FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY - B

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FAMILY TRULY OPEN

All around us are a variety of families.

There are broken families, severed by discord.  There are separated families, with a member or two in distant places.  There are wounded families, suffering the pain and hurt of emotional and physical torments.  There are dysfunctional families, defying normalcy and scarring their members for life.

That is why we need to hear about the Holy Family.  That is why after Christmas, the Lord wants us to behold his own family.  This family is our dream family, our ideal, our hope.

What made the Holy Family of Nazareth holy?  I think it is the members’ openness.

They were open to God: God has entered the world and Joseph and Mary did not push Him away. When they learned God has a plan for humanity, they welcomed God even if they did not fully understand His divine plan.

They were open to each other: Mary warmly received Jesus in her heart… and in her womb.  Joseph serenely wrapped his arms around Mary and married her.  Jesus embraced these two human beings and called them His human father and mother.

They were open to others: When the time came to let Jesus go, the Holy Family allowed him to leave the home and reach out to others to proclaim the Kingdom of God.

But the Holy Family was not the perfect family. They had a share of the difficulties, struggles and challenges inherent in all human families. and that’s good news for us.  if the Holy Family were perfect, we cannot aspire to be like it.

It is a thoroughly human family but outstanding in openness to God, to each other and to others.  our family can be like this too, with God’s grace and our constant effort.

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