bible study guide feast of the holy family december 27, 2015

Bible Study Guide

Feast of the Holy FamilyDecember 27, 2015

1st reading: 1 Sam 1,20-22.24-28

• 20 In those days, Hannah conceived, and at the end of her term bore a son whom she called Samuel, since she had asked the LORD for him. 21 The next time her husband Elkanah was going up with the rest of his household to offer the customary sacrifice to the LORD and to fulfill his vows, 22 Hannah did not go, explaining to her husband, “Once the child is weaned, I will take him to appear before the LORD and to remain there forever; I will offer him as a perpetual nazirite.” 24 Once he was weaned, she brought him up with her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and presented him at the temple of the LORD in Shiloh. 25 After the boy's father had sacrificed the young bull, Hannah, his mother, approached Eli 26 and said: "Pardon, my lord! As you live my lord, I am the woman who stood near you here, praying to the LORD. 27 I prayed for this child, and the LORD granted my request. 28 Now I, in turn, give him to the LORD; as long as he lives, he shall be dedicated to the LORD." Hannah left Samuel there.

The focus is on Samuel.

1st reading: 1 Sam 1,20-22.24-28The birth of Samuel• 20 In those days, Hannah conceived, and at the end of her term bore

a son whom she called Samuel, since she had asked the LORD for him.

Fulfilling of vows• 21 The next time her husband Elkanah was going up with the rest of

his household to offer the customary sacrifice to the LORD and to fulfill his vows, 22 Hannah did not go, explaining to her husband, “Once the child is weaned, I will take him to appear before the LORD and to remain there forever; I will offer him as a perpetual nazirite.”

Weaning and offering Samuel• 24 Once he was weaned, she brought him up with her, along with a

three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and presented him at the temple of the LORD in Shiloh. 25 After the boy's father had sacrificed the young bull, Hannah, his mother, approached Eli 26 and said: "Pardon, my lord! As you live my lord, I am the woman who stood near you here, praying to the LORD. 27 I prayed for this child, and the LORD granted my request. 28 Now I, in turn, give him to the LORD; as long as he lives, he shall be dedicated to the LORD." Hannah left Samuel there.

Textual Context of 1 Sam 1,20-22.24-28

1. Samuel Cycle (1 Samuel 1-12)

• A. The Early Samuel (1:1-4:1a)• B. Travels of the Ark (4:1b-7:17)• C. Search for a King (8-12)

2. Saul Cycle (1 Samuel 13-31)

• A. Saul's Disobedience (13-15)

• B. Saul versus David (16-31) 3. David Cycle (2 Samuel 1-24)

• A. David's Rise to Power (1-8)• B. Dynastic Succession (9-20)• C. David's Last Days (21-24)

Historical Context 1 Sam 1,20-22.24-28

Samuel

Shiloh

Used with permission from PBS

1st reading: 1 Sam 1,20-22.24-28The birth of Samuel

• 20 In those days, Hannah conceived, and at the end of her term bore a son whom she called Samuel, since she had asked the LORD for him.

Fulfilling of vows• 21 The next time her husband Elkanah was going

up with the rest of his household to offer the customary sacrifice to the LORD and to fulfill his vows, 22 Hannah did not go, explaining to her husband, “Once the child is weaned, I will take him to appear before the LORD and to remain there forever; I will offer him as a perpetual nazirite.”

Weaning and offering Samuel• 24 Once he was weaned, she brought him up with

her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and presented him at the temple of the LORD in Shiloh. 25 After the boy's father had sacrificed the young bull, Hannah, his mother, approached Eli 26 and said: "Pardon, my lord! As you live my lord, I am the woman who stood near you here, praying to the LORD. 27 I prayed for this child, and the LORD granted my request. 28 Now I, in turn, give him to the LORD; as long as he lives, he shall be dedicated to the LORD." Hannah left Samuel there.

Commentary• V.20 speaks of the birth of Samuel.• Her mother Hannah prayed hard for a

son.• Vv.21-22 describes her husband

Elkanah going to make sacrifice to the Lord and to fulfill his vows, but Hannah making an excuse not go with him.

