Scripture Reflection and Prayer : Journeying together

Tuesday, 28 December 2021

DISMISSED IN PEACE

20211229 DISMISSED IN PEACE

29 December, 2021, Wednesday, 5th Day Within the Octave of Christmas

First reading

1 John 2:3-11 ©

Anyone who loves his brother is living in the light

We can be sure that we know God

only by keeping his commandments.

Anyone who says, ‘I know him’,

and does not keep his commandments,

is a liar,

refusing to admit the truth.

But when anyone does obey what he has said,

God’s love comes to perfection in him.

We can be sure that we are in God

only when the one who claims to be living in him

is living the same kind of life as Christ lived.

My dear people,

this is not a new commandment that I am writing to tell you,

but an old commandment

that you were given from the beginning,

the original commandment which was the message brought to you.

Yet in another way, what I am writing to you,

and what is being carried out in your lives as it was in his,

is a new commandment;

because the night is over

and the real light is already shining.

Anyone who claims to be in the light

but hates his brother

is still in the dark.

But anyone who loves his brother is living in the light

and need not be afraid of stumbling;

unlike the man who hates his brother and is in the darkness,

not knowing where he is going,

because it is too dark to see.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 95(96):1-3,5-6 ©

Let the heavens rejoice and earth be glad.

O sing a new song to the Lord,

sing to the Lord all the earth.

O sing to the Lord, bless his name.

Let the heavens rejoice and earth be glad.

Proclaim his help day by day,

tell among the nations his glory

and his wonders among all the peoples.

Let the heavens rejoice and earth be glad.

It was the Lord who made the heavens,

his are majesty and state and power

and splendour in his holy place.

Let the heavens rejoice and earth be glad.

Gospel Acclamation

Jn1:14,12

Alleluia, alleluia!

The Word became flesh, and dwelt among us.

To all who received him he gave power to become children of God.

Alleluia!

Or:

Alleluia, alleluia!

A light to enlighten the pagans

and the glory of your people Israel.

Alleluia!

Gospel

Luke 2:22-35 ©

'You have prepared a light to enlighten the pagans'

When the day came for them to be purified as laid down by the Law of Moses, the parents of Jesus took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord – observing what stands written in the Law of the Lord: Every first-born male must be consecrated to the Lord – and also to offer in sacrifice, in accordance with what is said in the Law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons. Now in Jerusalem there was a man named Simeon. He was an upright and devout man; he looked forward to Israel’s comforting and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death until he had set eyes on the Christ of the Lord. Prompted by the Spirit he came to the Temple and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the Law required, he took him into his arms and blessed God; and he said:

‘Now, Master, you can let your servant go in peace,

just as you promised;

because my eyes have seen the salvation

which you have prepared for all the nations to see,

a light to enlighten the pagans

and the glory of your people Israel.’

As the child’s father and mother stood there wondering at the things that were being said about him, Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, ‘You see this child: he is destined for the fall and for the rising of many in Israel, destined to be a sign that is rejected – and a sword will pierce your own soul too – so that the secret thoughts of many may be laid bare.’

DISMISSED IN PEACE

SCRIPTURE READINGS: [1 JOHN 2:3-11; LUKE 2:22-35]

As we approach the close of the year, Simeon is also preparing us for the close of life on earth. Just as the old year must pass for the new year to begin, so too, the old life must end so that the new life can begin. The question is, how prepared are we not just to close the year, but when our days on earth come to pass? Will the Lord find us at peace with ourselves, with Him, and with the world? Death is inevitable, of which we have no control. We cannot determine when death will come, when our last day on earth will happen. It could come when we least expect it, young or old. However, we can determine how we will welcome death when it comes, regardless of the time.

