The Whole Family

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today, Feast of The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, invite us to reflect on the dynamic of family life in which we have the greatest opportunity for love, mercy, and compassion.

Family Christmas

The reading from the Book of Sirach outlines responsibilities to parents and kindness to a father. 

* [3:1–16] Besides the virtues that must characterize our conduct toward God, special duties are enjoined, such as honor and respect toward parents, with corresponding blessings (vv. 1–9). By showing such respect especially to old and infirm parents (vv. 10–13), the sins of children are pardoned (vv. 14–15). Failure to honor father and mother is blasphemy and merits a curse from God (v. 16). Cf. Ex 20:12; Eph 6:2–3. (Sirach, CHAPTER 3, n.d.)

Psalm 128 praises the Happy Home of the Faithful.

* [Psalm 128] A statement that the ever-reliable God will bless the reverent (Ps 128:1). God’s blessing is concrete: satisfaction and prosperity, a fertile spouse and abundant children (Ps 128:2–4). The perspective is that of the adult male, ordinarily the ruler and representative of the household to the community. The last verses extend the blessing to all the people for generations to come (Ps 128:5–6). (Psalms, PSALM 128, n.d.)

The reading from the Letter to the Colossians presents rules for Christian households.

* [3:18–4:6] After general recommendations that connect family life and the social condition of slavery with the service of Christ (Col 3:18–4:1), Paul requests prayers for himself, especially in view of his imprisonment (Col 3:2–3), and recommends friendly relations and meaningful discussions of Christian teaching with outsiders, i.e., non-Christians (Col 3:5–6). See note on Eph 5:21–6:9.

* [3:22–25] Slaves: within this table of duties in family and societal relations, involving wives and husbands, children and parents (Col 3:18–21), such as also appears in Eph 5:22–6:9, slaves here receive special attention because of the case of Onesimus the slave returning to his master (Col 4:9; Phlm 10–12). (Colossians, CHAPTER 3, n.d.)

In the Gospel of Matthew we learn about the escape to Egypt and the return from Egypt.

* [2:20] For those who sought the child’s life are dead: Moses, who had fled from Egypt because the Pharaoh sought to kill him (see Ex 2:15), was told to return there, “for all the men who sought your life are dead” (Ex 4:19).

* [2:22] With the agreement of the emperor Augustus, Archelaus received half of his father’s kingdom, including Judea, after Herod’s death. He had the title “ethnarch” (i.e., “ruler of a nation”) and reigned from 4 B.C. to A.D. 6.

* [2:23] Nazareth…he shall be called a Nazorean: the tradition of Jesus’ residence in Nazareth was firmly established, and Matthew sees it as being in accordance with the foreannounced plan of God. The town of Nazareth is not mentioned in the Old Testament, and no such prophecy can be found there. The vague expression “through the prophets” may be due to Matthew’s seeing a connection between Nazareth and certain texts in which there are words with a remote similarity to the name of that town. Some such Old Testament texts are Is 11:1 where the Davidic king of the future is called “a bud” (nēser) that shall blossom from the roots of Jesse, and Jgs 13:5, 7 where Samson, the future deliverer of Israel from the Philistines, is called one who shall be consecrated (a nāzîr) to God. (Matthew, CHAPTER 2, n.d.)

Nancy Shirley asks where is the balance between idealizing families and facing our brokenness as humans?  Christmas season is certainly the time to focus on hope and the “gifts” that we are given throughout the year.  The gift of family – whatever shape or form – is one to celebrate not only at this time but also throughout the year.

I especially appreciated the gospel and the focus on Joseph.  Every reading about Joseph fills my heart with the image of a wonderful father.  While I pray frequently to Mary and consider her my loving Mother, I do cherish Joseph.  I understand that he is not a father in the way of our one Father – perfect and loving, yet Joseph to me comes as close as possible for an earthly perfect father.  He is understanding and forgiving, noble and humble, strong yet gentle and, most of all, a man of unfailing and enduring faith. Joseph listened to angels well before Bethlehem and accepted the situation and explanation.  It’s always impressed me that even before the first dream and angel message, he did not condemn Mary, rather planned a way to save her.  He demonstrated that he was a man of kindness and compassion even when he thought he had been betrayed. His following of the dreams related in this gospel further confirm his faith in his God and his faithfulness to his family. He is the consummate protector – doing whatever was/is necessary for his family and in his very special way being guided by angels in dreams.  Joseph protected Jesus from before He was born and continued this care throughout His childhood and probably early adulthood. He was an earthly role model for Jesus, teaching Him to be a carpenter until His time came for public ministry. (Shirley, 2022)

Don Schwager quotes “The holy family flees to Egypt,” by John Chrysostom, 547-407 A.D.

