SOLEMNITY OF THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH

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THE FAMILY MYSTERY


The family is a mystery.  Even God needed a human family when he came into our history and visited our lives, falling in love with our fallen world.  The gospel of the Holy Family’s visit to the temple in Jerusalem (Lk. 2) shows us that this most blessed family was not free from daily concerns and common problems.  It was even the Child Jesus who caused much distress to Mary and Joseph, his legal father!  But it is also in the family that Jesus had to eventually return to learn obedience, love and unity.  It was in the family that Mary developed a reflective heart.  It was in this family that Joseph became a holy man by faithfully working for a living.

The family is important to God because God too is family.  Remember that when we think of God, we think of Father, we think of Son.  Aren’t these family words? And yet they refer us to the heart of God himself.  We also think of the Spirit, the spirit of love and unity, the atmosphere essential to every family.

This is why as Christians we are called to cherish our families, to nurture our  families, and to protect our families.  The Church, the family of God on earth, has a special mission to defend the family.  Many forces today destroy the family.  Abortion, contraception and mindsets of all sorts tear away at the fabric of the family.  Divorce, abuse, violence transform the family into an agency of oppression rather than real freedom.   

There is no perfect family in our world today but the Lord reminds us that every family centered on God finds peace, unity and joy. Remember your families.  Pray for your families. Help your families find the way to Jesus the Prince of Peace.

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