Simeon in today’s gospel teaches us how to prepare to depart from this world. We read that he “was an upright and devout man.” Living a life of integrity and honesty is certainly a pre-requisite for us to die in peace. When we live an inconsistent lifestyle, a life of sin, a life of deceit and irresponsibility, a life that is lived only for oneself, without regard for the rights of others, then we cannot live in peace. Those of us who have ill-gotten gains will deeply regret because we cannot take even a cent to the next world. That is why it is important for us to strive to live an upright and just life. St John wrote, “Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. And by this we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before him whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have boldness before God; and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we obey his commandments and do what pleases him.” (1 Jn 3:18-22) In other words, we can depart from this world at peace when we are at peace with God and our fellowmen.

Secondly, St John tells us that we must walk in the light. Christmas is a celebration of Christ as the Light of the World. He shows us that the way to walk in the light is to love our brothers and sisters, bearing no hatred or grudges against anyone. “Yet in another way, what I am writing to you, and what is being carried out in your lives as it was in his, is a new commandment; because the night is over and the real light is already shining. Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the dark. But anyone who loves his brother is living in the light and need not be afraid of stumbling; unlike the man who hates his brother and is in the darkness, not knowing where he is going, because it is too dark to see.” Indeed, the birth of our Lord is God’s way to show us His love for us, and how we can be the light in darkness.

Thirdly, Simeon was attentive to the Holy Spirit. He was a man of prayer. “He looked forward to Israel’s comforting and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death until he had set eyes on the Christ of the Lord. Prompted by the Spirit he came to the Temple and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the Law required.” Three times in these two verses, St Luke underscored how sensitive Simeon was towards the Holy Spirit. Unless we walk before the Lord in righteousness, we cannot claim the Holy Spirit is in us “because wisdom will not enter a deceitful soul, or dwell in a body enslaved to sin.” (Wis 1:4)

We too must be alert to the prompting of the Holy Spirit in our lives by striving to walk in the Spirit. Discernment is so important in this world today, especially when values in the world are blurred so much so that it is difficult for us to distinguish truth from falsehood. Only when we are in touch with the Holy Spirit through a life of righteousness accompanied by prayer and faith, will we be able to listen to the Holy Spirit directing us in our daily life and prompting us to act accordingly when necessary.

Fourthly, the source of peace is when we discover Christ in our life. Simeon took Jesus “into his arms and blessed God; and he said: ‘Now, Master, you can let your servant go in peace, just as you promised; because my eyes have seen the salvation which you have prepared for all the nations to see, a light to enlighten the pagans and the glory of your people Israel.'” Simeon had the revelation from God to recognize that in Christ, salvation has dawned. The Holy Spirit revealed to Simeon that Jesus would be the Saviour of the world, the glory of Israel and the light for the Gentiles. Knowing that God’s promise has been fulfilled in Christ, Simeon was ready to go.

Hence, the Canticle of Nunc Dimittis is sung at the end of every compline and at the Rite for the Dying. It is the last hymn that we are invited to sing before going to bed because we cannot be sure whether we will wake up the next day. Nevertheless, if we have seen the salvation of God at work in Christ and in our lives, we should not be too worried whether we will remain on earth or in heaven. To have Christ is all that we need. This explains why those who have known the Lord are less fearful of death and often look with great expectation and joy to be welcomed by the Lord. This is because they know the Lord. Only those who do not know the Lord are afraid of death because they are not too sure whether life would continue and where they would be. For those of us who have seen the Lord and know that He is our Saviour, we are more than confident that he would bring us to His Father’s house. There is no fear but only joy.

This was the attitude of St Paul towards death and life. He was ambivalent towards death and life. He wrote, “It is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be put to shame in any way, but that by my speaking with all boldness, Christ will be exalted now as always in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labour for me; and I do not know which I prefer. I am hard pressed between the two: my desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better; but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for you.” (Phil 1:20-24) St Paul was confident that “If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.” (Rom 14:8) For St Paul, it does not matter whether one stays on earth or be with the Lord in heaven. What is important is that we complete the mission given to us.

