Sunday in the Christmas Octave

The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Ħadd fost l-Ottova tal-Milied

Il-Familja Mqaddsa ta’ Ġesu’, Marija u Ġużeppi

Reading 1
GeNesis 15:1-6; 21:1-3

The word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying: “Fear not, Abram! I am your shield; I will make your reward very great.” But Abram said, “O Lord GOD, what good will your gifts be, if I keep on being childless and have as my heir the steward of my house, Eliezer?” Abram continued, “See, you have given me no offspring, and so one of my servants will be my heir.” Then the word of the LORD came to him: “No, that one shall not be your heir; your own issue shall be your heir.” The Lord took Abram outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars, if you can. Just so,” he added, “shall your descendants be.” Abram put his faith in the LORD, who credited it to him as an act of righteousness. The LORD took note of Sarah as he had said he would; he did for her as he had promised. Sarah became pregnant and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time that God had stated. Abraham gave the name Isaac to this son of his whom Sarah bore him.

Qari 1 - mill-Ktieb ta’ Ġenesis 15, 1-6; 21, 1-3

F’dak iż-żmien, ġiet il-kelma tal-Mulej lil Abram f’dehra u qallu: La tibżax, Abram! Jiena tarka għalik; ħlasek ikun kbir ħafna.” U Abram qallu: “Sidii Mulej, x’se tagħtini, għax se nibqa’ bla tfal, u l-werriet ta’ dari se jkun Eligħeżer ta’ Damasku.” U Abram żied jgħid: “Ara, int lili ma tajtniex nisel, u qaddej dari se jiritni.” U ara, waslitlu l-kelma tal-Mulej u qallu: “Ma jirteks dan, imma wieħed ħiereġ mill-ġewieni tiegħek, hu għad jirtek.” U ħarġu barra u qallu: “Ħares sewwa lejn is-smewwiet u għodd il-Kwiekeb, jekk għandek ħila tgħoddhom.” U żied jgħidlu: “Hekk għad ikun nislek.” U hu emmen il-Mulelj, udan għaddulu B’grazzja. U l-Mulej żar lil Sara bħalma kien qalilha, u g]amel magĦha dak li Kien wegĦedha. U Sara tqalet u wildet iben lil Abraham fi xjuħitu,Fiż-żmien li kien qallu Alla. U Abraham semma ‘l ibnu li twelidlu, Li kienet welditlu Sara, Iżakk. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

Responsorial Psalm PSalm 105:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9

Give thanks to the LORD, invoke his name; make known among the nations his deeds.
Sing to him, sing his praise, proclaim all his wondrous deeds.
R / (7a , 8a) The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.

Glory in his holy name; rejoice, O hearts that seek the LORD! Look to the LORD in his strength;
constantly seek his face.
R/ (7a , 8a) The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.

You descendants of Abraham, his servants, sons of Jacob, his chosen ones! He, the LORD, is our God; throughout the earth his judgments prevail.
R/ (7a , 8a) The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.

He remembers forever his covenant which he made binding for a thousand generations which he entered into with Abraham and by his oath to Isaac.
R/ (7a , 8a) The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.

Salm Responsorjali
Salm 104(105)

Faħħru l-Mulej u xandru ismu, Għarfu lill-{nus bl-għemejjel tiegħu. Għannulu, doqqulu. Xandru l-għeġubijiet tiegħu kollha.

R/ Jaħweh hu Alla tagħna! Jiftakar għal dejjem fil-patt Tiegħu

Ftaħru bl-isem qaddis tieghu tifraħ il-qalb ta’ dawk li Ħabirku biex tagħrfu l-Mulej u l-qawwa tiegħu, fittxu ‘l wiċċu l-ħin kollu.

R/ Jaħweh hu Alla tagħna! Jiftakar għal dejjem fil-patt Tiegħu

Ftakru fil-ħwejjeġ kbar li fl-għeġubijiet u l-ġudizzji Tieghu. Nisel Abraham, il-qaddej tiegħu, ulied Ġakobb, il-maħtur t iegħu.

R/ Jaħweh hu Alla tagħna! Jiftakar għal dejjem fil-patt Tiegħu

Jiftakar għal dejjem fil-patt tiegħu, fil-kelma lit a għal elf fil-patt li għamel ma' Abram fil-wegħda li ħalef lil Iżakk.
R/ Jaħweh hu Alla tagħna! Jiftakar għal dejjem fil-patt Tiegħu

Reading 2 HEBrews 11:8, 11-12, 17-19

Brothers and sisters: By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; he went out, not knowing where he was to go. By faith he received power to generate, even though he was past the normal age —and Sarah herself was sterile—for he thought that the one who had made the promise was trustworthy. So it was that there came forth from one man, himself as good as dead, descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sands on the seashore. By faith Abraham, when put to the test, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was ready to offer his only son, of whom it was said, “Through Isaac descendants shall bear your name.” He reasoned that God was able to raise even from the dead, and he received Isaac back as a symbol.

