faith in our walk with God. While it is humanly and practically impossible for the aged Abraham and Sarah to procreate, they still believe that there is a God who makes impossibilities possibilities. Though very difficult to wait on God, they still put their trust in him. Therefore, the word impossible must have no place in the dictionary of our lives as Christians!
In our world today, some families are worried about either childlessness or many children to cater for. Still, others are unhappy because they have children who are all boys or all girls. In patriarchal societies, to have only female children is almost a curse, and it is a source of serious problem for couples. Men from this background may resort to polygamy just in such of a male child. Also, lack of fidelity, communication and forgiveness makes some people lose interest in marriage. The result is the astronomical rate of divorce. As well, same-sex unions seem to have spread a dark cloud on marriage which is traditionally and biblically consummated between a man and a woman. With all these issues, many people have become confused, and thus, find it difficult to see the essence, beauty and eternal connections embedded in marriage and family life.
So, what can we learn from today’s readings? Like Abraham, Sarah and Isaac (Old testament) and Jesus, Mary and Joseph (New Testament), the Bible still gives us a paradigm to follow if we must find happiness in marriage life. These families teach us to have faith in God, to obey the Law and make sacrifices. Notice that the faith, obedience and sacrifice of the Holy Family, takes them to the temple to dedicate Jesus to God (cf. Lk. 2:22-24). Their presence gives Simeon and Anna the rare opportunity to bless and prophesy into their own lives and that of Jesus. If parents can ‘plant’ their children in church, the God-seed sown will germinate to produce fruits of godliness in them. Some families want the easy way: no faith, no obedience and no sacrifice! Yet, these are the ingredients through which God blesses us. Remember, no cross, no crown!
Again, these families teach us to hope against all hope. When all the signs seem negative, we are to be positive and optimistic. Against the vicissitudes, vagaries and storms of life, Abraham and Sarah, and Joseph and Mary teach us to have mutual understanding and support. Atmospheres like this are good for our children, and so we read thus: “And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favour of God was upon him” (Lk. 2:40). Some children do not get the opportunity to grow strong, wise and in God’s favour because of parental neglect. There are parents who are never close to their children. They neither go to church nor pray with them. Some are oblivious of what happens to their children in school. Be that as it may, there are those who try their best, yet, get little results from stubborn children until grace meets them. Such parents should not lose hope, but continue in fervent prayer and good training till the children turn on a new leaf. Patience, prudence, vigilance and charity are needed here!
Furthermore, parents who are individualistic and self-centred such that they spend all their salaries on themselves in expensive vacations with little or no family responsibilities should make amends. Those who prefer to train only one or two children even when they can cater for three or four should also have a rethink. To whom will they transmit Christian principles if there are no children (biological or adopted)? Who will inherit the Christian tradition if there are no progenies? Population concerns should be taken seriously, however, they must not pose a threat to human sustainability, for in the end, it may constitute a disservice to self and humanity.
Finally, young adults who seem to be disinterested in marriage and family life should realise that life-long commitments are important for human survival. Fear must not be entertained. Rather, love and fidelity make marriage grow. God is a family in himself and he has made it natural that humans are produced from families. Whatever our families are or have become, they can still become better if we draw inspiration and example from the Holy family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. May God bless, protect, guide, sustain, strengthen, heal and restore all our families through Christ our Lord! Amen.
Remember: #Families-Planted-In-God-Endure-Forever#
By Rev. Fr. Lucas Binnah Junior, C.S.Sp.