"But why was the Christ child sent into Egypt? The text makes this clear: he was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, 'Out of Egypt have I called my son' (Hosea 11:1). From that point onward we see that the hope of salvation would be proclaimed to the whole world. Babylon and Egypt represent the whole world. Even when they were engulfed in ungodliness, God signified that he intended to correct and amend both Babylon and Egypt. God wanted humanity to expect his bounteous gifts the world over. So he called from Babylon the wise men and sent to Egypt the holy family.

"Besides what I have said, there is another lesson also to be learned, which tends powerfully toward true self-constraint in us. We are warned from the beginning to look out for temptations and plots. And we see this even when he came in swaddling clothes. Thus you see even at his birth a tyrant raging, a flight ensuing and a departure beyond the border. For it was because of no crime that his family was exiled into the land of Egypt.

"Similarly, you yourself need not be troubled if you are suffering countless dangers. Do not expect to be celebrated or crowned promptly for your troubles. Instead you may keep in mind the long-suffering example of the mother of the Child, bearing all things nobly, knowing that such a fugitive life is consistent with the ordering of spiritual things. You are sharing the kind of labor Mary herself shared. So did the magi. They both were willing to retire secretly in the humiliating role of fugitive." (excerpt from THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 8.2) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14 urges us to take care of our children, our parents, and our siblings. Take care of them when they are too young or too old to take care of themselves. Take care of them when they are ill or troubled. Take care of them when it’s a delight and when it’s a sacrifice.

This is a high calling, and we may fail at it sometimes. That’s all the more reason to ask Jesus, who experienced family life himself, for the grace to keep forming this circle of love—day by day, week by week, year by year. Let’s also ask Mary and Joseph to pray for us. May our care for one another bind us together in the Lord all the days of our lives!

“Father, thank you for the gift of my family. Help me to care for them as you care for me.” (Meditation on Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler explains that the Book of Sirach, in later Jewish history, presents Hebrew wisdom as being as good as Greek wisdom. The rules for family organization in Collosians reflect Stoic wisdom of the time and point to Christian aspiration to mutual obligation. Friar Jude reminds us of the presence of Jewish communities in Egypt and Nazareth who would be able to assist the Holy Family in the early days of Jesus' life.

Cynthia Bourgeault identifies inter-abiding as the primary quality of God’s Kingdom that Jesus came to reveal.

No separation between God and humans. When Jesus talks about this Oneness, he is not speaking in an Eastern sense about an equivalency of being, such that I am in and of myself divine. What he more has in mind is a complete, mutual indwelling: I am in God, God is in you, you are in God, we are in each other. His most beautiful symbol for this is . . . John 15 where he says, “I am the vine; you are the branches. Abide in me as I in you” [see John 15:4–5]. A few verses later he says, “As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Abide in my love” [John 15:9]. While he does indeed claim that “the Father and I are one” (John 10:30) . . . he does not see this as an exclusive privilege but as something shared by all human beings. There is no separation between humans and God because of this mutual interabiding which expresses the indivisible reality of divine love. We flow into God—and God into us—because it is the nature of love to flow. And as we give ourselves into one another in this fashion, the vine gives life and coherence to the branch while the branch makes visible what the vine is. . . . The whole and the part live together in mutual, loving reciprocity, each belonging to the other and dependent on the other to show forth the fullness of love. That’s Jesus’s vision of no separation between human and Divine. (Bourgeault, 2022)

The people we interact with as family are the gift of Providence for growth and fullness in our life.

