Presiders will need to choose between two Scripture themes today. The first is, of course, families. The Hebrew Scripture from Sirach (3:2-6, 12-14) describes what was considered ideal behaviors that governed relationships between husbands, wives and children in a family living around 200 years before Christ. Our second reading today is from Colossians 3:12-21. The main part of this reading builds on our first reading. It beautifully lists the virtues and attitudes we need for being in relationships with others. We are to put these behaviors on, like a garment, and “over all these put on love.” Which of the beautiful statements in this Scripture do I need to strengthen, with God’s help? The specific connection with family life is in the last three verses, the optional longer ending of the reading. It begins: Wives, be subordinate to your husbands, as is proper in the Lord. Well of course presiders will need to be careful there! Recall that our New Testament male Scripture writers lived in a patriarchal society. The male father of a household legally “owned” his wife and children. In the early Church, males were only deemed worthy of becoming deacons if their households were orderly. To suggest a more equal sharing of power between spouses could not be imagined when this Scripture was written. Our Church puts these last verses into an optional “add on” longer ending of the reading for a reason!
There is also a second option for the presider’s homily today. It occurs in the Gospel reading, part of the “infancy narrative” which Matthew is using to introduce Jesus to his Gospel readers. Today’s passage begins, “When the magi had departed …” That’s a bit strange because this year we have not yet heard the Gospel about the magi; that’s next Sunday, Epiphany, when we hear about how the holy family was visited by three Magi (kings) from the East. So we hear the sequel first and, in it, Mary’s husband, Joseph, has a dream. Remember, his namesake Joseph, (Gen. 37-47) was also a dreamer who ended up in Egypt. That’s exactly where Mary’s husband takes her and Jesus as they flee from Herod. Then, our Gospel tells us, when Herod died, another dream directs Joseph to take his family out of Egypt. Of course, Jewish Christians would also have thought of Moses, another threatened baby, who led his people out of Egypt. In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus is the new Moses, giver of a new set of commandments. “Love one another as I have loved you,” is Jesus’ new covenant. Matthew is using a story kind of writing to let his readers in on truths that Jesus’ disciples and apostles will slowly understand. This is not just any baby the Magi adore! So we continue today celebrating the coming in flesh of the Lord God of heaven and earth during this our Christmas season.
— Blog entry by Sister Mary Garascia
The post December 28, The Holy Family, Love: a Sunday Scriptures blog first appeared on Sisters of the Precious Blood.