FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS (B)

Sunday, December 31, 2023
Luke 2:22-40

“When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, they took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, just as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord, and to offer the sacrifice of a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons, in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord. […] When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions of the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon him.”
(Luke 2:22-24, 39-40)

The evangelist Luke paints the icon of Jesus’ family. The color that stands out the most is that of fidelity to the law. However, the term ‘law’ does not fully capture the essence of the original Hebrew word, ‘torah.’ The root of the term torah refers more to instruction, guidance, teaching—concepts typical of pedagogy. Through the Torah, God instructs the people of Israel on the secret of blessing, prosperity, and peace.

Observing the law, Mary waits 40 days after the birth of Jesus, as childbirth was considered a cause of “ritual impurity,” without any moral connotation (cf. Leviticus 12:2-8). After these days, Mary and Joseph go up to the temple in Jerusalem and offer a pair of turtledoves for Mary’s purification, according to the law of the Lord. The law required a lamb, but those who could not afford it could offer a pair of turtledoves or pigeons (cf. Leviticus 5:7; 12:8).

In the temple, the parents present the child Jesus to the Lord. The law prescribed a payment of 5 shekels as a “ransom” for every firstborn male, in remembrance of the liberation from Egypt, but it did not require a presentation.

In summary, the Holy Family of Nazareth is a family that:

-is faithful to the law of the Lord, which, when applied, brings freedom and allows for living in beatitude and prosperity.

-lives off the work of their hands. We know from the Gospels that Joseph was a carpenter. They do not have great economic possibilities, and thus, they live in dependence on the Lord. Wealth often hinders the journey of faith, not because it is inherently evil, but because our hearts tend to attach to it, placing our trust in material possessions.

– presents their child to the Lord. Literally, they offer him, making him available. Every God-fearing parent is called to take this step deep within their hearts and in their relationship with their child. Children are not ours; we all belong to the Lord, who has redeemed us, and we belong to Him!

By practicing these simple yet fundamental concepts, all families can live in the beatitude and peace that the Lord desires for each of them.

Fr. Giuseppe