Holy Family (B) Homily by Fr. Aelred

Holy Family Cloister Icon

MASS

Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph.

28/12/2014

Holy Family (B) Homily by Fr. Aelred  

Today’s Gospel relates Jesus’ first entry into the Temple of Jerusalem.

For the Evangelist (St Luke) Jerusalem and its Temple is the place that God has chosen where Jesus manifestation begins and ends. Jerusalem will be the location of the Easter event, the crucifixion and resurrection and the starting point of the mission of the Church through the Apostles. Already as an infant Jesus is recognised as the ‘Anointed of the Lord’ by two old people – a man and a woman – who represent all those who live in hope of ‘the consolation of Israel’.   

In Simeon’s canticle, the Nunc dimittis, he proclaims that the mystery of Salvation is already accomplished. He recognised that the Lord has kept promises ‘Now Master, you can dismiss your servant in peace, you have fulfilled your word’. Upon this moment, through all the pages of the OT, God was preparing his Salvation. ‘Now’ Salvation is given and even the pagans will participate in it. Jesus ‘light of the nations’, has come to bring this revelation; his mission will be taken over the apostles and their successors, right down to our day. Without the Church we would all still be in the dark. 

But Simeon also sees that the child will be a sign of division among people. Speaking to Mary, he says, ‘and a sword shall pierce your soul too’. This refers to the sorrow of a mother and believer who is present, though powerless at the te sufferings of Jesus at the cross. Another understanding is that St. Luke presents Mary as the Daughter of Sion, a personification of the whole people of God, and the sword that cleaves the people of God has struck this daughter of Sion personally. 

The Temple story ends with the prophetess Anna who speaks of the child to all who looked towards toward to the deliverance of Jerusalem. This presentation of Jesus at the Temple is truly the feast of Encounter as the Eastern Church calls it. ‘O God, we ponder your kindness within your Temple. As your name, O God, so also your praise reaches to the ends of the earth’. 

This encounter with Simeon and Anna caused astonishment to Mary and Joseph. A journey made in the fulfilment of the Law, as many other Israelites did, has turned into an unforeseen revelation for Mary and Joseph. And surely for us too. We can now perceive that the baby Jesus is also the hidden Lord. 

Before Office of None 28/12/2014