Category: Uncategorized

29th December 2024

Reflection with readings below

In some churches this day celebrates the Holy Family. Together Mary, Joseph and Jesus are the Holy Family. Together with us, they are also God’s Family. The family is what is shown to been important in keeping the young Jesus safe in the face of adversity. 

In Luke’s Gospel, the family has stuck together as Joseph has taken Mary and their as yet to be born child all the way from Nazareth in the north to Bethlehem in the south to comply with new government regulations. Like many regulations, it has not been well thought through and its implementation has caused temporary housing problems for many. Joseph and Mary settle in to shared temporary accommodation and it is in that place that Jesus is born. 

In Matthew’s Gospel insecurity takes another form. While Herod is massacring the toddlers of Bethlehem, Mary and Joseph are fleeing across the border to Egypt with the child Jesus. Did the gifts of the magi proved timely as a ready source of cash to assist this unplanned departure to a new, and possibly impermanent, home?

In each scenario the family remains together and takes strength and guidance from listening to God.

In today’s gospel we have another account of a family event involving Mary, Joseph and Jesus. Now Jesus, whilst still a junior, is of an age to have his own ideas and his own views about the world, and he chooses to explore these with the elders in the temple. They are intrigued and impressed by what he has to say. But is this adults being impressed by the naive and idealistic sincerity of a child who has not yet learnt to understand the ways of the ‘real’ world? For a couple of decades later these temple elders are going to derided and lambast the words that Jesus speaks. 

Is this the same response we see from those in authority who smile at children holding up placards that say ‘There’s no planet B!’ and ‘Allow me to have a future!’ The same authorities who keep on funding fossil fuels when they should be funding renewables, who let their ears be bent by meat giants when they should be listening to the scientists?

Jesus knew that the temple was his Father’s house just as much as he knew his home was in Nazareth with Mary and Joseph. Children know that this world is their home – our common home – just as much as the place where they live with their immediate family is also home. Children may have a simplistic view of life but it can be a simplicity that cuts to the core of the problem. There is no planet B: if we do not act urgently and at scale, this planet is going to turn into

a very unsafe home to live in. We need those in authority – governments and commercial enterprises – to act now!  To cut carbon emissions to net zero, to drastically cut methane emissions, to shift their financial clout to ensure a just transition, to enhance biodiversity, to support vulnerable communities already facing the adverse effects of the crisis, and to be honest in listening to those most at risk.

As an addendum, the gospel also highlights that families are not a rigid combination of one mother, one father plus children. Families can include various father and mother figures. Indeed the writers pre-Jesus described God as being like a mother, like a midwife, and even, like a scorned husband. Perhaps what really makes a family is the quality of the relationships they share.

1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26

But Samuel was ministering before the Lord—a boy wearing a linen ephod. Each year his mother made him a little robe and took it to him when she went up with her husband to offer the annual sacrifice. Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, saying, “May the Lord give you children by this woman to take the place of the one she prayed for and gave to the Lord.” Then they would go home.

Psalm 148

Praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord from the heavens;
    praise him in the heights above.

Praise him, all his angels;
    praise him, all his heavenly hosts.

Praise him, sun and moon;
    praise him, all you shining stars.

Praise him, you highest heavens
    and you waters above the skies.

Let them praise the name of the Lord,
    for at his command they were created,

and he established them for ever and ever—
    he issued a decree that will never pass away.

Praise the Lord from the earth,
    you great sea creatures and all ocean depths,

lightning and hail, snow and clouds,
    stormy winds that do his bidding,

you mountains and all hills,
    fruit trees and all cedars,

wild animals and all cattle,
    small creatures and flying birds,

kings of the earth and all nations,
    you princes and all rulers on earth,

young men and women,
    old men and children.

Let them praise the name of the Lord,
    for his name alone is exalted;
    his splendour is above the earth and the heavens.

And he has raised up for his people a horn,
    the praise of all his faithful servants,
    of Israel, the people close to his heart.

Praise the Lord.

Colossians 3:12-17

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Luke 2:41-52

Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.” 

“Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”

But they did not understand what he was saying to them.

Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.