Qari 2 - mill-Ittra lil Lhud 11. 8. 11-12, 17-19

Ħuti, kienet il-fidi li ġagħlet lil Abrraham jobdi s-sejħa ta’ Alla, meta dan qallu biex imur f’art li kien se jag}tih b’wirt, bla ma kien jaf fejn kien sejjer. Kienet il-fidi li biha Sarah mara mdaħħla fiż-żmien setgħet titqal, għax hija għarfet li ta’ kelmtu kien dak li g}amlilha l-wegħda. Kien għalhekk li minn bniedem wieħed, li kien tista’ tg}id mejjet, twielldu nies bil-kotra daqs il-kwiekeb tas-sema u daqs ir-ramel ta’ xatt il-baħar, li ħadd ma jista’ jgħoddu. Kienet il-fidi li ġagħlet lil Abraham joffri ‘l Iżakk neta Alla ġarrbu; u kien se joffri lil ibnu l-waħdieni sewwasew dak li kien ħa l- wegħdiet, hu li Alla kien qallu: “Minn Iżakk int għad ikollok nisel. Huwa fehem li Alla kellu s-setgħa saħansitra li jqajjem mill-mewt; U, fis-sens ta’ tixbiħa ħadu tabilħaqq lura mill-mewt. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

Gospel
LuKe 2:22, 39-40 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. 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 favor of God was upon him.

L-Evanġelju - skont San Luqa 2, 22-40

Wara li ghalqilhom iż-żmien għall-purifikazzjoni tagħhom skont il-Liġi ta’ Mose, Marija u Ġużeppi ħadu lil Ġesu Ġerusalemm biex jippreżentawh lill-Mulej, kif hemm miktub fil-Liġi tal-Mulej: “Kull tifel li jitwieled l-ewwel, jiġi kkonsagrat lill-Mulej” – u biex joffru b’sagrifiċċju par gamiem jew żewġ bċieċen, kif jingħad ukoll fil-ii tal-Mulej. F’Ġerusalemm kien hemm wieħed, jismu Xmun, raġel ġust u twajjeb, li kien jistenna l-faraġ ta’ Iżrael u li kellu l-Ispirtu s-Santu fuqu. L-Ispirtu s-Santu kien nebbħu li ma kien se jara l-mewt qabel ma jara l-Messija tal-Mulej. Mar mela fit-tempju, imqanqal mill0Ispirtu, u x’ħin il-ġenituri daħlu bit-tarbija Ġesu’ biex jagħmllulu dak li kienet tr il-Liġi, huwa laqgħu fuq dirgħajh, bierek lil Alla u qal “Issa, o Sidi, tista’ t ħalli l- qaddej tiegħek Imur fis-sliem, skont kelmtek, Għaliex għajnejja raw is-salvazzjoni tiegħekli int Ħejjet għall-popli kollha, Dawl biex idawwal il-ġnus, U l-glorja tal-poplu tiegħek. Iżrael.” Missieru u ommu baqgħu mistagħġba b’dak li kien qiegħed jingħad fuqu. Xmun berikhom, u qal lil ommu Marija: “Ara, dan se j{ib il-waqgĦa u l-qawmien ta’ ħafna f’Iżrael; se jkun sinjal li jmruh, - u inti wkoll, sejf jinfidlek ruħek! – biex jinkixfu l-ħsibijiet moħbija fil-qalub ta’ ħafna.” Kien hemm ukoll waħda profetessa, Anna, bint Fanwel, mit-tribu’ ta’ Aser. Kienet imdaħla fiż-żmien; wara xbubitha kienet għamlet seba’ snin miżżewġa, u Mmbagħad romlot. Sa ma kellha erbgħa u tmenin sena ma kienet titwarrab qatt mit-tempju, lejl u nhar taqdi lil Alla fis-sawm u t-talb. Dak il-Ħin stess waslet, u bdiet trod ħajr lil alla u titkellem fuq it-arbija ma’ dawk kollha li kienu jisitennew il-fidwa ta’ Ġerusalemm. Meta temmew kull kull ma kellhom jagħmlu skont il-Liġi tal-Mulej reġgħu lura Lejn il-Galilija fil-blet tagħhom ta’ Nazaret. U t-tifel baqa’ jikber u sissaħħaħ, mimli Bl-għerf. U l-grazzja ta’ Alla kienet fuqu. Il-Kelma tal-MulejHuwa HuwHH

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Zooming in on Joseph

Commentary by Fr. Thomas Rosica, CSB

In the afterglow of Christmas, the Church celebrates the feast of the Holy Family. This weekend we are invited to reflect on the gift and mystery of life and the blessing of family life in particular.

