An Inspiration For All
“The charity which burned in the household at Nazareth should be an inspiration for every family. All the Christian virtues should flourish in the family, unity should thrive, and the example of its virtuous living should shine brightly.” ~ St. Pope John XXIII
Today is one of the years that the family gets “cheated”. Typically, the Feast of the Holy Family would fall upon a Sunday in the Christmas Season. However, because Christmas fell on a Sunday this year, a couple of feasts – the Holy Family and the Baptism of the Lord – will end up falling on weekdays.
The Holy Family might not be celebrated on Sunday this year; but the family is front-and-center today. When I was in high school, there was so much talk about the family being in peril. That was because there were many more “fractured” families because of divorce. Many single parents were raising their children. The family meal and other family gatherings were being done less and less.
If family was in peril when I was in high school, I don’t even know what you could call the family today. So many families are completely divided. Family members often do not speak with one another. Several mothers or fathers may belong to the children. A lot of psychologists and sociologists call the situation bleak.
Even in the midst of circumstances today, families can and do manage to live together and stay together. There is a special glue that holds all the members together and that glue is called love. Yes, circumstances may be radically different from the past mid-century. But different doesn’t have to mean bad.
The Holy Family faced dire circumstances as well. They were uprooted after Jesus was born and forced to flee to Egypt to get away from Herod. They faced many dangerous circumstances as Jesus grew. Ultimately, family and friends watched as Jesus was crucified. But the love of God gave them the graces that they needed to face all that the world would throw at them.
The grace of God can and will do that for our families as well as long as we ask Him to watch over us and protect us. May the Holy Family protect our families in this uncertain day and age.
FAITH ACTION: Pray for all families that they might live in peace and be an inspiration and example for others.