THE WORD
FIRST READING
Sir 3: 3–7.14–17
Those who honor their father atone for sins;
they store up riches who respect their mother.
Those who honor their father will have joy in their own children,
and when they pray they are heard.
Those who respect their father will live a long life;
those who obey the Lord honor their mother.
Those who fear the Lord honor their father,
and serve their parents as masters.
Kindness to a father will not be forgotten;
it will serve as a sin offering—it will take lasting root.
In time of trouble it will be recalled to your advantage,
like warmth upon frost it will melt away your sins.
Those who neglect their father are like blasphemers;
those who provoke their mother are accursed by their Creator.
My son, conduct your affairs with humility,
and you will be loved more than a giver of gifts.
SECOND READING
Col 3: 12–21
Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if one has a grievance against another; as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do. And over all these put on love, that is, the bond of perfection. And let the peace of Christ control your hearts, the peace into which you were also called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Wives, be subordinate to your husbands, as is proper in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and avoid any bitterness toward them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, so they may not become discouraged.
GOSPEL READING
Lk 2: 41–52
Each year his parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, and when he was twelve years old, they went up according to festival custom. After they had completed its days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. Thinking that he was in the caravan, they journeyed for a day and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances, but not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions, and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.” And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what he said to them. He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart. And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and favor before God and man.
IN OTHER WORDS
I love its silence despite the busy piazza outside it and the street in front of it so it has become almost a daily habit for me to visit the Church especially during our class breaks. This church is near the Italian language school where I was then studying. Aside from being a place of worship, it houses great works of art which are so common in Rome. Silence, art, prayer and a desire for a momentary break from the drills and exercises have brought me there. Little did I know that my teacher had noticed this habit and knew from my classmates that I would fly to this basilica at every breaktime. One day, I opted to stay in the classroom during the break to do some reading. Suddenly one classmate asked me what was I doing in the classroom. Surprised by the query, I asked in turn why should I not be in the classroom. Then her funny response, “You are supposed to be in Church!”
“Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” This response of Jesus underlines strongly His identity and His mission. Being the Son of God and being sent by the Father mean to him that He is naturally to be found doing what is expected of Him as the Son and, of course, in the place where humanity and God would meet in prayer. It was like being in his natural habitat – in His Father’s house - and largely preoccupied by the Father’s concerns and mission. This reminds us also that being Christians, we have a calling to preoccupy us, to be busy about the Father’s business. A Christian, a follower of Christ, is naturally expected to be doing the work and mission of Christ. Going about the ministries of love, doing things in joy, promoting peace in the community and asserting justice, as well as the willingness to take up every cross that comes daily, are the natural things to do rather than gossiping and backbiting, hating one another or sowing division in the community. How blessed are we to be found doing the Father’s business!
- Fr. Ferdinand Bajao, SVD (Rome, Italy)
The Word in other words 2015
An annual project of Logos Publications, The WORD in Other Words Bible Diary contains daily scripture readings and reflections written by priest, brothers, and sisters of the three congregations founded by St. Arnold Janssen (the SVD, SSpS, and SSpSAP). It hopes to serve as a daily companion to readers who continually seek the correlation of the Word of God and human experience.
