December 29, 2013 – Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph
Sir 3: 2-6, 12-14; Ps 128: 1-5; Col 3: 12-21; Mt 2: 13-15, 19-23
“And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” These words from St. Paul’s letter to the Colossians, today’s second reading, remind us that good stewardship means putting God at the center of our lives, filled with gratitude for the Lord’s many blessings.
Today’s readings encourage us to appreciate the importance of family life. They prompt us to never forget the essential attributes of being a good family member: compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and most vital, love. Those, of course, are also the principal facets of stewardship.
As we have followed the birth of Christ and the establishment of the Holy Family over the past several weeks, we need to recognize the example set for us by that Holy Family — from the humility of our Blessed Mother in accepting God’s will to the love of St. Joseph in protecting his family at all costs to the incredible compassion and kindness of our Lord Jesus in giving His life to us and for us. Love is, as Paul reminds us, “the bond of perfection.” Like the Holy Family, we need to strive for holiness in all we are and all we do.
