FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY (2025)

FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY (2025)

Readings:

Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14

Psalms 128:1-5

Colossians 3:12-21

Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23

At first glance, the goal of being like the Holy Family of Nazareth might appear to be far beyond our reach.  Truth be told, it truly is impossible for us to attain with our more modest levels of sanctity, but that does not mean that we should not strive to attain the virtues which truly made Jesus, Mary and Joseph, a holy family.  The Church wisely draws our attention to this fundamental unit of society, and presents the Holy Family of Nazareth as a perfect model for Christian families to emulate.  We are reminded of the sanctity and unity of family life, even when the concrete examples of family life might be more ‘earthy’ than we would sometimes prefer.  Our readings highlight some of the necessary virtues needed to make our families holy: genuine love, humility, hard work, obedience to God’s will, compassion, kindness, and patience. 

As our first reading from Sirach reminds us, respect for families is not a peculiar Christian concept.  Long before Jesus incarnated into our beautiful world, the Jewish people had a profound respect for family life, exemplified in God’s communication to Moses of the commandment: “Honor thy father and thy mother.”  Sirach, in today’s first reading, gives a little more substance to the bare commandment, spelling out what is entailed in the love of father and mother.  In an age when Alzheimers seems to be so prevalent, Sirach’s advice is all the more important: “My son, take care of your father when he is old; grieve him not as long as he lives.  Even if his mind fail, be considerate of him; revile him not all the days of his life; kindness to a father will not be forgotten.” Sirach intertwines the love children should have for their fathers and mothers when he states: “he stores up riches who reveres his mother,” and “he who obeys his father brings comfort to his mother.”

The second reading from Paul’s letter to the Colossians is advice given to all Christians, clothing oneself with “heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another; as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do.  And over all these put on love, that is, the bond of perfection.”  Fostering peace, and nurturing grateful hearts is also important for Paul.  The more specifically ‘related to families’ portion of Colossians can liturgically be omitted, assuredly because of it’s chauvinistic sounding “wives, be subordinate to your husbands,” unveiling a bit of the ‘paternal’ dimension of society at the time of Paul.  But the specific advice to wives, and husbands, and children is eternal, for it involves a love that avoids bitterness of any kind, and it reminds us of what “is pleasing to the Lord.”

The gospel from Matthew focuses our attention on a loving father from Bethlehem just trying, with God’s help, to take care of his family.  Our story unfolds as the magi leave town, having been warned in a dream of Herod’s true motives.  While our manger scenes often portray the ‘wise men’ at Jesus’ birth, it is unlikely that it happened that way.  Indeed, their journey to Bethlehem might have taken the better part of two years, and so they enter a house (of Joseph and Mary) and not a manger.  Furthermore, Jesus is no longer an infant, He is now a toddler.  As he did when he took his betrothed into his home, Joseph is once again obedient to God’s will, and he learns in a dream that Herod is ready to kill His child.  The angel advises they go to Egypt where they will be safe; in any age, not an easy journey with a toddler.  When Herod dies, Joseph decides to return to the land of Israel, once again with the advice of an angel.  Joseph’s next move is done with no angelic advice, and out of genuine concern for his wife and child, and the murderous possibilities of Herod’s son, he goes to the region of Galilee, to the small town of Nazareth.

The gospel is a story of good parenting a story of love, and caring, of patience, and obedience to God’s will.  The inspired gospels tell us little about Jesus’ adolescence (exception is Luke’s allusion to Jesus getting lost in the Temple), but we can be sure that the love, and compassion, and patience was not a passing fad.  For however long they were a family of three, Joseph did his best to raise Jesus to do what was right and just.  As last weekend’s gospel stated, “Joseph was a righteous man.”  I leave you with this Holy Family Prayer.

Jesus, Son of God and Son of Mary, bless our family.  Graciously inspire in us the unity, peace, and mutual love that you found in your own family in the little town of Nazareth.

Mary, Mother of Jesus and Our Mother, nourish our family with your faith and your love.  Keep us close to your Son, Jesus, in all our sorrows and joys.

Joseph, Foster-father to Jesus, guardian and spouse of Mary, keep our family safe from harm.  Help us in all times of discouragement or anxiety.

Holy Family of Nazareth, make our family one with you.  Help us to be instruments of peace.  Grant that love, strengthened by grace, may prove mightier than all the weaknesses and trials through which our families sometimes pass.  May we always have God at the center of our hearts and homes until we are all one family, happy and at peace in our true home with you.  Amen.