• But Hannah promises to offer Samuel to the Lord once he is weaned.

• In v.24, Hannah now presents Samuel in the temple (shrine) of Shiloh (not in Jerusalem).

• In vv.25-27, as Elkanah sacrifices a young bull, Hannah approaches Eli the priest, informing him she was the one praying for a child.

• In v.28, now Hannah is also fulfilling her promise to God: to offer her son to serve the Lord.

Reflections on the 1st reading• When we ask favors from the Lord, we should also make

promises.• But oftentimes, when our prayers are granted, we forget

to keep our promises.• Hannah is a good model of keeping one’s promises.• She did not forget her promise to offer the child to the

Lord.• The favors that we receive from God are not for

ourselves, but for the Lord and for other people.• How do you show your gratitude when your prayers are

granted?

Resp. Psalm 84:2-3, 5-6, 9-10• (cf. 5a) Blessed are they who dwell in your house, O Lord.

• 2 How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts!My soul yearns and pines for the courts of the LORD.3 My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.

• 5 Happy they who dwell in your house!Continually they praise you.

• 6 Happy the men whose strength you are!Their hearts are set upon the pilgrimage.

• 9 O LORD of hosts, hear our prayer;hearken, O God of Jacob!10 O God, behold our shield,and look upon the face of your anointed.

Resp. Psalm 84:2-3, 5-6, 9-10• (cf. 5a) Blessed are they who dwell

in your house, O Lord.





Commentary• The psalm expresses the

joy of praying in the temple of the Lord.

• The responsorial psalm affirms the joy of people who stay in God’s house.

• V.2 expresses the same feeling.

• In v.2b the psalmist affirms the joy of praying always in the house of the Lord.

• V.3 is a statement of a man who searches for God.

Resp. Psalm 84:2-3, 5-6, 9-10• (cf. 5a) Blessed are they who

dwell in your house, O Lord.





• V.5 is the responsorial psalm.

• V.5b describes what those who dwell in God’s house are doing:– Unceasingly they give

praise to God.• V.6 affirms the importance of

drawing strength from the Lord.

• They are drawn to make pilgrimage (to the Temple).

• V.9 is a prayer, in parallel form.

• V.10 is also a prayer for God’s attention.

Reflections on the Psalm

• As Christians, we must be men and women of prayer.

• We must be able to enjoy our prayer time with God in the chapel or in the church.

• Our churches are meant to be houses of prayer, dwelling places of the Lord.

• When praying, we must not be in a hurry in order to enjoy our time with God.

• We make our homes temples of God.• We as a family must be able to set aside

time for common prayer.

2nd reading: 1 John 3,1-2.21-24

• 1 See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God. Yet so we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Beloved, we are God's children now; what we shall be has not yet been revealed. We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 21 Beloved, if (our) hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence in God 22 and receive from him whatever we ask, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. 23 And his commandment is this: we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another just as he commanded us. 24 Those who keep his commandments remain in him, and he in them, and the way we know that he remains in us is from the Spirit that he gave us.

The focus is on God’s love for us.

2nd reading: 1 John 3,1-2.21-24

God’s love• 1 See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the

children of God. Yet so we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Beloved, we are God's children now; what we shall be has not yet been revealed. We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.

Keeping God’s commandments• 21 Beloved, if (our) hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence in God

22 and receive from him whatever we ask, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. 23 And his commandment is this: we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another just as he commanded us. 24 Those who keep his commandments remain in him, and he in them, and the way we know that he remains in us is from the Spirit that he gave us.

A simple outline!

2nd reading: 1 John 3,1-2.21-24God’s love• 1 See what love the Father has

bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God. Yet so we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Beloved, we are God's children now; what we shall be has not yet been revealed. We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.

Keeping God’s commandments• 21 Beloved, if (our) hearts do not

condemn us, we have confidence in God 22 and receive from him whatever we ask, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. 23 And his commandment is this: we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another just as he commanded us. 24 Those who keep his commandments remain in him, and he in them, and the way we know that he remains in us is from the Spirit that he gave us.

