Theme:
The feast of the Holy Family is celebrated on the Sunday following Christmas. The family is where a child gains his first experience of society, church and education. We celebrate this feast to remind us of our responsibilities to our families., using Joseph, Mary and Jesus as pattern.
Questions:
Day 1: The first reading is taken from the book of Sirach. This book is part of the Wisdom books of scripture. It contains proverbs and also advices from the author on proper living. The reading begins by pointing out that the authority of parents comes from God.
For parents, if your authority comes from God, what is your responsibility to your family?
For those with parents, if our parents' authority comes from God, what is your duty towards them?
How will you honour your father and mother?
Day 2: God is the perfect Father. He is the one who loves you unconditionally.
List all the blessings that follow those who honour and revere their parents as list in this passage. What do each of these mean?
As the perfect Father, God has a plan for you. These plans are far beyond your wildest dreams. Do you believe this? If you do not believe this, what is preventing you from believing this?
What will you tell the Lord so that he can help you achieve what he has planned for you?
Day 3: This psalm speaks of blessings to the home. Verse 1 says that Happy is the one who fears the Lord, who walks in his ways.
What does fear of the Lord mean? What does walking in his ways mean?
What are the blessings that follow someone who fears the Lord and walks in his ways?
If you know the blessings that follow such a person, what should you do?
Day 4: The second reading, St. Paul talks of how to maintain peace within a community. The family is a small community and as such, these things are also applicable to it.
St. Paul talks of forgiving each other just as the Lord has forgiven us. He used the word 'must' which means that this is something expected from us. Forgiveness is an act of will in response to the grace of God. Is there anyone whom you have not forgiven? What should you do to show that you have forgiven that person?
Forgiveness is not easy. It requires grace from God. If you find it hard to forgive someone, how would you ask the Lord for the grace to forgive?
St. Paul also speaks of letting the word of Christ dwell in us richly. What did he mean by that? How can you make that happen?
Day 5: The second reading continues to speak of the relationship in a home. St. Paul mentions that a wife should be subject to her husband and that the husband should love their wives. This statement and another in the letter to the Ephesians has caused a lot of controversy. Contrary to what some will say, St. Paul did not write this because of his cultural background. Instead, this is God's plan for the family.
Both husband and wife are co-equal in marriage. Just as Jesus is co-equal to the Father. However, Jesus himself submitted to the Father. How does this statement apply to the relationship of husband and wife?
What do you think is the meaning of submission in this context?
What is expected from a husband with regard to his relationship with his wife?
Day 6: The gospel reading tells us that an angel appeared to Joseph because Herod wanted to kill all babies that were two years or younger. It would be reasonable to assume that Joseph and his family stayed in Bethlehem for two years. They could have established themselves where they were. Yet, when the Lord told Joseph to move to Egypt, he did so in the middle of the night – in haste.
What do you think was in Joseph's mind when he brought Jesus and Mary to Egypt?
Based on this reading, what was Joseph's role in his family?
Day 7: Years later, Herod died and an angel told Joseph to go back to Israel. By this time again, Joseph must have lived in Egypt for at least a year and would have established himself there. Joseph obeyed without saying anything.
Considering that his family faced a lot of uncertainties, what can you say about Joseph's faith?
Would you think that Joseph had some apprehensions every time he moved from one place to another?
How can you learn from Joseph's faith? What will you say to St. Joseph?