St Paul was focused on wanting to please the Lord in life and in death. Simeon spoke of Jesus’ mission and that of Mary’s, which is to bring about the salvation of Israel. “As the child’s father and mother stood there wondering at the things that were being said about him, Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, ‘You see this child: he is destined for the fall and for the rising of many in Israel, destined to be a sign that is rejected – and a sword will pierce your own soul too – so that the secret thoughts of many may be laid bare.'” Carrying out the will of God in our lives will not be easy but He will supply us the grace.

But we will find peace and joy too, not because there are no sufferings when we walk the way of truth and love but because we know we are walking with the Lord. He will give us joy in our labour of love and service. This is an inner joy that comes from Him alone, not from external circumstances, even when we are facing opposition. It is this joy that comes from the assurance of Christ’s love and presence with us. As we walk with Him, we find perfect joy knowing that whatever sacrifices we make now is for the perfection of His love in us.

In the final analysis, knowing that we have done our best, kept His commandments, especially of love and selfless service to Him and our brothers and sisters, is what will give us peace when departing from this world. St John wrote, “But when anyone does obey what he has said, God’s love comes to perfection in him. We can be sure that we are in God only when the one who claims to be living in him is living the same kind of life as Christ lived.” So, let us live our life well and be at peace with a clear conscience at all times. Like Simeon, we must strive with God’s grace to live a life of holiness and always be attuned to the prompting of the Holy Spirit so that we can walk in peace and joy.

Monday, 27 December 2021

JESUS THE HOLY INNOCENT

20211228 JESUS THE HOLY INNOCENT

28 December, 2021, Tuesday, The Holy Innocents, Martyrs

First reading

1 John 1:5-2:2 ©

The blood of Jesus Christ purifies us all from sin

This is what we have heard from Jesus Christ,

and the message that we are announcing to you:

God is light; there is no darkness in him at all.

If we say that we are in union with God

while we are living in darkness,

we are lying because we are not living the truth.

But if we live our lives in the light,

as he is in the light,

we are in union with one another,

and the blood of Jesus, his Son,

purifies us from all sin.

If we say we have no sin in us,

we are deceiving ourselves

and refusing to admit the truth;

but if we acknowledge our sins,

then God who is faithful and just

will forgive our sins and purify us

from everything that is wrong.

To say that we have never sinned

is to call God a liar

and to show that his word is not in us.

I am writing this, my children,

to stop you sinning;

but if anyone should sin,

we have our advocate with the Father,

Jesus Christ, who is just;

he is the sacrifice that takes our sins away,

and not only ours,

but the whole world’s.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 123(124):2-5,7-8 ©

Our life, like a bird, has escaped from the snare of the fowler.

If the Lord had not been on our side

when men rose up against us,

then would they have swallowed us alive

when their anger was kindled.

Our life, like a bird, has escaped from the snare of the fowler.

Then would the waters have engulfed us,

the torrent gone over us;

over our head would have swept

the raging waters.

Our life, like a bird, has escaped from the snare of the fowler.

Indeed the snare has been broken

and we have escaped.

Our help is in the name of the Lord,

who made heaven and earth.

Our life, like a bird, has escaped from the snare of the fowler.

Gospel Acclamation

cf.Te Deum

Alleluia, alleluia!

We praise you, O God,

we acknowledge you to be the Lord;

the noble army of martyrs praise you, O Lord.

Alleluia!

Gospel

Matthew 2:13-18 ©

The massacre of the innocents

After the wise men had left, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, ‘Get up, take the child and his mother with you, and escape into Egypt, and stay there until I tell you, because Herod intends to search for the child and do away with him.’ So Joseph got up and, taking the child and his mother with him, left that night for Egypt, where he stayed until Herod was dead. This was to fulfil what the Lord had spoken through the prophet:

I called my son out of Egypt.

Herod was furious when he realised that he had been outwitted by the wise men, and in Bethlehem and its surrounding district he had all the male children killed who were two years old or under, reckoning by the date he had been careful to ask the wise men. It was then that the words spoken through the prophet Jeremiah were fulfilled:

A voice was heard in Ramah,

sobbing and loudly lamenting:

it was Rachel weeping for her children,

refusing to be comforted because they were no more.

