A homily for the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, Dec. 27, 2020
Sir 3:2-6, 12-14, Col 3:12-21, Lk 2:22-40
Before we attempt to discern what makes a family holy, we should try to determine what makes a family.
Are blood relatives a family? Are people joined in a sacramental or governmental bond a family? Is a commune a family?
Are people who agree with each other a family? Can families disagree and not be disagreeable?
Do people have to like each other to be considered a family? Do people have to love each other to be considered a family?
None of these questions have simple or easy answers, which is why they have been debated since Adam and Eve, and why they are still being debated.
But one thing is clear: A family becomes holy when every member wholly strives for the fulfillment of God’s plan for every member of the family. A family becomes holy when God Who Is Love is at the head and center of the family.
A holy family is a family whose members wholly support each other, always and everywhere, even when a member (or two or three) may have God-given talents or traits or even quirks that don’t seamlessly mesh with the rest of the family.
A performing artist in a family of athletes, or vice versa.
A person with special needs.
An extrovert among introverts.
A traveler among homebodies.
Or a family totally in sync with each other.
Yes, the love of God manifested as our love for each other is the glue that binds all families, however we choose to define them.
The human family, all billions and billions of us, every size and shape and color and … and … and that God chose to create us in.
Our parish family, old and young, rich or not, gathering in Christ’s presence.
Our chosen family that we create from friends or partners, with or without descendants.
The family we were born into.
God’s love is expressed in these families through, at the very least, tolerance of the beautiful differences that interweave the human tapestry. Tolerance equals respect.
Thus, so far, we have capital-L Love and Respect.
Because “love” and “respect” are action verbs, God challenges us to actively love, respect and support family members, however we choose to define family. Closest to home, we encourage family members to do what they do best and be who they are. Actually, it doesn’t take much effort to extend that to the entire human family.
Cheering family members as they pursue their passions and perfect their talents. Guiding them on the right paths, and praising their successes. Teaching children and learning from them.
And as we support family members, we start to see the world through their eyes. Often, sharing their perspective can be life-changing, especially if we are open to being amazed.
So now we have Love, Respect and Awe.
Today’s Gospel passage introduces the awe Mary and Joseph felt when Simeon recognized Jesus for what he is. Mary and Joseph already knew Jesus had a great destiny, based on Gabriel’s annunciation and the heavenly host’s hosannas at his birth, but this encounter was above and beyond. Awesome.
Families, no matter how harmonious, take work and dedication. A family that’s whole means family for a lifetime, and a family that’s holy strives to love, respect and be awed by each other forever. Committed. Mary especially exemplified that commitment when she followed her son to Calvary.
Jesus, Mary and Joseph lived in vastly simpler times than we do, but their challenges were much like those that our brothers and sisters in countries with emerging economies now face. The struggle for their daily bread and water, for meaningful work, for adequate shelter, for health care. Jesus, Mary and Joseph kept their family whole and holy through commitment to each other, by respecting the fact that Jesus’s destiny was different from other villagers’, and by placing God at the head and center of their family.
They lived in simpler times, but the values they exemplify — Love, Respect, Awe and Commitment — underpin every holy family today.
Every holy family, however we choose to define family.
