Feast of the Holy Family – What Does It Mean to be a Family?
Today we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. We tend to think of the Holy Family as having the perfect life. Mary conceived without sin by the Holy Spirit and Jesus was the Son of God. How could everything not be perfect?
Things were not perfect for them. Today’s gospel tells the story of when Joseph and Mary “lost” Jesus in the temple. Matthew 2:13-15 tells us that the Holy Family had to flee to Egypt to escape Herod’s plan to kill Jesus.
Through the sufferings they faced, Jesus, Mary and Joseph always remained faithful. They did so by the power of the Holy Spirit. We receive the same Holy Spirit in our Baptism and are sealed with the Holy Spirit at Confirmation. God bestows his love on us so “that we may be called the children of God.” With God’s grace we are called to be holy just as Jesus, Mary, and Joseph are holy.
Sometimes we think holiness is something only a few people achieve. This is not true. Chapter 5 of Lumen Gentium from the Second Vatican Council speaks of the “Universal Call to Holiness.”
We are called to follow the example of the Holy Family. What examples do they give us of what it means to be holy?
They kept all the Jewish feasts such as going to Jerusalem each year for the Passover. Do we come to church on Sundays and all Holy Days of Obligation? (see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraphs 2180-2181 and the Third Commandment to Keep the Sabbath Holy. Exodus 20:8-11.)
As evidenced by their search for Jesus, Mary and Joseph were diligent in their care for Jesus. Are we diligent in caring for our families?
As their son, Jesus was obedient to his parents. Do we obey our parents when we are little and do we honor them throughout our entire lives?
Mary was reflective as she “kept all these things in her heart.” Do we take time to reflect on what the Lord says to us?
Our readings today speak of what God intends family to be and what it means to keep the Fourth Commandment to honor our parents (Exodus 20:12).
The words “wives, be subordinate to your husbands” in Colossians (one of two options for today’s second reading) are not popular or properly understood today. It is not about a wife simply doing whatever her husband tells us. It involves a loving relationship as husbands are called to love their wives. A husband who truly loves his wife does not ask her to do anything that is not good and holy.
It is in our families where we first learn “heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another.” These virtues are essential to what it means to be holy. It flows from God through the family. At least this is what God intends for families to be. Unfortunately, not all families are.
Sirach tells us that “whoever reveres his faith will live a long life” and that we are take care of our father when he is old, always being considerate of him “even if his mind falls.” The Fourth Commandment does not end when we become adults. It changes perspective but it does not end.
Parents should not abuse their children’s obedience to them. Parents need to see their children as gifts from God as Hannah did (see 1 Samuel, the first of two options for today’s first reading). Seeing her son Samuel as a gift, she gave him back to the Lord. Do you give your children as a gift to God? Samuel served the Lord in a particular way that not all people are called to. However, we are all called to use what God has given us for the building up of his kingdom.
God gave us his only Son (see John 3:16-17). Jesus gave his life for you and your family. Are you willing to give your family to God? One does so by keeping the Third Commandment to Keep the Sabbath holy and living as the Lord teaches us, loving God and loving our neighbor. It is keeping his commandments that we “do what pleases him.” It is in keeping his commandments rather than following worldly ways that we “remain in him.” This is the universal call to holiness.
Peace,
Fr. Jeff