Commentary• In v.1, God’s love is given to us, that we may

become his children.• V.2 affirms that we, the baptized Christians are

God’s children. As such, we are destined to have a great future which we still do not know.

• In v.2b, when time comes, we Christians will be like Jesus. We will know him as he is.

• Vv.21-22 indicate that our prayers are answered if we keep God’s commandments.

• V.23 specifies the commandment of God:– We should believe in Jesus.– We should love one another.

• V.24 states a fact that Christians who keep God’s commandments remain (stay) in him and vice versa.– For sure, we know this because of the Holy

Spirit.

Reflections on the 2nd reading

• We should realize how much the love of God can do for us.

• It makes us belong to God’s family as his children.• As God’s children, we are bound to obey his

commandments.• God commands us to believe in his Son Jesus Christ.• We will stay in his house if we keep his

commandments.• We will never be driven away from his presence.

Gospel: Luke 2,41-52• 41 Each year his parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, 42

and when he was twelve years old, they went up according to festival custom. 43 After they had completed its days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. 44 Thinking that he was in the caravan, they journeyed for a day and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances, 45 but not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions, 47 and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers. 48 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." 49 And he said to them, "Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?" 50 But they did not understand what he said to them. 51 He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus advanced (in) wisdom and age and favor before God and man.

The focus is on obedience to the Father and to parents.

Gospel Reading: Luke 2,41-52Situationer• 41 Each year his parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, 42 and when

he was twelve years old, they went up according to festival custom. 43 After they had completed its days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. 44 Thinking that he was in the caravan, they journeyed for a day and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances, 45 but not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him.

Jesus in the Temple and his being found• 46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the

teachers, listening to them and asking them questions, 47 and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers.

• 48 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." 49 And he said to them, "Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?" 50 But they did not understand what he said to them.

Jesus going home and being obedient• 51 He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them;

and his mother kept all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus advanced (in) wisdom and age and favor before God and man.

Textual Context of Luke 2,41-52

• Introduction• 1,1-4 Prologue• 1,5—2,52 Infancy Narrative

• 3,1—9,50 Part One Galilean Ministry

• 9,51—19,27 Part Two Travel Narrative

• 19,28—24,53 Part Three “Jerusalem Narrative”

Textual Context of Luke 2,41-52

1,5—2,52 Infancy NarrativeTwin Annunciation Stories• Scene 1 Zechariah (1,5-25)• Scene 2 Mary (1,26-38)• Scene 3 Sequel: Visitation (1,39-56)

Twin Birth Stories• Scene 4 Birth of John (1,57-80)• Scene 5 Birth of Jesus (2,1-20)• Scene 6 Circumcision and Presentation (2,21-40)• Scene 7 Sequel: Jesus in the Temple (2,41-52)

Gospel Reading: Luke 2,41-52

Situationer• 41 Each year his parents went

to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, 42 and when he was twelve years old, they went up according to festival custom. 43 After they had completed its days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. 44 Thinking that he was in the caravan, they journeyed for a day and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances, 45 but not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him.

Commentary• Vv.41-42 indicate that Joseph and

Mary are obedient to the law. They attend the annual passover in Jerusalem.

• V.43 is somehow problematic to us. How come Jesus did not inform his parents of his plan to stay behind? (The author does not care about this. He just describes how things unfold.)

• V.44 is a case of presumption (akala, maling akala). Should we find fault with Mary and Joseph on this? (The author does not judge, no comment, he just continues developing his story).

• V.45, another presumption (nagbakasakali sila, he might be there), but they had no way of knowing he was there.

Gospel Reading: Luke 2,41-52Jesus in the Temple and his being

found• 46 After three days they found

him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions, 47 and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers.

• 48 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." 49 And he said to them, "Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?" 50 But they did not understand what he said to them.

• V.46 reports of the finding of Jesus. Joseph and Mary’s efforts were rewarded. Now the focus is on Jesus.– Sitting in the midst of the teachers– Listening to them– Asking questions

• V.47 records the reaction of people around (wisdom and answers)

• V.48 reports of the reaction of his parents. The question reveals a worried parent. “Why have you done this to us?”

