Hebrews 11: 8, 11-12, 17-19; Luke 2: 22-40
A celebration of family today, and look at what families we have. Abraham, Sarah, & Isaac: two old sterile people and a son offered up in sacrifice. Joseph, Mary, & Jesus: an old man, his young virgin bride, and the Son of God (also to be offered up in sacrifice). So much for traditional family values! We are given a sign here of what it means to be true family: obedience to the will of God. It is not genes, law, or ritual that makes us family, it is faithfulness to that which is our true mother and father. Above all, it is faithfulness to love.