References

Bourgeault, C. (2022, December 30). Love Flows — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved December 30, 2022, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/love-flows-2022-12-30/ 

Colossians, CHAPTER 3. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved December 30, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/colossians/3?12 

Matthew, CHAPTER 2. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved December 30, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/2?13 

Meditation on Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved December 30, 2022, from https://wau.org/meditations/2022/12/30/569827/  

Psalms, PSALM 128. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved December 30, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/128?1 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). An Angel of the Lord Appeared to Joseph in a Dream. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved December 30, 2022, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2022&date=dec30 

Shirley, N. (2022, December 30). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved December 30, 2022, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/123022.html 

Sirach, CHAPTER 3. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved December 30, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/sirach/3?2 

Life on the Vine

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to contemplate the signs and images that assist us in deepening our affiliation with Jesus.

Branches of Life

The passage from the Book of Acts tells of the dispute leading to the Council at Jerusalem.

 * [15:1–5] When some of the converted Pharisees of Jerusalem discover the results of the first missionary journey of Paul, they urge that the Gentiles be taught to follow the Mosaic law. Recognizing the authority of the Jerusalem church, Paul and Barnabas go there to settle the question of whether Gentiles can embrace a form of Christianity that does not include this obligation.1

Psalm 122 is a song of praise and prayer for Jerusalem.

 * [Psalm 122] A song of Zion, sung by pilgrims obeying the law to visit Jerusalem three times on a journey. The singer anticipates joining the procession into the city (Ps 122:1–3). Jerusalem is a place of encounter, where the people praise God (Ps 122:4) and hear the divine justice mediated by the king (Ps 122:5). The very buildings bespeak God’s power (cf. Ps 48:13–15). May the grace of this place transform the people’s lives (Ps 122:6–9)!2

In the Last Supper Discourse from the Gospel of John, Jesus presents Himself as the True Vine.

 * [15:1–17] Like Jn 10:1–5, this passage resembles a parable. Israel is spoken of as a vineyard at Is 5:1–7; Mt 21:33–46 and as a vine at Ps 80:9–17; Jer 2:21; Ez 15:2; 17:5–10; 19:10; Hos 10:1. The identification of the vine as the Son of Man in Ps 80:15 and Wisdom’s description of herself as a vine in Sir 24:17 are further background for portrayal of Jesus by this figure. There may be secondary eucharistic symbolism here; cf. Mk 14:25, “the fruit of the vine.”3

Carol Zuegner shares that today’s Gospel gives her much to think about as she prepares to prune the bushes and plants in her own garden.

I need to cut away the branches that are part of me that represent me cutting corners of integrity, shaving compassion, slicing love – the things where I turn away from God because I choose the path of consumption, greed and selfishness. If I listen, really listen to and heed the word of God in my heart, that word will bear fruit in my actions and my life. Let me listen to the word of God and let it flower within me and grow.
Today’s Gospel also reminds of the Suscipe prayer of St. Ignatius. This prayer gets to the heart of Jesus’ words in the Gospel. It is my prayer for today.
Take Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will, all that I have and possess. Thou hast given all to me. To Thee, O lord, I return it. All is Thine, dispose of it wholly according to Thy will. Give me Thy love and thy grace, for this is sufficient for me.4

Don Schwager quotes “Cleansed by Jesus' word,” by Basil the Great, 329-379 A.D.

 "So the world - life enslaved by carnal passions - can no more receive the grace of the Spirit than a weak eye can look at the light of a sunbeam. First the Lord cleansed his disciples' lives through his teaching, and then he gave them the ability to both see and contemplate the Spirit. He says, 'You are already made clean by the word I have spoken to you' (John 15:3). Therefore 'the world cannot receive him, because it neither sees him nor knows him... You know him, for he dwells with you' (John 14:17). Isaiah says, 'He who settled the earth and the things in it; and gives breath to the people on it, and Spirit to them that tread on it' (Isaiah 42:5). From this we can learn that those who trample earthly things and rise above them become worthy to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (excerpt from ON THE HOLY SPIRIT 22.53)5

The Word Among Us Meditation on John 15:1-8 reminds us as the day progresses, we may feel anxiety welling up in us or experience a moment of sadness or find ourselves struggling with temptation. Those are especially important times when we can cry out to God and tell him what’s on our heart and then spend a moment listening to see if he has something to say.

