The fifth of the Twelve Days of Christmas

The Holy Family with St. Ann by El Greco

Today we celebrate Holy Family Sunday.  El Greco's painting gives us not only Jesus, Mary and Joseph, but Jesus's grandmother, Ann, as well.  A grandmother's love for her grandchild is a special love indeed. Pause and pray and imagine the depths of Ann's love for her daughter, Mary, and for her grandson, Jesus...

He was but a baby: 
a son and grandson...
 
Did you come to visit often, Ann, 
to help your daughter 
with her precious newborn?
 
Did your son-in-law, Joseph,
welcome you warmly
and make you feel at home?

Did you know the mystery 
of this baby's birth?
 
Had they told you 
of an angel's visit to Mary?
of an angel's message in Joseph's dream?
 
Did you wonder, 
did you worry, too,
what would become of this little one?

Your eyes, your gaze tell me
that in your heart you knew what Mary knew:
mothers know these things...

Your infant grandson is hungry now
and turns to his mother's breast 
for nourishment...

As you nourished Mary at your breast,
as Mary fed Jesus from hers,
so help us care for one another
with the milk of human kindness,
with the tender peace of mercy
that's ours
in Christ the Lord...

Amen.


Twelve Days 2012
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