YEAR B SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS homily: LUKE 2:22-40, DECEMBER 31, 2023
1.
STORY
There was a poor
woodcutter who lived happily with his family at the edge of the forest. Each night when the king walked by, he was
annoyed that a family could be so happy.
The king gave orders that the woodcutter must have fifty bags of sawdust
for him in one day or the whole family would be killed. The woodcutter and his wife said that this
was impossible. They prayed to God for help. When morning came, there was a knock on the
door. The king’s messenger entered slowly
and sadly and told the woodcutter to cut twelve hardwood planks for a coffin. The king had died the previous night. God protected this happy family.
2.
GOSPEL: LUKE 2:22-40
A. Mary
and Joseph
i.
Both of them were very religious
parents. They were obedient to God. They fulfilled all the prescriptions of the
law of the Lord.
ii. They were responsible parents as they cared for Jesus who grew up strong and filled with wisdom.
B. Jesus
i.
Even though he was the King of kings and
the Son of God, he was obedient to the will of God.
ii.
He was also obedient to his parents while
living with them in Nazareth for 30 years.
3.
APPLICATION TO LIFE
A. The
family
We belong to many groups such as a school, a company, or a church but the most important group we belong to is our family. We must make every effort to make out family a happy one.
B. How
to help make our family a happy family
Each family is different
so there are many different ways to be happy.
Here are two suggestions:
i.
Be a caring member of your family. Be caring by keeping in contact with them
even though may be once a year. Be
caring by helping them when they are in need whenever you can and according to
your ability.
ii.
Be forgiving. There will be misunderstandings, arguments
and different points of view among family members. This will cause friction and hard feelings. Forgive those who have offended you. Ask for forgiveness if you have offended
others. Forgiveness is a great medicine
which is able to cure an unhappy family and bring it back to health.
4.
CONCLUSION
The woodcutter’s happy
family was in great difficulty. God protected
this family who has great faith in him.
Jesus, Mary and Joseph make up the ideal family as they obeyed God and faithfully
carried out their responsibilities. We
must help to make our family a happy one by caring for and forgiving members of
our family.