JESUS THE HOLY INNOCENT

SCRIPTURE READINGS: [1 John 1:5-2:2; Ps 124:2-5,7-8; Matthew 2:13-18]

Today, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Holy Innocents. This feast follows that of the feasts of St Stephen the first martyr who imitated Christ in His death, and St John who loved like Christ unto death. Today, the feast of the Holy Innocents celebrates those who were innocently and unjustly put to death, especially on account of their explicit or implicit faith in Christ. This is the intention of narrating the story of King Herod killing the male children under two years old because of his insecurity over the threat that Jesus, the infant king of the Jews, posed to him.

Although there are no historical records of such an event taking place, King Herod was nevertheless known to be a cruel tyrant who would kill anyone who was a threat to his crown or popularity. Historical records show the atrocities committed by Herod. He killed his young brother-in-law because he was becoming too popular. He had two of his sons who were plotting against him strangled, and just a few days before his death, he even killed his treacherous son. So although there were no historical records of the massacre, the murder of the children, perhaps around twenty of them, in that small village at that time is plausible as it befits his insecure character.

But what is even more abominable is when rulers and those in power unjustly persecute, torture and even kill innocent people. There are many Herods in our midst. The Feast of the Holy Innocent brings to mind the many innocent people who though may not be “holy”, have suffered because of political persecution, religious suppression or ethnic discrimination. In many countries in the world, political opponents have been unjustly arrested, charged and even executed by despots. There are those who are persecuted because of their religious beliefs when the state is hostile towards all religions or a particular religion. Often, they are accused of treason or disloyalty to the state. The question of racial discrimination still exists in many parts of the world, even in so-called highly democratic countries. Blacks, Africans and Asians are considered second class citizens by some in the Western world. But even among tribes, there are persecutions and suppression as well.

Of course, when we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Innocents, we often associate it with the killing of unborn babies. Those who killed their unborn babies participate in the crime of King Herod. Why do women go for abortion? Because it was an unwanted baby and it would cause inconvenience to the mother or father if carried to full term. This could be due to financial instability, or the couple is too young, or sometimes because the baby is deemed to have some physical or mental defects. There are many reasons why babies are aborted or embryos killed, all in the name of progress, personal rights and freedom to decide which baby one wants to keep or discard. With the freezing of women’s eggs for use later and for IVF, embryos are treated as a thing or commodity to be discarded if not used. Babies today are treated as a product or a thing, not as a human being, sacred and deserving of dignity.

When we think of the Holy Innocents, we are also reminded of many innocent lives killed, including children because of war. Those who kill them justify on the basis that elimination of the enemy is of utmost importance, even if they are innocent human beings. The truth is that certain people on this earth are seen as more valued than others. Whilst their own people cannot be killed by others, they have no qualms about killing others. Such is the hypocrisy of powerful people and those with advanced weapons and arms. They do not even need to be on the ground, but with money and advanced weapons, they can just send in the bombs and rockets to destroy lives. Indeed, it is tragic to see so many who are suffering, lives lost, limbs maimed, houses and property destroyed because of war.

Finally, the Feast of the Holy Innocents should also make us conscious of those refugees displaced by war, civil disorder, religious persecution and poverty. Very often, they live on the margins of society. They are hungry, without jobs and without citizenship. They are desperate for food, security and the means to survive. Quite often, they are manipulated and ill-treated in their host country when unscrupulous people take advantage of them. Some are trafficked for prostitution and child labour. But faced with the need to survive, many have no choice but to surrender themselves to the wicked people who exploit them. Even foreign workers are all too often abused and taken advantage of. Many are cheated by unscrupulous employment agencies after incurring huge debts to pay for agency fees, only to find that there are no jobs awaiting them on their arrival. Some countries do not treat their foreign workers well. Some employers ill-treat their foreign workers and even cheat them of their salaries.

