B: Feast of the Holy Family (31 Dec 2017) - LOVE OF THE COUNTRY AND THE WORLD - Lk 2:22-40

In reference to one’s country of origin, one basic parlance is the use of familial terms. We hear of the word “fatherland” to point to the country where one is born. Another is “motherland” to signify the same idea. The Latin “Patria”—adopted also into the English—brings in a more nationalistic spirit. The Filipino phrase “Inang Bayan” (“Mother Country”) directly links any Filipino, be in the Philippines or in the Diaspora, back to his/her genealogical rooting to the Pearl of the Orient. All citizens of various nations nowadays use familial terms to refer to their homeland, probably because of sentimental reasons: one’s native land is the true home... it’s one’s true family.

At the close of the year 2017, we celebrate today the Feast of the Holy Family. We then expect a gospel that will talk on the love-relationship among Joseph, Mary, and Jesus. The best biblical episode is the Flight to Egypt in Mt 2:13-15 read in the Year A of the Liturgical Year. Another is The Lost and Finding of Jesus in the Temple in Luke 2:41-52 used in Year C. Both these gospels show the utmost concern of parents (Joseph and Mary) over their son Jesus even to the point of jeopardizing their own comfort and lives, all for the sake of their beloved.

However, our gospel in this Year B talks about the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple where the only task of Joseph and Mary is to present Jesus to the temple, listen to the prophesies about him, and bring him back home to their native land. Nonetheless, we find here a lot of biblical characters raised from different places: Moses from Egypt, Simeon of Jerusalem, and Anna from the tribe of Asher. We also hear of references to many Jewish sites: Jerusalem, Israel, Galilee, and Nazareth. This mixture of personalities and places plotted into the national observance of Mosaic laws point to the unity of the Jewish people in their one lineage and their national pride and mission: “a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory of your people Israel” (Lk 2:32). This is, in fact, the prayer of Simeon to God, asserting that God is indeed the founder of their nation, but they are called to extend this universal nationhood to all, even to non-Jews, i.e., the Gentiles.

One’s country of birth is indeed one’s core family. No one should be denied of that, but we should remember that all of us are at least dual-citizens: one is a citizen of his/her own native land, and is at the same time a citizen of heaven, i.e., the city of God. Our allegiance then goes to both. And our concern goes for all nationalities of the world, regardless of their socio-political orientations, because we are all children of one God anyway.

For this Christmas season and the coming of the New Year 2018, I received a set of prayers from a European, who, even if not born in the Philippines, is highly concerned of the well-being of the Filipinos and of peace in our land. May we have time to pray these petitions I received (see attachment) and begin also to think globally and pray for all those who suffer like us.

Happy New Year to All! Kapayapaan sa Pilipinas at sa buong mundo!

- Rex Fortes, CM