Homily for the Feast of the Holy Family - Jesus lived in a family striving to be Holy: we can too!

 Since I’ve been serving as a deacon, I usually come to church separately from my family so I can arrive early for Mass to prepare.  This is our family’s normal routine on most Sundays, but a few years ago on Christmas both Linda and I had to be here early to set up. We gave our son, Ryan, the option of coming with us or waiting for his sister to pick him up later, which he chose to do.   After Mass both Linda and I stayed to help clean up, assuming Ryan would went home with his sister.   At least that’s what we thought.  Arriving home our daughters were there, but not Ryan.    We had bit of a panic, but within a few minutes Ryan called from the church asking for a ride home.  Now I can say we have something in common with Holy Family, losing our son in the God’s temple.

            Today we heard the story about the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. I really

like this Gospel as it shows us that even the Holy Family experiences trials of families just like all of us. How could Jesus have been lost without Mary and Joseph noticing? We are told that the Mary and Joseph went to Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover when Jesus was twelve years old.    Jesus, being twelve was, at an age transition from childhood to being an adult.  In the Jewish culture men and women would travel in groups separately.  Both boys and girls who had not reached puberty traveled with their mothers.  When boys reached the age of puberty they’d transition to be with the men.  This was a rough transition.  Boys were doted on by their mother and were cared for their every need. The harsh world of among men meant the boys would have to fend for themselves.  

            Jesus, being twelve may have just made the transition to traveling with the men. Joseph may have thought that Jesus’ absence on the way back was just a temporary return to the comfort of his mother.   Mary may have thought proudly that Jesus continued with his traveling with the men, which was appropriate for his age.   Since the men and women traveled separately Jesus’ absence went unnoticed till they came together late in the day. Mary and Joseph must have been distraught when they realized they had lost God’s son! Since Mary and Joseph had traveled a full day, it would have taken them another full day to return to Jerusalem and left the third day to find him. 

            They were astounded to finally find Jesus among the teachers in the temple sitting down and asking them questions, like a rabbi, rather than a twelve-year-old boy. 

 

In her distress Mary asks Jesus: “Son, why have you done this to us?  Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.”  Jesus’ response is the first we hear from him in Luke’s Gospel,  “Why were you looking for me?   Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?  His response sounds like he was irritated with Mary and may have been due to his independence from her in traveling among the men. But it may have been an expression of His growing wisdom of the divine nature being the God’s Son.     

            Mary’s response to Jesus was one of very concerned mother. We’re told that Mary and Joseph did not fully understand what Jesus meant and that Mary kept the whole situation kept it in her heart. I don’t think I would be responded as gently as she did.   Mary was modeling the human virtue patience and love that we all strive for.   Sometimes we need to just reflect on a situation before reacting in haste, especially with our families. Finally, Jesus responds with love in obedience to his parents returning with them to Nazareth

            How can we become holy families? The Church calls families the “Domestic Church”.   The family is a community of grace and prayer amid our homes, school, at play, and at work.   The family is where we first learn to grow in virtues and faith.  We all have challenges in our families, which can cause anxieties like Mary and Joseph experienced with the loss of Jesus. These challenges can be trying but can be opportunity to grow in virtues.  By practicing the virtues of compassion, patience, kindness, gentleness, and forgiveness as we heard from St. Paul in Colossians, we will be able to grow in love strengthening our families. Another thing we can do to be a holy family is to be thankful for each other and to be thankful to God for giving us our families.

            We don’t know much more about the life of Jesus, growing up in a family. But we do know that he did live in a family, with a mother and a stepfather. It’s assumed St. Joseph died, so Jesus went through the heartache of losing a parent. He probably had cousins, aunt, uncles, grandparents, and other relatives who came together for family gatherings where everyone may not have gotten along. The Holy Family also experienced joys and sorrows just like many of us have. Jesus knows what it’s like to live in a family and that it can be difficult sometimes.  When we have problems with our own families, we can turn to Jesus, the Blessed Mother, and St. Joseph in prayer to help with our troubles. It can be as simple as saying Jesus, Mary, and Joseph please protect our family and keep them in your care. Next weekend after all the Masses on January 1^st and 2^nd you’ll have a special opportunity to consecrate your family to the Holy Family.  This will be a short prayer service to call upon the Holy Family for the grace to help each your families.  Amid all the challenges we’ve all experienced the last few years this Holy Family consecration will be a great way to start the new year.

 

                I’d like to close with a prayer composed by St. Mother Theresa of Calcutta: Heavenly Father, you have given us the model of life in the holy family of Nazareth.  Help us make our family another Nazareth where, love, peace and joy reign.  Teach us to see Jesus in the members of our families, especially in their distressing disguise. May we love one another as God loves each of us, more and more each day, and forgive each other’s faults as you forgive our sins.  Help us take whatever you give and give whatever you take with a big smile.  Amen.