Every Sunday, Bishop Edward Malesic writes a Scripture reflection for the faithful. Follow the bishop on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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In the Gospel reading from Luke, we find two elderly figures in the temple: Simeon and Anna (if you read the long form of the Gospel provided for the day).
Simeon is described as a “righteous and devout” man…“and the Holy Spirit was upon him.” He took the newborn Jesus into his arms and blessed God. Anna is described as a widow “advanced in years” who “never left the temple, but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer.” When she encountered the infant Jesus, “she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.”
Think of the holy elderly men that you know or have known. Perhaps it is your grandfather or an elderly priest. Maybe you include other men who went to Mass every Sunday, perhaps every day. These are the guys who helped feed the hungry and clothe the poor. Men who prayed the rosary, received the Eucharist devoutly, taught religious education classes, and prayed before every meal. I certainly think of my own father who passed away in 2022 at the age of 104 and his faithfulness and his love of Jesus and his Church. These men are the Simeons of our time — and we need more of them. They show us how to be faithful until the end by staying close to God, patiently waiting for God’s presence to be revealed, and holding up Jesus as the one who can heal us completely.
And then there are the holy elderly women that we know or have known. Think of them. An elderly religious sister, a grandmother, a person who came before Mass and stayed after Mass to pray. When I this of these holy women, I think of Betty who was the sacristan at my former parish in the Diocese of Harrisburg. She took care of the linens, prepared everything for Mass, watering the flowers, changing the candles. But it didn’t stop there — she went home, and she prayed for the needs of the parish, she was at nearly every parish function, helped to cook at every parish gathering, and stayed to clean up too! She also was ready and willing to discipline any child who got out of hand. May she rest in peace. I have appreciated her and many other “Annas” that I have met, women who seemed like they “never left the Temple” of the church, and, in fact, were always at the heart of parish life. We need more Annas too!
Simply put, on this Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, it is good for us to remember the “more mature” members of our individual families and the more experienced members of our Church who have blessed us in the ways that Simeon and Anna blessed the Holy Family. These devout men and women have shown us a way to God that is faithful, kind and patient. Many of them work behind the scenes in our parish churches, fish dinners, and festivals. They are constantly in prayer and put the life of our parishes at the top of their list of priorities. They are often the glue that holds our own families together — making sure that we are going in the correct direction and urging us to be the best followers of Jesus that we can be.
On this Feast of the Holy Family, we should thank God for these wise and mature people of faith – and we should strive to be like the best of them ourselves as we pass on the faith and the practice of the faith from one generation to the next. Our Holy Father, Pope Francis, has said that our grandparents and the elderly are the “roots young people need in order to grow into adulthood.”
Since we are still in the Octave after December 25, Merry Christmas everyone. And on the cusp of a New Year, may each and every one of you be blessed in 2024 along with your loved ones.
Have a blessed week everyone.