Consequently, on this Feast of the Holy Innocents, we are invited to reflect on Christ who is the Holy Innocent of God. He is truly the sinless one and yet He came to bear our sufferings and our sins, even allowing Himself to be unjustly put to death. Indeed, in the first reading, we read of how Christ had come to justify us when none of us can be said to be innocent of crimes against humanity and our fellowmen. St John declares, “God is light and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not live according to the truth; but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.”

Unfortunately, the world denies anyone can sin. We are numbed to our sins. Many in the world are against the notion of sin. In their eyes, no one commits sin but we might have some imperfections. In the name of psychology, sin is rejected because the evil we commit is due to the traumatic and negative experiences of our past, the way we were brought up. So there is sin in society perhaps, but no one commits personal sins. We claim that we have no power to do the right thing. St John makes it clear, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”

However, if we acknowledge our sins, then we can begin to recognize our failings, feel remorse for what we had done, ask for forgiveness and the grace to live and walk in the light of Christ. Hence, St John urges us, “My little children, I am writing this to you so that you may not sin; but if any one does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the expiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.” This is what we are called to do on the Feast of the Holy Innocents. Let us be clear that we are not that innocent after all, certainly not innocent all the time. That is why we must seek repentance from our sins against humanity, the weak and vulnerable.

Today, we are called upon to look at Jesus who is the Holy Innocent, who died for us. Jesus, as St Matthew presents Him, is the Second Moses who was saved from Herod just as Moses was saved from Pharaoh. Like Moses who took refuge when he was persecuted, so too, Jesus took refuge in Egypt. Like Moses, He came to deliver His people from bondage and their sins. Jesus, like Moses, began the New Exodus and will offer His people a New Covenant. However, Jesus would be unjustly persecuted. The killing of the Holy Innocents was just the beginning of Jesus’ persecution by the authorities in His ministry. When we consider how much our Lord suffered for our sins and the cruelty of man, it is hoped that the celebration of this Feast of the Holy Innocents would give those who suffer unjustly and those who are refugees faith to continue to place their trust in God, that He will eventually redeem them. The psalmist says, “Our life, like a bird, has escaped from the snare of the fowler. Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” Let us take courage if we are the innocent ones. For those who are the oppressors, let us be conscious of our sins and cruelty, seek forgiveness and return to the Lord, so that we will walk in the light.

Sunday, 26 December 2021

THE ROLE OF PARENTS IN FORMING CHILDREN OF GOD

20211226 THE ROLE OF PARENTS IN FORMING CHILDREN OF GOD

26 December, 2021, Sunday, The Holy Family

First reading

1 Samuel 1:20-22,24-28 ©

This is the child I prayed for: he is made over to the Lord.

Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son, and called him Samuel ‘since’ she said ‘I asked the Lord for him.’

When a year had gone by, the husband Elkanah went up again with all his family to offer the annual sacrifice to the Lord and to fulfil his vow. Hannah, however, did not go up, having said to her husband, ‘Not before the child is weaned. Then I will bring him and present him before the Lord and he shall stay there for ever.’

When she had weaned him, she took him up with her together with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour and a skin of wine, and she brought him to the temple of the Lord at Shiloh; and the child was with them. They slaughtered the bull and the child’s mother came to Eli. She said, ‘If you please, my lord. As you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you, praying to the Lord. This is the child I prayed for, and the Lord granted me what I asked him. Now I make him over to the Lord for the whole of his life. He is made over to the Lord.’

Responsorial Psalm

They are happy who dwell in your house, O Lord.

How lovely is your dwelling place,

Lord, God of hosts.

My soul is longing and yearning,

is yearning for the courts of the Lord.

My heart and my soul ring out their joy

to God, the living God.

They are happy who dwell in your house, O Lord.

They are happy, who dwell in your house,

for ever singing your praise.

They are happy, whose strength is in you,

in whose hearts are the roads to Zion.

They are happy who dwell in your house, O Lord.

O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer,

give ear, O God of Jacob.

