STRENGTH OF THE FAMILY

FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY (A)
(Mt. 2:13-15; 19-23)
Dec. 30, 2008

In this festive mood of the Christmas season, we are reminded that the child who was God grew up as a member of a human family. Anyone who reads the gospel carefully will see that the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph had their share of troubles and difficulties which caused them great worry. Joseph showed a father’s courageous and protective instinct as he did his best to shield the Holy Family from hostility and from the forces of evil. When he learned in a dream of Herod’s plot to kill the baby Jesus, he quickly uprooted Mary and the Child and left that night for Egypt where they lived in exile.

The most elementary Christian community of our lives is the family into which we are born. The purpose of this feast is to show the importance and sacredness of the family as the basic unit of church life. It provides an opportunity to reflect on the quality of our home and family life, in so far as they imitate the values of the Holy Family of Nazareth. Family life is a full-time job which is not so much about parents and children living under one roof as about their hearts beating together in harmony and love. This will happen if the message of Christ in all its richness is found within its walls. Parents teach their children by word and by example and those who avoid signs of mutual affection and do not show tenderness can scarcely complain if their homes turn out to be empty of love. Such household are not families but a group of people sharing living accommodation. Almost inevitably, conflicts, tensions and misunderstanding emerge when people live in such close confines, so patience and forgiveness are virtues which need to be stressed. Neither can happiness in the home be bought by accommodating creature comforts.

No matter what age young people are, home is the place where they feel free to talk about their troubles and difficulties. Time should be spent with them not only listening to their problems but sharing their visions and dreams for the future. The present age leaves no room for complacency regarding matters of faith. Religion begins at home and parents are the first teachers of their children in the ways of faith. Handing on the faith means handing on a WAY OF LIFE. Its no use parents urging their children to pray if prayer is not part of their own adult lives. One of the great challenges facing couples is to make time and space for PRAYER in the modern family. This feast is a reminder that Jesus came on earth to make a place for each one of us in God’s family.

May our families be strong in the bonds of love and prayer and may the Holy Family guide us through in our journey of facing life’s realities.