In Luke's Gospel scene of the Presentation of the Child Jesus in the Temple in Jerusalem, we encounter four individuals who embrace the new life of Jesus held in their arms: the elderly and faithful Simeon, the old, wise prophetess Anna, and the young couple, Mary and Joseph, who in faithful obedience offer their child to the Lord. Simeon’s beautiful prayer is nothing more than an anthology of the prayer of ancient Israel:

“Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel” (Luke 2:29-32).

The whole scene of the Presentation, and the carefully chosen words of Simeon's prayer raise several questions for us: How do I see God's glory in my life? Do I thirst for justice and peace? What are the new situations and who are the new people who have entered my life in the last little while? How am I light and salvation for other people?

Today I would like to borrow from my new profession of television production and zoom in on Joseph, one of the characters found in this most touching Gospel scene of the Presentation. To “zoom” in on the foster father of the Lord gives us some profound insights into the family background of our Savior.

Joseph is often overshadowed by the glory of Christ and the purity of Mary. But he, too, waited for God to speak to him and then responded with obedience. Luke and Matthew both mark Joseph’s descent from David, the greatest king of Israel (Matthew 1:1-16 and Luke 3:23-38). Scripture has left us with the most important knowledge about him: he was "a righteous man" (Matthew 1:18).

Joseph was a compassionate, caring man. When he discovered Mary was pregnant after they had been engaged, he knew the child was not his but was as yet unaware that she was carrying the Son of God. He planned to divorce Mary according to the law but he was concerned for her suffering and safety. Joseph was also a man of faith, obedient to whatever God asked of him without knowing the outcome. When the angel came to Joseph in a dream and told him the truth about the child Mary was carrying, Joseph immediately and without question or concern for gossip, took Mary as his wife. When the angel came again to tell him that his family was in danger, he immediately left everything he owned, all his family and friends, and fled to a strange country with his young wife and the baby. He waited in Egypt until the angel told him it was safe to go back (Matthew 2:13-23).

We are told that Joseph was a carpenter, (more likely a builder), a man who worked to provide for his family. Joseph wasn't a wealthy man, for when he took Jesus to the Temple to be circumcised and Mary to be purified he offered the sacrifice of two turtledoves or a pair of pigeons, allowed only for those who could not afford a lamb.

Joseph revealed in his humanity the unique role of fathers to proclaim God's truth by word and deed. His paradoxical situation of "foster father to Jesus" draws attention to the truth about fatherhood, which is more than a mere fact of biological generation. A man is a father most when he invests himself in the spiritual and moral formation of his children. He was keenly aware, as every father should be, that he served as the representative of God the Father.

Joseph protected and provided for Jesus and Mary. He named Jesus, taught him how to pray, how to work, how to be a man. While no words or texts are attributed to him, we can be sure that Joseph pronounced two of the most important words that could ever be spoken when he named his son "Jesus" and called him "Emmanuel." When the child stayed behind in the Temple we are told Joseph (along with Mary) searched with great anxiety for three days for him (Luke 2:48).

Joseph’s life reminds us that a home or community is not built on power and possessions but goodness; not on riches and wealth, but on faith, fidelity, purity and mutual love.

The present challenges to fatherhood and masculinity cannot be understood in isolation from the culture in which we live. The effect of fatherlessness on children is deeply alarming. How many young people today have been affected by the crisis of fatherhood and paternity! How many have been deprived of a father or grandfather in their life?

It is not for naught that St. Joseph is patron of the Universal Church and principal patron of Canada. If there was ever a time when we needed a strong, saintly male role model who is a father, it is our time. And the feast of the Holy Family is a very significant day to go to Joseph and beg him to send us good fathers who will head families.

Joseph and Mary, more than anyone else, were the first to behold the glory of their One and Only who came from the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:14). May St. Joseph make of us good priests, religious and laymen who will imitate the humble worker from Nazareth, who listened to the Lord, treasured a gift that was not his, all the while modeling to Jesus how the Word becomes flesh and lives among us.

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