Feast of the Holy Family - December 31, 2017 (Thoman)

Feast of the Holy Family | Holy Spirit (SH/HT)

Gen 15:1-6, 21:1-3 | Heb 11:8, 11-12, 17-19 | Lk 2:22-40

“The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him....”

I. Family relationships can get complicated.  On the one hand, we may feel deep bonds with members of our family – perhaps some more so than others – but nevertheless the blood or marital relationship prompts a unity with family members we don’t normally feel with others.  On the other hand, there may well be brokenness, past hurts, even injustice that we find difficult to reconcile and move beyond. This is true of us, but also true of biblical families: there is a mix of both difficulties and grace.

  • Joseph’s brothers initially decided to kill him, but then relented and sold him into slavery in Egypt. Years later, they experience a touching, heart-warming reunion.
  • David had a strained relationship with his brothers, but a subsequent visit to them inspired him to fight Goliath.
  • Even Jesus had his difficulties: one time when he was back home in Nazareth, St. Mark tells us his family came to get him because they thought he had gone out of his mind.
  • And each of us can tell our own stories of family dis-unity and – hopefully – reconciliation and a deepening of family bonds
  • I recall my grandfather and his brother had a falling out sometime in their early adult years. All through their married life, raising a family, they never visited, never talked with one other, even though they lived in the same area. But later in life, when their spouses died they went to the funerals, began to talk – and ended up spending a lot of time together going out to eat, playing cards and even traveling together.

II. Our heart agonizes over the strive and difficulties we experience in family life, but there is also grace – which is easier to miss. St. John tells us Jesus came to his own, but his own did not accept him. And when in the temple, St. Luke tells us “The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him.” Even Mary and Joseph – having already experienced some amazing things – continue to be challenged to recognize the grace present in their family life. Gabriel had appeared to Mary...Mary and Elizabeth rejoiced over the ways God was working in their lives and then there was the whole experience of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem. Even so, Simeon’s reminder caught them off guard.  How aware are we of God’s grace working in our family life?

III. In our first reading we listen in on a conversation Abram had with God about his childlessness: Abram is pointing out to God that even though he has material things,
he does not have an heir to leave them to. His family line will no longer continue.  But God promises him a son – and sure enough Sarah gave birth to Isaac.  The author of the second reading reflects upon Abraham’s and Sarah’s faith and of how God’s grace was present to them. Isaac was God’s blessing to them.  Living in close proximity with one another, it is easy to take each other for granted. We become real familiar with one another and can tend to forget God is working in someone right next to us.

IV. One thing that helps, I think, is to remember the biblical families were rooted in faith. That is certainly true of Abraham and Sarah, King David, Joseph and Mary.  Faith was their foundation. Faith was the context out of which they were living family life.  It is our faith which gives us the tools we need to live justly and devoutly, to have the virtue of humility so that our heart is open to recognize the blessings which come to us through family life.  And perhaps also the observations of other people help us to recognize the blessings present in our family life. The encounter with Simeon and Anna in the temple prompted Mary and Joseph to take a deeper look at Jesus and the gift he was to them. Who helps you to deepen appreciation for the members of your family?

V. As we celebrate this Feast of the Holy Family and continue to be together as families in these end-of-the-year days, it would be good for us to take a second look at our family members. Where do you identify blessings – God’s grace – present to you?

  • how does your spouse help you to be a better person?
  • is that brother or sister just an annoyance – or does he or she have some good points?
  • what qualities do you admire in your parents or grandparents?
  • what makes you proud about your family?  Like Mary and Joseph we too, may end up being “amazed” at what we discover.

(Fr. Dwayne Thoman)