Turn your eyes, O God, our shield,

look on the face of your anointed.

They are happy who dwell in your house, O Lord.

Second reading

We are called God's children, and that is what we are

Think of the love that the Father has lavished on us,

by letting us be called God’s children;

and that is what we are.

Because the world refused to acknowledge him,

therefore it does not acknowledge us.

My dear people, we are already the children of God

but what we are to be in the future has not yet been revealed;

all we know is, that when it is revealed

we shall be like him

because we shall see him as he really is.

My dear people,

if we cannot be condemned by our own conscience,

we need not be afraid in God’s presence,

and whatever we ask him,

we shall receive,

because we keep his commandments

and live the kind of life that he wants.

His commandments are these:

that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ

and that we love one another

as he told us to.

Whoever keeps his commandments

lives in God and God lives in him.

We know that he lives in us

by the Spirit that he has given us.

Gospel Acclamation

cf.Ac16:14

Alleluia, alleluia!

Open our heart, O Lord,

to accept the words of your Son.

Alleluia!

Gospel

Mary stored up all these things in her heart

Every year the parents of Jesus used to go to Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up for the feast as usual. When they were on their way home after the feast, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem without his parents knowing it. They assumed he was with the caravan, and it was only after a day’s journey that they went to look for him among their relations and acquaintances. When they failed to find him they went back to Jerusalem looking for him everywhere.

Three days later, they found him in the Temple, sitting among the doctors, listening to them, and asking them questions; and all those who heard him were astounded at his intelligence and his replies. They were overcome when they saw him, and his mother said to him, ‘My child, why have, you done this to us? See how worried your father and I have been, looking for you.’

‘Why were you looking for me?’ he replied. ‘Did you not know that I must be busy with my Father’s affairs?’ But they did not understand what he meant.

He then went down with them and came to Nazareth and lived under their authority.

His mother stored up all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom, in stature, and in favour with God and men.

THE ROLE OF PARENTS IN FORMING CHILDREN OF GOD

SCRIPTURE READINGS: [1 Sm 1:20-22.24-28; Ps 84; 1 Jn 3:1-2.21-24; Lk 2:41-52]

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family. This comes immediately after Christmas because with Jesus, Mary and Joseph, we can speak of a family. Indeed, to be a family, we need to have children, otherwise, the life of the married couple would not be complete. This is why procreation is a natural outcome of marriage. After creating men and women, the Lord said, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.” (Gn 1:28) This is why the Church teaches that marriage is not just for companionship but it must be fruitful, be open to new life.

However, it is not just a question of bringing children into the world. Children must not be seen as investments for the parents’ old age or even for the economy of the country. Quite often, we tend to see children from the perspective of use and benefits. This might be true especially of the older generation and our forefathers because they were needed to work in the farm, to take care of them in their old age and to continue the family name. It was a question of rendering support and protection for each other. However, today, the world has changed. Children no longer are seen as assets for the married couple. In fact, they are seen as a great financial liability. At any rate, parents no longer need the support of their children because they have more than sufficient savings of their own to see them through till death. On the contrary, many of the grown-up children still depend on their parent’s financial help even when they are already working or have children of their own.

Having children should never be seen in a utilitarian manner. They are not a commodity to be spent or some property that we own. On the contrary, children must be seen as a gift from God. They are precious gifts from God so that we can share in His love, a love that is fruitful. True love is never kept within a couple. When that happens, that couple will be stifled, become possessive and insecure. True love needs to be expanded and go beyond the couple. The love between the couple when developed will make them want to share their love with others and particularly more so if that person is the fruit of their love. When we love and allow ourselves to be loved in return, love becomes reciprocal and empowering. Such love grows from strength to strength and eventually extends to the community and society. So children are for love and relationship primarily. But children are not just meant for us. They belong to God and to the community.

