Jesus, Mary, Joseph

In celebrating the Holy Family, we reflect on the fact that God cam into our lives in the messiness and chaos of a human family.  The image of the Holy Family invites us to take Jesus into our homes, and to sanctify the communion and unity that exists in its members.  In particular in Paul's letter for today, we are given a protocol of how we might live in union and peace with each other.  The essence of love stems from the ability to bestow reverence and respect towards each other.

In the Vatican II document on the Church in the Modern World, John Paul II letter on the Human Family, and even in the U.S. Bishop's letter on Stewardship, faithful communities are challenged to take responsibility for the community.  Certainly the texts from Sirach and Paul make this apparent, as does Matthew's Gospel.  Being set in a community, especially in a family we take care of each other through a life-giving participation in each other's life.  The care and respect we show for the other in our family unity, reveals the love of God, and ses us towards the Kingdom of God.

We know that there are many destructive forces out there in the world.  A consumer mentality that substitutes "stuff" for loving relationships. addictions, anger, misguided sexuality, all cause fractures in the love and unity that should be a family.  Not unlike Jesus, Mary and Joseph we can be like strangers in a foreign land.  A family unity always centers itself on the mystery of faith which it celebrates, and shares those values and virtues that are from God.  We endeavor to create a community of faith under our roof, honoring the integrity and dignity of each member.

The family is the springboard by which we are taught to love our faith, those things that are good, beautiful, and just.  Prayer and reconciliation continues to allow the union and unity in a household to thrive.  While we like to believe we are like the 'Brady Bunch,' more often than not we are like the 'Munsters.'  But with Christ Jesus in our midst we can overwhelm Sin and Evil.

Our families are a vital part of the fabric of our faith and the larger community.  As Christ became human, in the family we learn how to become divine.