 Remaining in Christ really does make a difference. Who knows? If you try it today, you may become aware of an opening to share your faith with a coworker. Or maybe you’ll find the grace to be more patient with a difficult child. The possibilities are endless as you strive to live in him and believe that he lives in you.
“Jesus, you are the vine, I am the branch. May I always be united with you.”6

Friar Jude Winkler describes the success guided by the Spirit of the ministry of Paul to the Gentiles. Accepting the Jewish Messiah may obligate Gentiles to accept circumcision according to Mosaic Law. Friar Jude reminds us of the Eucharistic symbol in the wine as we partake in the nourishment Jesus offers.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, comments that describing God as both mother and father was quite daring in the time of Julian of Norwich. She called Jesus our “true Mother” from whom we receive our beginning, our true being, protection, and love. Even in terms of gender, mystics tend to be expansive.

 Our high Father almighty God, who is Being, he knew us and loved us from before-any-time. Of which knowing, in his full marvelous deep Charity, by the foreseeing endless counsel of all the blessed Trinity, he willed that the second Person should become our Mother, our Brother, and our Saviour.
Whereof it follows that as truly as God is our Father, so truly is God our Mother. Our Father wills, our Mother works, our good Lord the Holy Ghost confirms. And therefore it belongs to us to love our God, in whom we have our being . . . for in these three is all our life. . . .
And therein is a forth-spreading, by the same grace, of a length and breadth, of a height and a deepness without end [see Ephesians 3:18–19]. And all is one love. [3]7

Our life in Christ, expressed in liturgy, image and prayer, helps us activate our daily opportunity to experience Him in life events.

References

1	(n.d.). Acts, chapter 15 - United States Conference. Retrieved May 13, 2020, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/acts/15
2	(n.d.). Psalms, chapter 122 - United States Conference. Retrieved May 13, 2020, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/psalms/122:1
3	(n.d.). John, chapter 15 - United States Conference. Retrieved May 13, 2020, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/john/15
4	(n.d.). Daily Reflections - OnlineMinistries - Creighton University. Retrieved May 13, 2020, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
5	(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved May 13, 2020, from https://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/
6	(n.d.). Our Lady of Fatima (Optional Memorial) - Mass Readings and .... Retrieved May 13, 2020, from https://wau.org/meditations/2020/05/13/
7	(n.d.). God Is Our True Mother — Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved May 13, 2020, from https://cac.org/god-is-our-true-mother-2020-05-13/

Completing Love

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite contemplation of the beauty and truth in acting for completeness in our lives of love.

Completing our relationships

The text from the Acts of the Apostles outlines the response to Judas death by completing “the Twelve” by the choice of a successor, Saint Matthias.

* [1:26] The need to replace Judas was probably dictated by the symbolism of the number twelve, recalling the twelve tribes of Israel. This symbolism also indicates that for Luke (see Lk 22:30) the Christian church is a reconstituted Israel.1 

Psalm 113 is a hymn exhorting the congregation to praise God’s name.

* [Psalm 113] A hymn exhorting the congregation to praise God’s name, i.e., the way in which God is present in the world; the name is mentioned three times in Ps 113:1–3. The divine name is especially honored in the Temple (Ps 113:1) but its recognition is not limited by time (Ps 113:2) and space (Ps 113:3), for God is everywhere active (Ps 113:4–5) especially in rescuing the lowly faithful (Ps 113:7–9).2 

In the Gospel from John, Jesus description of his relationship as the Vine and the Branches leads to His sharing of our invitation from the Father to “friendship”.

* [15:13] For one’s friends: or: “those whom one loves.” In Jn 15:9–13a, the words for love are related to the Greek agapaō. In Jn 15:13b–15, the words for love are related to the Greek phileō. For John, the two roots seem synonymous and mean “to love”; cf. also Jn 21:15–17. The word philos is used here.3 

Eileen Burke-Sullivan notes that we are also asked to ponder that this Good News of Victory is for all the world and each one called has a “portion” or “share” of the work of spreading the message by lives of faithful attentiveness to Jesus.

Today’s Gospel reminds all of us that to be a true disciple (a lá Matthias) we are each called to “remain” in Jesus’ love – that is, both receiving God’s love through Jesus and returning our willed love to God through Jesus. (Love is recognized more in deeds than in words, we are reminded by a later disciple).  To remain in the original Greek usage, to be attentive to, or set up a tent with. In other words, we are to live with Jesus – all day, every day. We have been invited into this relationship – to live in and witness to love as he defines it by his behavior. 4 

Don Schwager quotes “Love your enemy and make a friend,” by Gregory the Great, 540-604 A.D.

"The unique, the highest proof of love is this, to love the person who is against us. This is why Truth himself bore the suffering of the cross and yet bestowed his love on his persecutors, saying, 'Father, forgive them for they know not what they do' (Luke 23:34). Why should we wonder that his living disciples loved their enemies, when their dying master loved his? He expressed the depth of his love when he said, 'No one has greater love that this, than that he lay down his life for his friends' (John 15:13).' The Lord had come to die even for his enemies, and yet he said he would lay down his life for his friends to show us that when we are able to win over our enemies by loving them, even our persecutors are our friends." (excerpt from FORTY GOSPEL HOMILIES 27)5 

The Word Among Us Meditation on Acts 1:15-17, 20-26 reminds us that God loves to fill in gaps, just as he did with St. Matthias. Whether it’s the gap between him and you, an empty place in your heart, or the distance between what you believe and how you behave, God delights in closing them all. You might say that’s what living life in the Spirit is all about.

God used Matthias to fill a clear gap among the apostles. Are there ways he wants to use you? Think about the “gaps” you notice in your church. Then see if the Holy Spirit is inviting you to do something.
“Father, thank you for the full life you want all your children to experience. Is there a gap you want me to help fill in?”6 

Friar Jude Winkler shares the conviction of Luke that the Church guided by the Holy Spirit calls Matthias to complete the twelve. The selection of Matthias resonates with the use of the Urim and Thummim by the Jewish high priest. Friar Jude links the Gospel text to the vertical and horizontal aspects of our relationship with God.

The Chabad.org website provides more detail about use of the Urim and Thummim.

When its services were needed, the Kohen Gadol would stand facing the Holy Ark with the questioner behind him. The individual desiring an answer would ask a simple yes-or-no question such as, “Shall we go to war?” The Kohen Gadol would meditate until he reached Divine inspiration. Then, certain letters on the breastplate (upon which the names of the twelve tribes were written) would appear to protrude38 or light up,39 producing an answer.40
The Urim and Thummim were lost after the destruction of the First Temple.41 According to another tradition, it was extant but ceased to work.42 7 

Cynthia Bourgeault shares Catholic priest Raimundo (or Raimon) Panikkar (1918–2010)’s conviction that Trinity is all about relationship.

Cosmotheandric is the term Panikkar invents to describe this dynamic relational ground. The word itself is the fusion of cosmos (world), theos (God), and andros (man) and suggests a continuous intercirculation among these three distinct planes of existence in a single motion of self-communicating love. The gist of this idea is already fully there in those profound images that cascade from Jesus’s mouth in the farewell discourses of John 13-17: “I am the vine, you are the branches; abide in me as I in you” (John 15:4); “As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us. . . . I in them and you in me, that they may be completely one” (John 17:21-23).8 

Our journey towards truth, beauty and goodness involves completing our relationship through the Spirit with God and and Creation in Christ.

References

1	(n.d.). Acts, chapter 1 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved May 14, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/acts/1
2	(n.d.). Psalms, chapter 113 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved May 14, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/psalms/113
3	(n.d.). John, chapter 15 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved May 14, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/john/15
4	(n.d.). Creighton U Daily Reflections - OnlineMinistries - Creighton University. Retrieved May 14, 2019, from http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
5	(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved May 14, 2019, from https://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/
6	(2019, May 14). Saint Matthias, Apostle (Feast) - Mass Readings and Catholic Daily .... Retrieved May 14, 2019, from https://wau.org/meditations/2019/05/14/
7	(n.d.). The High Priest in Jewish Tradition - Jewish History - Chabad.org. Retrieved May 14, 2019, from https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/4195084/jewish/The-High-Priest-in-Jewish-Tradition.htm
8	(2019, May 14). Pure Relationality — Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved May 14, 2019, from https://cac.org/pure-relationality-2019-05-14/