-being from big family means lots of outrageous and hilarious stories; this year’s highlight was when the potatoes in the oven caught on fire. When my brother threw them out the side door, the leaves in the yard went up and we were out in the yard doing the Texas two-step to put out the flames.
-lots of catching up and getting opinions on just about everything; this year it was the future of hydrogen-powered cars and whether Tesla vehicles have crested or not.
-In the family there is comfort, security, acceptance, sharing, and love.
+Church has the highest regard for the family; calls it the domestic church and the building block of society.
-If you want to know how healthy a society is, look at the health of its families.
+It’s no secret that many of our families in this day and age are under attack:
-dangers include: divorce, redefinition of marriage, cohabitation, non-stop sports and other activity, and the promotion of selfishness among our young people which discourages any sense of obligation or obedience to parents and other authority figures.
-The family is under attack because the devil knows it is the most effective way to turn people away from God, if he can introduce fighting, anger, hatred, sadness, suffering, division, and dysfunction into our families, then he will have an easier time leading us astray.
+Because the family is so important, the Catholic Church tries to be present and supportive to our families at every stage of life. Notice how many Catholic hospitals are present and how many babies are welcomed into the world and into their families a catholic-run hospital. And how many of these same institutions care for our kids when they are sick and our elderly as they age. Our parishes educate and instill the christian virtues and values into our young from grade school through college. Each parish offers marriage prep for couples preparing for the holy sacrament of matrimony, and of course there are many other programs and groups within our Church that try to help and support families in every part and circumstance of life, whether they be joyful, mundane, or tragic.
-Our faith wants families to be healthy, happy, and secure. When our families are hurting, the Church is robbed of its vibrant spirit and its mission is compromised.
+This is why we celebrate the great feast of the Holy family, just a few days after the incredible celebration of Christ’s birth. Just as Jesus became one of us, he also was born into a family like us. He had a mom and a dad, he grew up learning from them how to eat, drink, clean, study, pray and countless other things that you and I picked up from our families.
This celebration of Jesus’ family is also a celebration of our own. A time when we can reflect on the perfect example of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, and apply the example of their lives to our own.
Pope Paul VI, in a beautiful reflection on the Holy Family, offers three main points that we can think about for ourselves:
- Silence: Jesus time with his family was the majority of his life and also the most secret. 30 years of quiet learning, practicing, praying and loving; all preparing him for 3 years of public ministry. In the safety and quiet of the his family, he grew, learned and heard the voice of God. Would he be able to do the same today, in the typical american family where kids are being shuttled from one activity to another constantly? Where families rarely sit down to eat together, without a tv on or some other distraction? Parents, are you trying to do your best to protect your families from those dangers that attack the family? Is there time to be together and pray as a family? Are you watching out for the spiritual dangers that are often more subtle and dangerous? Vigilance and silence are possible and necessary for our families if we want them to be holy, nurturing places where each person is know and appreciated properly.
- Family life: Even though there is little we know about the daily routine of the holy family, we know it would have been similar to ours in many ways. Imagine all the little lessons he learned from Mary as she prepared meals, cleaned the house, did the wash, mended clothes, and went shopping in the market. How constantly he was watching and soaking in everything that Joseph said and did as they worked together in the wood shop, and repaired the house, and helped out the neighbors. Everything he experienced in those 30 years of family life became part of his preaching and parables. What are the lessons that your children are learning from their family life? Is there an example of warmth and genuine care for them as they grow and develop? Is it clear that they are the number one priority, more so than careers, social lives, vacations, or personal comfort and possessions? Do they observe love, forgiveness, patience and mercy from their parents? Is your home a school of virtue and charity, a place where God is found and promoted? Children and young people, are you willing to become like Christ, humble and obedient to your parents? Are you grateful for the many sacrifices they make for you, many of them unknown and unappreciated? Do you realize that you owe them your respect and love, even when you disagree with them and they drive you crazy?
3. Finally, The holy family teaches us about work, its value and the discipline it requires.
-Work makes us holy and keeps us occupied.
-it develops our talents and helps us to contribute to our families and society.
-Honest work makes us responsible stewards of what we have and helps us to appreciate what God gives us.
Work is part of God’s plan and any work, in the home, our studies, or our careers can all become a prayer and a proclamation of the good news.
Let us find inspiration in the hidden life of Christ to live a virtuous life, developing our personal gifts, and contributing to society with our work. May this feast of the Holy Family always remind us that we are not just members of a human family but also members of God’s family, brothers and sisters in Christ by virtue of our baptism. My prayer for each of you in this Christmas season is that you experience the peace and joy of the Holy Family in your own households by imitating their example. May your homes be little Nazareths that make the world a better place and bring the light of Christ to a world so often afflicted by sin and darkness.
