The Feast of the Holy Family (Cycle C)

The Feast of the Holy Family 

of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Lectionary: 17
Reading 1 - Sir 3:2-6, 12-14
Responsorial Psalm - Ps 128:1-2, 3, 4-5
Reading 2 - Col 3:12-21
Alleluia - Col 3:15a,16a
Gospel - Lk 2:41-52

Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety …

Today is the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Pope Leo XIII established this holy day in the late 19th century (1893) to highlight the “importance of the Holy Family to the world as a model for every human virtue necessary for human growth,” … it is day when the Church calls on us to reflect upon the profound mystery of family life, as exemplified by Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Although scripture does not capture much about family interactions during the childhood of Jesus; what we absolutely do know, is that God chose to enter our fallen human condition through his incarnation by the Virgin Mary in order to experience the fullness of human society within the context of an earthly family … because the family is the foundation for all natural structures of human relationships. In his encyclical, the Holy Father stated that: “The family may be regarded as the cradle of civil society, and it is in great measure within the circle of family life that the destiny of the States Is fostered.” Nearly one hundred years later (1981), Pope John Paul II would take this idea even further, reinforcing the concept of the family as the “domestic church,” with a principle role in fostering prayer, teaching the faith, and nurturing Christian virtues.

Keep in mind that No family is perfect. None of us Had perfect parents … none of us Are perfect parents. I would go even further and say that none of us have been perfect children either. In fact, every family is already a “bad” family … every family is a fallen family, just as every individual is a fallen individual, including the saints. But even when a family becomes dysfunctional, it is still a family. It may be a dysfunctional family, but it is not a non-family. And there is the same kind of hope for a fallen Family as there is for a fallen individual. And … Although there is a little bad in the best of us, and a little good in the worst of us, there is always Hope for all of us. Every little step counts, steps up as well as steps down. Often we grow even more because of our mistakes and imperfections. Everyone and every act counts … and while today’s epistle reading might be seen as a checklist of virtues for healthy family life; there is one virtue that is placed above all else … “And over all these put on love.” … and it is love that helps us to grow in compassion, humility, kindness, patience and forgiveness … and it is often our mistakes that enable us to put those virtues into practice.

It is in the family that we first encounter the unselfish love Paul is talking about. It is in the family that we learn what is means to give your very self and life to others … to put the welfare of others above your own. To love someone unconditionally, even when they don’t “deserve” it. and may not even be aware of it. While outside of your family, you may be loved because of what you can do … within your family, you are loved because of who you are. And family life is full of opportunities to show forth God’s goodness and love by doing little things for those other family members around us. One such opportunity would be to form a habit of making the first move and not waiting for others to do the “right” thing. For example, when there is a family argument, both sides will often share some of the blame … don’t wait for the other person to apologize first, even if you think that they are more responsible for the conflict. It is important to practice asking for, and giving forgiveness. Another opportunity might be if you see a sibling or family member having a bad day, don’t wait for them to come to you for support, make the first move and offer it first … especially when many people find it difficult to ask. Just as important would be allowing others to help when you may need it.

Of course, we might be tempted to say that, for most of us, there is a significant difference between the Holy Family and our own family … after all, we have biological fathers and Jesus has God as Father. Although on further reflection there is not so much difference after all. In the Gospel reading today, we have a story that gave Mary and Joseph “great anxiety” when they lost Jesus in Jerusalem and found him at the Temple. I am sure many parents could empathize with that anxiety … and after three (3) days … would promote that to sheer panic. Despite the theological implications of the details here, the story is also an illustration that, despite having a family of two great saints and a divine child, misunderstandings do arise and they can put a strain on family relationships. Just as important though, is that all the faithful who have been baptized, have been “born of God” in a supernatural way from a heavenly Father … making us children of God through the power of the Holy Spirit … and brothers and sisters in Christ.

So as we contemplate the Holy Family this Sunday, we should take the opportunity to ask for their intercession to help us live family life well and to teach us how to show greater love to all who are in our family.

---