The Holy Family

 

 

Merry Christmas! Yesterday, in a very special way, we celebrated the birth of the savior— God becoming man in order to come into our lives and transforms it. This is the time of Jesus’ coming and each coming is different for each one of us. To some He comes when their hearts are saddened by a life that has been taken away, and can be gladdened only by a Life that is given; to others He comes when their hearts are broken, that He might enter in to heal with wings wider than the world; to some he comes when their lives has lost a sense of purpose in order to give a new meaning to it; to some he comes amid the loss of a loved one in order to give them comfort; to others He comes in joy amidst the Venite Adoremus of the angels; but to each and every one He comes as if He had never come before in His own sweet way, He the Child who is born, He, Jesus the Savior, He Emmanuel”

His coming too, not only transform our own lives but also the very own lives of Mary and Joseph. At the moment of the Nativity, they became a family united by love and obedience to the Heavenly Father, and an example for us to do the same. If the church, however, decides to celebrate the feast of the holy family this Sunday, what is that we must learn from this celebration?

It is no surprise, my brothers and sisters, of the increasing numbers of broken families around us. For the most part, the world tells us that there is no need for families anymore, but what the world don’t tell us is that pain and suffering will only be found. I, myself, who come from a broken family, understand deeply the pain and the scars that a broken family can cause. I have lost a sense of trust, I have created a wrong idea of love, I complete reject any moment of intimacy, I have created a habit of running away when things get bad, I have ruined many relationships. While the list goes on and on, all of this has root in the separation of my family.

 

In the gospel we just read, we hear of the time when the holy family was separated and broken up. After going to Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover, Jesus remains in the temple while Mary and Joseph begin their return home. When Mary and Joseph realized that they had been separated, they become anxious, worried, distress. I believe Luke writes this detail in his Gospel in order to show us that a broken family is not normal. But there is hope! Despite the brokenness of our own families, Jesus still comes into our hearts to give us a sense of family through his very own family! Jesus comes this Christmas into our own families so He can transform whatever needs to be healed.

 

This is why we celebrate the feast day of the holy family! We celebrate it in order to show us that despite whatever is happening with our own families we can always look as an example the very family of Jesus! It is through the example of the holy family that our own scars can be healed, and our pain can be sweetened. Through the example of the holy family, we can ask God to establish our very own families firmly in His grace, peace, love, and obedience. Ultimately, the holy Family is a reflection of the very own life of the Most Holy Trinity and we must learn to reflect that in our very own lives.

 

The holy family show us the truth about ourselves and our deepest longings for love, acceptance, and communion with others. Let us then, my brothers and sisters, ask for their intercession of the holy family as we come forward to receive the very own body and blood of our lord Jesus Christ. Let us constantly “imitate the example of the Holy family so that after the trials of this world we may share their company forever.”