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The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph
Today's Scripture
Today we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family. The New Testament does not give us much information about the family of Jesus. All we know about this family is from the extraordinary circumstances of Jesus’ birth and from his presentation at the Temple as the Jewish custom prescribed. We also know that they went up each year to Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover and that Jesus grew in grace and wisdom. Without speculating much, I think that that much information is good enough for us to draw some very useful conclusions.
Based on the information that today’s gospel reading and the events surrounding the birth of Jesus, I want to draw some conclusions about Jesus’ family. Jesus was not born under normal circumstances. For one, he was born of the Holy Spirit. Then, he was born while on the way to a census in a stable. His life was threatened as a child. The family had to flee to Egypt to save his life and lived in there in self-imposed exile for four years. To add to these misfortunes, his family was poor. Mary was a housewife who spun thread and Joseph was a carpenter. By our standards Jesus had a rather traumatic childhood. And yet, scripture tells us that Jesus grew in age and wisdom. In fact, at the age of twelve, he was able to have conversations with adults and impress them with his insights. The point I am trying to make is this: If a twelve year old with the traumatic childhood could grow up in age and wisdom and could have mature conversations, his parents must have done something right. And there is the window into the life of the Holy Family.
There are three important lessons for us today in these readings.
First, I am taken aback by Joseph and Mary’s fidelity to each other and to the family. In spite of their many difficult and experiences Mary and Joseph were loyal to one another, and provided Jesus an environment to grow in age and wisdom. Mary and Joseph faced the difficulties of life together. Both and Mary and Joseph could have done without all the troubles because this baby was not their own. But both had said ‘yes’ to God. And once they do that they are in it for the long haul. Their commitment to each other reflects the covenantal relationship between God and his people. Fidelity and committed love is the key to building a good family. No matter what life together brings couples need to be faced together. Marriage is called a sacrament because the relationship between husbands and wives is a reflection of the love between Christ and his people. Christ never gives up on his people – he gives himself up for his people. If every couple could do that, marriage would last a life time.
Second, they kept their life centred on God. We know this from the incident at the temple. After a three day search for him, when Mary found Jesus and asked him “Why have you done this to us?” Jesus answer was, “Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” On the periphery, that was an arrogant answer. On the other hand, it was an amazing reply. Jesus has learned from his parents to centre his life on God. In other words, Jesus was saying, “What do you mean “do this to you”?” “You should have known that the only place where I could be is my Father’s house. Isn’t this what you taught me?’ In twelve years, Mary and Joseph have succeeded in teaching their child the most important lesson in life – to strive to serve God in all things and above all things. They have also taught him to relate to God as father. Mary must have been relieved, for now she knew that her son was on the right track. Mary did what Hannah did in the first reading with Samuel. Hannah said, “I prayed for this child, and the Lord granted my request. Now I, in turn, give him to the Lord; as long as he lives, shall be dedicated to the Lord.”
Mary and Joseph are models for what parents should teach children. Parents are the first teachers of their children. A well-rounded education means that parents teach them first that they are loved. And then, of course, we teach them self-respect, and manners and discipline and sports. We also teach them to aim high and try and provide a good education. But Mary and Joseph teach us that that the most important lesson parents can give their children is the love of God. Parents can teach them everything else, but without a relationship with God, children are left with no power to fall back on. I think if children learn to center their lives around God like Jesus did, then no matter what the circumstances and pressures they face – they will have the right tools to deal with life’s pressures. That is what Mary and Joseph taught Jesus. I encourage parents to pray the prayer that Hannah prayed in today’s first reading. “I prayed for this child, and the Lord granted my request. Now I, in turn, give him to the Lord; as long as he lives, shall be dedicated to the Lord.”
Third, Holy families do not simply happen – parents and children have to work hard at it. Every challenge that a family faces can be turned into either an opportunity or a recipe for failure. I can’t imagine the pressure that Mary and Joseph faced in their early years. Yet they came through. How did they do it? We may find a clue in today’s second reading. St. Paul says, “put on heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another. “And over all these put on love,” St. Paul says, for “that is the bond of perfection.” A happy family is a lot of work but with faith in God it is not impossible to be a holy family.
In this Eucharist, let us offer all families to Christ. Let each family become a Holy Family. Amen.
- Fr. Satish Joseph
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