“The child grew and became strong; he was full of wisdom, and God’s blessings were upon him.”
Isn’t that what every parent wishes for their children, that they grow strong, are full of wisdom and enjoy God’s blessings? Isn’t that what each of us wish for ourselves: strength, wisdom and blessings. These wishes are never more evident than when parents present their children for baptism. During the Baptism the parents are reminded that strength wisdom and blessings don’t happen just by wishing. On this feast of the Holy Family we are encouraged to reflect on the example of Jesus, Mary and Joseph.
I remember a teacher instructing the class about the importance of family and things that money can’t buy. “Money can’t buy laughter and it can’t buy love,” the class was told. To illustrate the point the class was asked: “What would you do if you were offered $1000 not to love your mother and father?” The whole class fell silent. Finally a small voice queried: “How much would you give me not to love my big sister?” Evidently it is easier to love vertically than to love horizontally. The love between parents and children comes more easily than the love between siblings.
When we think of the Holy Family we should try to think of the larger family of God, the family constituted by all who call God the Father, the family of the children of God. Think of all the horizontal relationships that presents. When we celebrate the feast of the Holy Family we celebrate ourselves as Gods children for we are also a holy family.
There is a lot that we can learn from the example of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph that can help us in our efforts to become holy families, and I think that we should begin by accepting that Jesus, Mary, and Joseph were a holy family, not a super holy family. We are not called to be super people either. We are called to try to do our best.
The Gospel today tells us how Mary and Joseph obeyed God.
Point one: Open our ears to God.
God wants us to listen and find out what he wants us to do. Even Mary and Joseph as the parents of Jesus were not exempted from the spiritual obligations to the Jewish Law. They had to present Jesus at the Temple to the Lord, offering the sacrifice that was required by law. The offering of the pair of birds referred to in the gospel reflects the option for the poor who could not afford a sheep.
In the Jewish tradition the first born in every family were regarded as holy– devoted and consecrated to God. Now on a farm the first born of a sheep or a goat would be offered as a sacrifice — put to death as an offering—- because it was consecrated to God. But when it came to children, mercifully it was different. The first born was still regarded as belonging to God in a special way and was ceremonially taken to the temple for his consecration and handed over to God. But then by a token payment he was redeemed or brought back. This was the redemption of the first born that we have heard about today.
Point two: Open our heart and home to God; celebrate his appearance in your family.
Just as today others in the temple were too preoccupied with their religious functions and duties to see Gods salvation in the arms of Mary. Others were too absorbed in commerce, the buying and selling, to notice the eternal treasure that was among them in the baby from Bethlehem. I’m talking about Jerusalem some 2000 years ago, but it could just easily be any Canadian city or town today.
It is still the same today. Even during the festival named after him. Have you ever attended a birthday party at which the person whose birth is being celebrated is all but ignored?
Christ is held out for each of us to take into our hearts this Christmas, and I might point out that Christmas is a 12 day festival and we are only on day 3.
He is ours to receive, to possess, and to cherish; to take and have for ourselves. But today, just as in Jerusalem some 2000 years ago, opinion is divided. Some accept and embrace the word of God, but others reject and not a few despise the Christian message. Just as a present may be left at the foot of the tree with a tag bearing our name, it is our choice to accept and unwrap it. So it is with God’s gift of grace offered in Holy Communion today. The grace is Gods and the gift is free, but the choice ours to open our ears, hearts and homes.
Today God reminds us that he loves us. He reminds us that he wants us to be holy families living by example of the holy family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. Today we are reminded that He blesses those who obey him and live their faith in Christ.
Make each of the 9 remaining days of Christmas a holy day with Christ.
Not a holiday without him.
Remember that Christ makes Christmas possible,
Friends make Christmas beautiful,
Music makes Christmas festive,
Giving makes Christmas joyous,
And love makes Christmas complete.
-Dcn. Terry Murphy