Indeed, the children that we have do not belong to us but to God. This is the recurring theme of today’s scripture readings. In the first reading, Hannah was clear that Samuel was a gift from God. He was called by God. God did not give Samuel to her for herself but for the community. Hence, after weaning the child, she brought him to the Temple. She told Eli, “If you please, my lord. As you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you, praying to the Lord. This is the child I prayed for, and the Lord granted me what I asked him. Now I make him over to the Lord for the whole of his life. He is made over to the Lord.”

What is beyond our capacity to do, she did. In a terse manner, the bible said, “There she left him, for the Lord.” How many parents are willing to sacrifice their children for the good of society or the Church? How many parents prevent their children from joining the priesthood and religious life, or give themselves for the mission simply because they want to own them or use them for themselves and their security? Some of us are not generous enough to let them go to fulfil their vocation and calling in life. Instead of helping them to find their potentials and grow to become the child that God meant for them, we hinder their growth.

Hence, we must never forget that they are God’s children, like Jesus, who was entrusted to the care of Joseph and Mary. St John reiterates, “Think of the love that the Father has lavished on us, by letting us be called God’s children; and that is what we are. Because the world refused to acknowledge him, therefore it does not acknowledge us. My dear people, we are already the children of God but what we are to be in the future has not yet been revealed; all we know is, that when it is revealed we shall be like him because we shall see him as he really is.” Indeed, we are all children of God even if many do not recognize Him as such. Only when we know Him, can we find intimacy.

Our responsibility as parents is to ensure that they discover their real identity as God’s children and so be able to live out their lives in such a way that they reflect God’s love, mercy and compassion in their lives. St John wrote, “His commandments are these: that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and that we love one another as he told us to. Whoever keeps his commandments lives in God and God lives in him. We know that he lives in us by the Spirit that he has given us.” There is only one vocation in life which is to love, beginning from the family and then extended to the community. We are all called to love.

That was the way Mary and Joseph raised up our Lord. In today’s gospel, we see how they taught Jesus by their example as faithful Jews, going to Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover as commanded by Moses. They brought Jesus with them. They knew that their responsibility as parents first and foremost was to bring their child up to be God-fearing and filial to Him. We see how well they brought up Jesus because when they found Him three days later, He was at the Temple, “sitting among the doctors, listening to them, and asking them questions; and all those who heard him were astounded at his intelligence and his replies.” What confirms that Mary and Joseph had truly lived out their responsibility as parents was when they asked Him, “My child, why have you done this to us? See how worried your father and I have been, looking for you.’ ‘Why were you looking for me?” The reply of Jesus was clear. “Did you not know that I must be busy with my Father’s affairs?” Already at that tender age, our Lord was clear that His primary relationship must be with His Father. He should be busy with the affairs of His heavenly Father.

Does it mean therefore that when we offer our children back to God, we lose them? On the contrary, we have them forever because they will love us even more. That is the consequence of having piety for the Lord. After telling His parents where the priority of His relationship lay we read, “He then went down with them and came to Nazareth and lived under their authority. His mother stored up all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom, in stature, and in favour with God and men.” This is something we can learn from them. Some parents think that if they give more love to their children, help them to be successful in life, study hard, have a good career, make plenty of money, they will be happy and they will be with them until they die. On the contrary, children without love for God will not be so filial to their parents. Some of them might even be driven by worldly success, live for themselves, are individualistic and eventually leave their parents to be on their own. And to be independent from them, some eventually migrate overseas after earning their degrees and getting a good job.

So today, as we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family, let us cherish our children as gifts from God for us to form them in love through the loving example of the parents. We are called to form them according to God’s commandments so that we have a clear conscience before God, knowing that we have done our best as parents. St John wrote, “My dear people, if we cannot be condemned by our own conscience, we need not be afraid in God’s presence, and whatever we ask him, we shall receive, because we keep his commandments and live the kind of life that he wants.” Offering our children back to God and to the community is what will help them to find their identity, mission and purpose in life. The more they give themselves to God and to the community, the more they find life a great joy, meaningful and most of all, fruitful. Together with them, we can then celebrate love and life.