Within the octave of Christmas, the church places before us for our reflection, the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, as a model for our Christian families. In other words, we are invited to meditate on the life of Jesus, Mary and Joseph vis-à-vis our own lives and roles as parents, fathers, mothers, and children. Every family must face difficulties and challenges; the Holy family was not exempt from the harsh realities of life that beset our families today. We can easily imagine how Joseph and Mary might have misunderstood one another when Mary conceived Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit and Joseph wanted to divorce her.
Many people today complain of not having enough income to support their families, to pay their bills and rent. The Holy Family also faced financial challenges. According to the book of Leviticus 2:2-8 (which is Mosaic Law), after labor, a woman is required to offer a year-old lamb as a burnt offering, and a turtle dove or a young pigeon as an expiation of sin. Mary and Joseph could not afford this requirement because they were poor. Therefore, they presented two turtledoves during the presentation of Jesus at the temple.
Some families today undergo exile due to war, famine, and natural disasters. Some move away from their loved ones to secure a better future. We are told within the Gospel of Matthew, that the Holy Family fled to Egypt as refugees, because Herod, the cruel king, wanted to kill Jesus, the newborn king. Again, they suffered the greater pain of all families – the pain of bereavement and separation of death, as Mary watched her son die on the cross.
Despite these challenges, sufferings, trials and temptations, they did not give up, but they struggled and survived through prayer, obedience, faith and trust in God. Their suffering and challenges helped them discern the will of God and to fulfill it in their lives. For example, Mary’s faith enabled her to accept God’s plan, to be the mother of Jesus Christ; her response was “I am your handmaid, let what you have said, be done to me, according to your word” – Lk 1:38. With her yes, the word became flesh and dwelt among us – Jn 1:14. Joseph’s strong faith in God made him obey the angel’s command in his dream, and took Mary, his pregnant wife, into his home when he was contemplating divorcing her secretly. Our trust and faith in God, will also help us overcome our difficulties and persevere to the end.
The feast represents victory: it wants us to know that Mary and Joseph successfully overcame their challenges in life by putting their trust and faith in God and allowed his will to be done in their lives! We too must put our trust and hope in God’s divine power and his will in our lives, that we will overcome our challenges and crises in life.
The readings for this feast also remind us of how to live our family life as Christians. In the first reading, Sirach exhorts children to respect and obey their parents and to take care of them when they are old. According to Sirach, parents bring children into the world to nurture and care for them. Though parents can and sometimes do make mistakes, children still owe them gratitude and respect. Any child who honors their parents, will be heard when they pray, and they will be blessed by God.
At the same time, parents must also do everything in their power for their children and not denigrate them. They must understand that when one feels loved, the natural response is to honor and hold the person who is loving, in high esteem. Therefore, parents must try to love, care, show concern and compassion to their children and strengthen their family with a prayer life. They must be patient, gentle, and more responsible and show good Christian examples for their children to imitate. Mothers must imitate Mary, by keeping the love of God active and alive in their home. Fathers must, likewise, imitate St Joseph who is kind, patient, just, prayerful, loving, and who worked hard to provide the best he could for Jesus and Mary.
In general, we are all called to lovingly bear with and forgive one another as Christ has forgiven us. We are encouraged to deal with each other with kindness, compassion and respect. As we celebrate this feast, may our Christian families be a reflection of the Holy Family. May we entrust our families and ourselves into the protection and guidance of God and allow his holy will be done in our lives. Amen!
Fr. John Owusu-Achiaw
(Of note: This feast usually occurs on a Sunday, but when a Sunday does not occur between December 25 and January 1, this feast is celebrated on December 30.)