Feast of the Holy Family, 2024

Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14; Psalm 128; Colossians 3:12-21; Luke 2 41-52

When he prays, he is heard

The family into which each of us is born is not of our making, but of God’s. What we have inherited and what we experience in our families may become key ingredients in our holiness. Sacred Scripture and Church teachings guide us according to God’s design as well. Each thread in our lives is part of the fabric that He weaves. If we only see the reverse side of our tapestry in this life – a jumble of threads – we must trust the Master Weaver. His perfect plan directs the path of each one.

The final pattern will be beautiful far beyond our own creative powers.

How can I use the ingredients I have been given to shape a tapestry that God desires? How can my family work together to resemble the perfect family, given to us as our model – holy father, Immaculate Mother, and Divine Child? They lived together in self-giving love…all the time!

Each of us must look in the mirror. I have to assume the responsibility of helping my family become holy. Happily, I know that God’s inspiration always comes first, his help continues, and if I listen well to His direction, he will accomplish his design.

How grateful we are to Jesus that He helps us to fulfill his plans! When we surrender to them, we are on the path to completion. Listen to these helpful steps to begin the Jubilee of Hope: “Put on, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another…. (Col. Ch. 3)

With God’s Word comes fulfillment. We can trust that He won’t ask what He wouldn’t help us to accomplish. However, that doesn’t mean there won’t be “glitches” in our care for one another.

Years ago, my family (mom, dad, six siblings) were on a vacation via station wagon across the country. We made just minimal comfort stops. These were hastened so we could get back into the vehicle and continue our trip. The children sat amiably, packed like sardines in the back, munching on penny candy.

A few minutes after one such speedy stop, a voice of alarm was sounded, “Where’s Quentin?!” The middle child, my active brother, was missing! We turned around and, in a few minutes, picked him up. Thanks to the gift of grace in a family, he remembers nothing of this now as an adult! He has children of his own and last summer his son asked Quentin to travel along with his son, on the Camino of Santiago in Spain!

The Holy Family had to travel together, too, and under quite difficult circumstances. On our shared journeys as a family, mutual forgiveness is sure to be one component. Let us make our first steps in this new year, the Jubilee of Hope, be steps that open the door of reconciliation in our own families.

Whoever honors his father, is gladdened by children,

and when he prays, is heard.

Happy Feast of the Holy Family!