The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph (B); 12-31-2023

Sir 3:2-6. Ps 128. Col 3:12-21. Lk 2:22-40

Deacon Jim McFadden

Today we are celebrating the feast of the Holy Family of Nazareth, which is a good opportunity to reflect on just what makes a family “holy.” Now, the source

of holiness is God— it’s not something we can create by ourselves —but, at the same time, it emerges as we freely and responsibly adhere to God’s plan. This

was the case for the family of Nazareth: they were totally available to do God’s

will.

On Christmas day we celebrated the birth of Jesus, the Word made Flesh, but that would not have happened without Mary’s docility to the action of the Holy Spirit who asks her to be the Mother of the Messiah. As a young woman in ancient Palestine her life was going to unfold in a predictable fashion as she was engaged to Joseph.

But when she realized that God was calling her to the most unique mission any woman has ever encountered, she does not hesitate to proclaim herself as

God’s “handmaid” (Lk 1:38). Jesus will exalt his Mother’s greatness not because f the maternal connection but because of her obedience to God: “Blessed rather

are those who hear the Word of God and keep it” (Lk 11:28). This does not mean

that she fully understood the events that would unfold, but she meditated and pondered what was being asked of her and she said “Yes.” And, she kept on

saying “Yes” even at the foot of the Cross which shows her steadfast willingness to

do God’s will no matter what it may be.

With regard to Joseph, he may have been a taciturn figure as the Gospel

does not give us one single word: he does not speak, but he takes action, obeying. He is the man of silence, the man of obedience. When he was informed in a dream how Mary conceived, he took Mary for his wife. When he was told to uproot his family and flee to Egypt because Herod was intent to destroy the child, he went. Years later following the death of Herod, he uproots his family again to make a precarious trip back to the dangerous place fled. Joseph obeyed because he trusted what he heard; he obeyed God even when there was risk; even when it wasn’t clear just what God had in mind. It’s important to note that The Flight to Egypt and Return also puts the Holy Family in solidarity with all families in the world who are forced into exile, who are compelled to abandon their own homes due to repression, violence, and war.

Lastly, the third person of the Holy Family, Jesus. Jesus is the embodiment of the will of his heavenly Father: in him, says S.t Paul there no “yes” and “no” but

only “yes” (cf. 2Cor 1:19). And this was made manifests in the many moments of Jesus’ earthly life even at his 8th day of human existence when he was presented to God for the Presentation at the Temple. Years later, another Temple episode when he responded to his anguished parents who sought him out: “Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” (Lk 2:49). During his public ministry when he regularly reiterated that “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work” (Jn 4:34). We heard in the olive grove of Gethsemane: “My Father, fi this cannot pass unless I drink it, thy will  be done” (Mt 26:42).

Taken together-Mary, Joseph, and Jesus: the Holy Family of Nazareth- they exhibit a unified response to the Father’s will. And, living together as a family, they helped each other reciprocally to realize God’s plan. How did they do

That?  They prayed, they worked together, and they communicated. How many times have you gone to restaurant and seen a family together “chatting” on their

smartphones? If they do that at a restaurant, they probably do that at home. Are they communicating as a family? Jesus is the Word made Flesh: as such the Word does not exist in isolation but is in essential relationship to the Father, which is

communicated to humanity for your good, our salvation. Jesus is the exemplar of

communication, which eternally happens within the Holy Trinity and must happen within our relationships. How can a family become holy if it doesn’t dialogue!

Fathers, mothers, parents, grandparents, and siblings, they must all communicate with one another.

So, as we celebrate the day of the Holy Family, may the Holy Family be a model for all families, so that parents and children may mutually support each other in adhering to the Gospel, which is the basis of holiness of the family.

Let us entrust ourselves to our Blessed Mother, “Queen of the family,” of all the world’s families as they navigate through treacherous and problematic times and invoke upon them her maternal protection. Amen.