Saturday, December 27, 2014

Homily for the Feast of the Holy Family

Merry Christmas!  Yes, it still is Christmas and will be so for another two weeks!  Keep celebrating Christmas.  On this 4th day of Christmas we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family: Jesus, Mary & Joseph!

Now I’m all about family.  I love my family, even during those times when I don’t “like” my family.  You all know what I’m talking about.  Sometimes my family looks like the Walton’s and sometimes it looks like the Bunker’s from All in the Family!  My wife and I just returned home from a wonderful visit with my North Carolina family which includes #1 grandson Calvin.  He is already 27 months and full speed, all boy and all go-go-go!  Calvin was a delight to visit with and helped his mom & dad share the glorious good news and wonderful Christmas gift that grand-baby #2 is on the way.  I guess Pops just became Pops X 2! 

I hope all of us were able to spend time with family as we experience these wonderful holy holidays.  Large or small, near or far, our families are precious.  Even those family members who have gone on before us; who we miss dearly, seem so much closer and even more precious during this season!

As people of faith we need the example of the Holy Family in our lives, as our inspiration and model today; right here, right now!

Among the keys to being more like the Holy Family are obedience, humility and trust.  In our 1st reading, taken from Sirach, written just 200 years before the birth of Jesus, we see evidence of these virtues.  In the Jewish family of that era, honor in the home establishes peace and brings abundant blessings!  Children are called to be obedient to father and mother.  Sirach tells us that the obedience and trust a child demonstrates to his parents has a direct impact on their relationship with God.  Is this not still true today?  Joseph and Mary would know what was taught in this Old Testament Scripture and would have taught this to Jesus, who obeyed, humbling himself and surrendering in all things because he trusted.

Our Gospel today is all about obedience.  The story proclaimed is unique to Luke’s Gospel but is so very important.  Obedient to God, and to His holy law, Joseph and Mary fully submit and carefully follow the precepts of circumcising Jesus, declaring his name, presenting him in the Temple with the humble gift of a pair of turtledoves, and performing the ritual purification of Mary.  Luke makes it abundantly clear: Joseph and Mary are obedient Jewish parents because they fully trust in God!
So too are those whom the Holy Family encounter on their visit to the Temple.  Both Simeon and Anna, we are told, are holy and righteous people, awaiting the arrival of the Messiah.  They actually encounter their Savior from the loving arms of the Holy Family.  So moved, Simeon composes a prayer that the Church recites to this day, every night before bed and Anna was overcome with thankfulness.  Are we that thankful?

Obedience, humility and trust are confirmed by the conclusion of today’s Gospel:  the child grew, became strong, was filled with wisdom and the favor of God was upon him!

Inspired by today’s Gospel and the model of the Holy Family, can we strive to strengthen the family, both in the public square and in our own family circle?  As a Catholic Christian, it should not be too much to defend, with our whole being, the sacramental unity of marriage, one man and one woman, brought together in love and open to the gift of children.  As children of God, it should not be too much to defend the gift of life, standing foursquare against abortion, euthanasia, embryonic stem cell research and yes, even the ravenous desire to call for and implement a death penalty.  And as brothers and sisters, it should not be too much to stand against all forms of bullying, of violence and racism.  And in our own families, it should not be too much to love one another as St. Paul says with compassion, kindness, gentleness, forgiveness and patience!

We are called this day, and every day, no matter the size or shape or human condition of our family to be a Holy Family, to call upon The Holy Family and to practice the virtues of obedience, humility and trust!

I love my family!
 I love my Most Holy Trinity family
 I’m going to have another grandbaby!!
And Merry Christmas!

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