FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY (2023)
Readings:
Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14
Psalms 128:1-2, 3, 4-5
Colossians 3:12-21
Luke 2:22-40
God’s strange, and yet awesome plan of salvation, involved sending His Son into the world He created, where the Son could become part of the human family that God also created. Now God might have taken a very big risk (He could have sent Him to Archie Bunker’s family, or to the Jeffersons, or perhaps even worse, to a poor family who lives in Gaza), but a maiden from Nazareth had manifested the most perfect of faiths, and while she had only recently become betrothed, she would be blessed to bring God’s Son into the world with the help of God’s Holy Spirit. It was an audacious plan, and it would need the help of a man from the house of David, Joseph. Joseph would be her soul mate, her guardian, her helper and support until the end of his days. With his wife Mary he would witness wondrous things, and together they would raise their newborn in the faith that was so much a part of their lives.
The family we celebrate on this Sunday after Christmas might appear to be perfect, a family like that described in the Book of Sirach, but the words of the “righteous and devout” Simeon in today’s gospel present evidence of the difficulties that lay ahead. Speaking of the newborn king, Simeon states that “the child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel.” Further, “He is to be a sign that will be contradicted – and you yourself a sword will pierce – so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” The baby so joyfully welcomed by shepherds and kings, will become a young man who Mary will witness reviled and scourged. In spite of God’s preparation of the people through His prophets, there will be many who will be unable to recognize in Jesus the long awaited Messiah.
It was part of God’s plan that the Savior be born into and raised by a family, a plan that gives great dignity to something that is familiar to all. As Pope Benedict has stated, “the family is the privileged setting where every person learns to give and receive love.” The opening prayer for today’s liturgy sets the tone for our liturgy: “O God, who were pleased to give us the shining example of the Holy Family, graciously grant that we may imitate them in practicing the virtues of family life and in the bonds of charity, and so, in the joy of your house, delight one day in eternal rewards.” While families have evolved since the days of Ozzie & Harriet and Donna Reed, the families of today are no less capable of teaching the lessons of love.
The much ballyhooed recent document of Pope Francis, Fiducia Sipplicans, while being rejected by a large portion of the Church, shows the importance that Pope Francis feels about reaching out to the marginalized, and those considered to be in “irregular” marriages. While some might needlessly worry that the ability to “bless” gay marriages will encourage gay marriages (something that is completely ludicrous), others, like Pope Francis, recognizes the need to show love and compassion toward all people, especially those thought sinful or marginalized. Any prelate should be happy that anyone seeks the blessing of the Church, especially in an era that largely ignores what the Church has to say.
My point is that the families of today may look very different, but they are still capable of imparting love and receiving love, and the Church is wise to embrace those families on this Feast of the Holy family. All families, as Pope Benedict XVI states, are “schools that enable men and women to grow to the full measure of their humanity,” and no family is excluded from that dimension. The Holy family is, indeed, the “perfect model of family life.” For so many of us, striving for perfection is all we can continue to do. Achieving perfection is reserved for the few.
parishionersforjustice.com 