• In v.49, Jesus amazes them too. He is old enough (really?) to be responsible for himself. He is not a boy anymore. By now he must be doing his mission.

• V.50 reports the reaction of his parents: did not understand… Maybe they did not know yet his mission.

Gospel Reading: Luke 2,41-52Jesus going home and being

obedient• 51 He went down with them

and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus advanced (in) wisdom and age and favor before God and man.

• V.51 reports he is still their son, an obedient son; Luke makes a special remark on Mary: She kept all these things in her heart. What does this mean? Meditated, reflected upon, continued questioning, searching for meaning?

• V.52 picks up the idea of the growth of Jesus (in wisdom and favor)… Luke prepares us to encounter the adult Jesus very soon. Read next chapter of Luke (chapter 3)

Reflections on the gospel reading

• Obedience means doing the will of God now. It is staying behind to discuss or engage with those who know something, to share and to discover more the will of God.

• Obedience is also allowing one’s parents to control over you (to have some kind of jurisdiction; they also feel responsible to their children.)

• Obedience presupposes some understanding of one’s mission (charism) in life.

• By staying behind, Jesus signals his parents of his impending mission to teach, to preach, to wrestle with the established customs, traditions and beliefs, and to open a new horizon, a new way of relating with the Father through himself (his son).

Tying the 3 readings and the Psalms

• The first reading talks about the need to keep one’s promises.

• The psalmist affirms the pleasure of staying long in God’s house (temple), praying.

• The second reading instructs us to be appreciative of God’s love.

• The gospel reading tells the importance of obeying the will of the Father (your mission, assignment).

How to develop your sharing

• Today is the feast day of the Holy Family.• The preacher must focus on the importance of certain

ingredients needed to build a sound, normal, and happy family.

• The first reading teaches us to keep our vows to the Lord.

• When we get married, we make a vow to be faithful to our mate and to make our family happy.

• If we forget our promise, trouble is not far away.

• The second reading teaches us what God’s love is all about.

• It is the power behind our relationships as God’s children.

• To enjoy God’s love, we must keep his commandments.

• We cannot enjoy God’s love, if we violate his rules and precepts.

• There is no such thing as a happy family without God’s love in the house.

• The gospel reading teaches us the value of obedience.

• Jesus, Mary and Joseph are good examples of obedience.

• Joseph obeyed the rules of his religion; Mary too submitted herself as a pious Jew.

• Jesus submits himself to his parents.• He obeys both his earthly parents and

heavenly Father.

• The feast of the Holy Family must remind us of the hallmarks of a family willed by God.

• The family willed by God manifests the following:– Each one fulfills her/his promises or vows (one’s

responsibilities).

– Each member must have love and is able to conform to established norms (not pasaway or flagrant violator).

– Each one should submit to the proper authority (obedience).

• We cannot build a happy family if we don’t keep our words to our children.

• Forget having a happy family, if we don’t behave according to our dignity as God’s children.

• God’s children behave differently from those begotten of not God-fearing parents.

• Don’t expect a cohesive and harmonious family if each one goes his own way, making the house a hotel, not a home.

• The Synod of Bishops in October 2012 (7th point) says, “…. all the Bishops of the Synod reconfirmed this essential role of the family in the transmission of the faith. A new evangelization is unthinkable without acknowledging a specific responsibility to proclaim the Gospel to families and to sustain them in their task of education.”

• The eucharist is a sign of obedience of Jesus to the Father and to us.

• In the eucharist, Jesus comes to build our families based on love.

• In the eucharist, Jesus invites us to be integrated with one another as one family and with the Triune God, the perfect family and community.

Our Context of Sin and Grace• Dysfunctional families• Poverty • Chaotic families• Parents unable to govern their

children• Children addicted to drugs and sex• Single parenthood• Un-churched families• Unprepared couples• Forced weddings• Contraceptive mentality• Child laborer• Child soldier

• Family life movements• Synod on Family• Dialogue of life• Good communication• Love & compassion• Acceptance & forgiveness• Protection of Children’s

rights• Family Code• Natural Family Planning• Value formation in school

and family

bible study guide feast of the holy family december 27, 2015

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