A Holy Family

The feast of the Holy Family is one of my favorites because it reminds me that with all of the difficulties Joseph and Mary must have endured (even those not recorded in the Gospels) I would guarantee that (except for one brief moment at the beginning of Matthew's Gospel) the thought never occured to either one of them to divorce when the going got tough.  I wish more couples in this day and age would look at Mary and Joseph as role models, instead of the celebrities who treat marriage as a "convenience".

The Advent gospels directed our attention to Mary, the virgin, betrothed to Joseph; to the ways of God calling her to be the mother of Jesus, the Son of God; and to Joseph to take her as his lawful wife, God's will that he be on earth the protector.

Can you imagine what Joseph is thinking here?  As a father myself, I think I can!

During the celebration of the Nativity we see Jesus, Mary and Joseph in the stable, the crib, the animals, and the first submission and adoration by shepherds. All things were made through Christ and He is surrounded by signs of the wonders of heaven and earth. In the days that follow we hear of the first persecution. The Word tells us the family had to flee to Egypt.

The feast of the Holy Family lays out the fruit of their love and our Redemption. Christ is dedicated at the temple and witnesses to His identity speak out. The joy of the present and the cross of the future are acknowledged.

The inspiration and example of their lives lead us to examine our lives. Like Abraham and Sarah (Genesis 15:1-6; 21:1-3), and Mary and Joseph, how well do I receive the promises of God? As I contemplate the sacrificial love of the Holy Family and their communion of life, in what way do I cultivate communion with others in my family and among the community?  Scripture says, "And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to the Father through Him." (Colossians 3:17)