IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE HOLY FAMILY OF NAZARETH ~ CookingFood.Org

“HONEY FROM THE ROCK”

Friday, 30^th December 2016,

Feast of the Holy Family

Sir 3: 3-7, 14-17;

Ps 127: 1-5;

Col 3: 12-21;

Mt 2: 13-15, 19-23

IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE HOLY FAMILY OF NAZARETH

Today, we honor the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. In honoring them, we also honor all families, big or small. And in honoring all families, we honor the family of God, the Church. But most especially, we focus in on the hidden, day-to-day life of the Holy Family of Nazareth. What was it like to live day in and day out in the household of St. Joseph? The family home of Jesus, Mary and Joseph would have been, in numerous ways, just like any other home. They would have related together, talked, had fun, disagreed, worked, eaten, dealt with problems, and encountered everything else that makes up daily family life. Of course, the virtues of Jesus and Mary were perfect, and St. Joseph was a truly “just man.” Therefore, the overriding characteristic of their home would have been love. But with that said, their family would not have been exempt from daily toil, hurt and challenges that face most families. They would have encountered misunderstanding and gossip from others. They would have had to fulfill all daily chores, earn a living, put food on the table, attend gatherings of family and friends and the like. They would have lived normal family life in every way.

We are called today to reflect on the significance and mission of the Christian family. Father, mother and children make up a family. Each individual of the family is a valued, loved and respected person. The perfection of family life is seen in the holy family of Nazareth. In this family we find, Joseph ever attentive to listen to the voice of God, Mary ever ready to do God’s will and the Son Jesus ever obedient to his parents. It was a communion of different persons. Do our families live in communion or just live together because of necessity?

The basic foundations on which families are built are love and life. Each member of the family enhances other members of the family with love. God the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit share their love and life with the whole of creation, particularly with the human beings. Jesus shared this love and life with His own family of Nazareth, with Joseph and Mary and with the whole of humanity. How much of life and love do I breathe into my own family?

The family is a domestic Church. It represents the Church at the family level. The most important thing that a family requires is family prayer. As we have heard many times, ‘a family that prays together lives together’. It gets strength and nutrition to live only in and through prayer. Do I enter my home as if entering a Church?

Prayer: Lord, I do offer myself to You this day and in doing so I offer You my family. I offer every relationship, be it good or difficult, and I offer every challenge we face. Please come and sanctify my family, making it holy in imitation of your family in Nazareth. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen.