God broke
the silence of the centuries to reveal himself to us in the helpless infant of
Bethlehem. The power of God is revealed
through a baby. This is the Christmas
mystery.
As we continue the Christmas season in
celebrating the Feast of the Holy Family, the Evangelist Luke tells the story
of Jesus, Mary and Joseph – not as individuals, but as a family. The dawning of our salvation is revealed to
us in the context of family life. This
is such an important dimension of the Christmas mystery. This family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph is the
holy family. As we ponder the Scriptures
today, we reflect on our own family life as well. The message is that our family is a holy
family. We need to claim who we are.
One of the
most difficult things for some Catholics to admit is that no Christian biblical
author seems to suggest that the contemplative life is the ideal way to live
one’s faith. This is not to say that the
contemplative lifestyle is not valid, but we see in both OT and the NT that our
faith revolves around we relate to others.
Thought our relationship with God is always a first priority, the first
step in forming that relationship is to connect with the people around –
especially those closest to us: our family.
It is in
family that we live our faith. It is in
our family we discover our holiness. Our
faith is interwoven, for better or for worse, with our family life.
There is a
special presence of God in the family.
In the love that is such a beautiful part of family, God is
present. In fact, God is present in all
aspects of family life.
God isn’t
very fussy!!! This is such an important
dimension of who God is. God is not
fussy. God isn’t very fussy where He
lives and moves and has His being. God desires
to be part of our wonderfully imperfect family.
As we know,
family life is very varied: divorced and
separated parents, gay parents, widowed parents. All are welcome. While all are welcome the church does clearly
and unmistakably propose that the family of mother and father is the most
beautiful expression of the sacrament of marriage.
No matter
what stresses there are in family life – the sacrament of marriage promises the
help of God and the faith community.
The church
encourages family prayer, like visiting the crib. The Gospel today is about the life of Jesus
growing in humanity and wisdom in his family life. He was brought to the temple. Mary and Joseph taught him to pray. May the prayer of Mary and Joseph help us in
our family life. Bless us, O Lord, with
the joy of love, and strengthen all families in your loving care.
Simeon
teaches us how to grow old. He lives in
the light of the Word of God. For this reason, even though he realizes that his
days are coming to an end, he does not fear death. He is happy and asks the Lord to welcome him
into His peace.
Simeon took
the child from the arms of his parent.
This moving scene depicts the task of transmitting the faith within each
family. They hand it on to their
children and grandchildren.
May I
suggest what I believe to be a profound truth in family life. In families where there is not an elderly
person, life can, at times, be easier.
But they also may be missing the wisdom of our elderly. The eyes and the hearts of our elderly teach
us faith and the real meaning of life.
In the
Gospel, Simeon speaks the words of much faith and wisdom: “Now, Master, you may let your servant go in
peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you
prepared in sight of all the peoples, a light of revelation to the Gentiles,
and glory for your people Israel.
As I said
that where there is not an elderly person in a family, life can seem to be
easier but so much love and wisdom can also be missing.
So too, in
having another child. My niece Emily and
her husband Josh have welcomed into their family their fifth child. Their infant Taylor Mae may keep them from
doing some beautiful outdoor events as a family. There life might be more convenient in some
ways without a fifth child. But the love
this child brings into their family life is simply priceless. There is nothing more important than the
precious gift of love we receive from our children.
But at the
end of the day, your family is not meant to be anyone else’s family life. God’s plan for your family is to be exactly
who you are. Your particular family
dynamic is not an accident; it is by God’s design you are who you are.
God is
present in your family life – with its joys, with its challenges, with its
beauty and with its messiness.
Further, may
we commit ourselves as a Church to reach out beyond our own family life. May we be about finding solutions to
homelessness and poverty in family life.
We need to be aware of the stresses of other people’s family life, to
understand them and find funding for caring for them, especially children.
Yes, family
life is always a challenge. Our
religious ancestors had advice about how to make it work. Family life in the Bible is both difficult
and grace filled. Joseph’s brothers
planned to kill him and then decided instead to sell him into slavery, but
their reunion years later is among the most touching scenes in the Bible.
In the first
Scripture reading, Abraham and Sarah saw the birth of their son Isaac as the
culmination of their own faith in God’s promise. Isaac’s birth proved that God was alive and
at work in the world.
Many of us
might have difficulty finding such grace in our own families. We may think of our own family as being so
different from the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. But they, like us, struggled to understand
what they were being called to. We are
more alike than we think.
Today’s
feast reminds us to seek God’s love anew through our loved ones in our own
family. It may be hard to spot at
times. The key to finding God in our
family is for us to find God in our own lives.
God is within us and God is with us in our family life.
Lord God, we
ask for the spiritual sightedness to recognize your presence in each and every
family relationship we are gifted with.
Have a
blessed day.
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