By Fr. Andrew Kelly
HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH – DEC. 30
The Holy Family story that Luke narrates in Sunday’s Gospel (Luke 2:41-52) is really a story of the believing community, represented by Mary and Joseph, searching for the seemingly lost Risen Jesus.
The community joins Mary and Joseph on the three-day journey back to Jerusalem. There the Risen Jesus is found.
The “three-day journey” gives a clue to what the search is all about. How many days was Jesus “lost” in the grave? What happened on the “third day?” The Risen Jesus is now fully alive with the Father.
Mary speaks for/scolds the community:
“Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety.”
Mary and the community to this day are still trying to understand Jesus’ answer:
“Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”
In trying to understand, the community will forever join Mary in prayer and contemplation:
“Jesus’ mother treasured all these things in her heart.”
In following Mary the community not only finds the Risen Jesus, it also matures:
“And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favor.”
(Father Andrew Kelly is a retired priest of the Diocese of Davenport.)
Scripture Readings for Dec. 30 to Jan. 6
Sunday
Sir 3:2-6, 12-14 or 1 Sm 1:20-22, 24-28
Col 3:12-21 or Col 3:12-17 or 1 Jn 3:1-2, 21-24
Lk 2:41-52
Monday
1 Jn 2:18-21
Jn 1:1-18
Tuesday
1 Nm 6:22-27
Gal 4:4-7
Lk 2:16-21
Wednesday
1 Jn 2:22-28
Jn 1:19-28
Thursday
1 Jn 2:29–3:61
Jn 1:29-34
Friday
1 Jn 3:7-10
Jn 1:35-42
Saturday
1 Jn 3:11-21
Jn 1:43-51
Sunday
Is 60:1-6
Eph 3:2-3a, 5-6
Mt 2:1-12
