Feast of the Holy Family [C], December 31, 2006

For the lectionary reflection for Christmas, Dec. 25, click here.

 

 

Readings
Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14 or 1 Samuel 1:20-22, 24-28
Colossians 3:12-17 or 1 John 3:1-2, 21-24
Luke 2:41-52

Calendar
January 1: World Day of Prayer for Peace
January 1: Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God
January 7: Epiphany
January 7: Orthodox Christmas
January 7-13: National Migration Week 2006

Quotes
May Christ's love guide every people on earth and strengthen their common consciousness of being a "family" called to foster relationships of trust and mutual support. A united humanity will be able to confront the many troubling problems of the present time: from the menace of terrorism to the humiliating poverty in which millions of human beings live, from the proliferation of weapons to the pandemics and the environmental destruction which threatens the future of our planet.
Benedict XVI, Urbi et Orbi Message, Christmas 2005

To overcome today's individualistic mentality, a concrete commitment to solidarity and charity is needed, beginning in the family.
John Paul II, The Hundredth Year, #49

Learning to practice the virtue of solidarity means that "loving our neighbor" has global dimensions in an interdependent world.
Sharing Catholic Social Teaching: Challenges and Directions, U.S. Bishops

The solidarity which binds all people together as members of a common family makes it impossible for wealthy nations to look with indifference upon the hunger, misery and poverty of other nations whose citizens are unable to enjoy even elementary human rights. The nations of the world are becoming more and more dependent on one another and it will not be possible to preserve a lasting peace so long as glaring economic and social imbalances persist.
John XXIII, Mater et Magistra, #157

Thoughts for Your Consideration

Catholic Social Teaching invites all the people of our world to live in solidarity. The verses from Sirach about care for parents remind us of our social responsibility for one another both within our families and within the worldwide human family.

Salvation is not possible without forgiveness. In the reading from the letter to the Colossians we are reminded of the need for forgiveness. Forgiveness is the key if we are to achieve the healing we desire in our families and in the global human family (especially between nations and ethnic and religious groups).

In the gospel story we find at least four levels of solidarity -- family, village, tradition, and God. Jesus is in solidarity with his immediate family of Joseph and Mary and grows as a full human person in this environment. Jesus and his parents travel to Jerusalem in solidarity with a whole caravan of people. Jesus and the whole caravan of people are going up to Jerusalem in solidarity with the whole people of Israel to celebrate the feast. Jesus seeks solidarity with the tradition and with God as he asks questions and seeks the truth. The Christian ideal is not that of the rugged self-sufficient individual achieving his or her individual salvation or peace with God. The Christian is one who achieves salvation in community. Our concerns are concerns for the good of the whole community -- what our tradition calls the common good.

Questions for Reflection in your Faith Sharing Group

1. Share an example from your formational years of when you were taught the value of being concerned with more than your individual good (i.e. the common good).

2. Name a concrete sign of your actions in solidarity with the neediest part of the world.

Actions - Links
Go to http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/messages/peace/documents/hf_ben-xvi_mes_20061208_xl-world-day-peace_en.html to read the message of Benedict XVI for the World Day of Peace for 1 January 2007.

Resources for liturgy and other info about National Migration Week (January 7-13) can be found at the site of the NCCB/USCC Office for Migration and Refugee Services (http://www.nccbuscc.org/mrs/nmw.shtml). The theme this year is "Welcoming Christ in the Migrant." Benedict XVI's message for the World Day for Migrants and Refugees can be found at: http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/messages/migration/documents/hf_ben-xvi_mes_20061018_world-migrants-day_en.html

Prayers of Intercession

Response: God, help us to come together as one human family.

For all our families, that God will bless all with what they need, we pray. . .

For healing in all families that are divided by disagreements and misunderstandings, we pray. . .

For all families who are experiencing violence and suffering today, we pray. . .

For all families caught in injustice and poverty, we pray. . .

For our human family, that we may learn to be one, we pray. . .

For end to all the wars that keep us from being one, we pray. . .

For the ability to forgive and move on as a family, we pray. . .

Prayer - Meditation

"Prayer for a New Society," from Pax Christi USA, 1995

All-nourishing God, your children cry for help
Against the violence of our world:
Where children starve for bread and feed on weapons;
Starve for vision and feed on drugs;
Starve for love and feed on videos;
Starve for peace and die murdered in our streets.

Creator God, timeless preserver of resources,
Forgive us for the gifts that we have wasted.
Renew for us what seems beyond redemption;
Call order and beauty to emerge again from chaos.
Convert our destructive power into creative service;
Help us to heal the woundedness of our world.

Liberating God, release us from the demons of violence.
Free us today from the disguised demon of deterrence
That puts guns by our pillows and missiles in our skies.
Free us from all demons that blind and blunt our spirits;
Cleanse us from all justifications for violence and war;
Open our narrowed hearts to the suffering and the poor.

Abiding God, loving renewer of the human spirit,
Unfold our violent fists into peaceful hands:
Stretch our sense of family to include our neighbors;
Stretch our senses of neighbor to include our enemies;
Until our response to you finally respects and embraces
All creation as precious sacraments of your presence.
Hear the prayer of your starving children.

Amen.