This Sunday, we celebrate the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, and this Sunday marks the end of the Christmas season. During these two weeks of Christmas celebration, we celebrated two great feasts, respectively the feast of the Holy Family and the feast of Epiphany.
This week, I invite you to reflect on the window of the Holy Family from St. Agnes, and this feast always falls during the Octave of Christmas. It is more fitting that we celebrate the feast of the Holy Family right after Christmas because God desired to be born in an ordinary human family. God is all-powerful, and He could have saved the Lord in many different ways, but He desired to be born in the family. By being in the family, He blessed all the family.
Devotion to the Holy Family became more popular in the 15th century, and it appeared prominently in works of art in the Medieval period. Pope Benedict XV added this feast to the Liturgical calendar in 1921. Ever since the feast of the Holy Family celebrates during Christmastide. As the Christmas season is a time of family gathering and reunion, let us gaze our attention towards the Holy Family. Looking at the Holy Family window, you can see the real happiness of the ideal family. The fundamental principle of the Holy Family is joy. The child Jesus is surrounded by the maternal care of Mary and the care of Joseph. However, due to the impact of modernity, most of our families are distorted. Realizing the need of the modern families, pope Francis promulgated the Post Synodal Apostolic Exhortation of Amoris Laetitia (the joy of love) -this apostolic document addresses the pastoral care of the family.
Cardinal Oswald Gracias, the Archbishop of Mumbai, India, in his attempt to promote this papal document Amoris Laetitia, gave an endearing homily in Dublin in Ireland. He said, "in the face of attacks on the family, the Church should strive to imitate the Holy Family, which shines through the darkness. Amid the great assaults on family values, and on the institution of the family itself, the Holy Family stands out like a bright, dazzling light.” The Cardinal also added that we need to stand together with Pope Francis to strengthen the Church, to make the Church what Jesus intended it to be: A replica of the Holy Family of Nazareth. But the question for us is how can we imitate the Holy Family?
First, we have to follow the example of Child Jesus. Jesus was so obedient to His parents. In the same way, all the children can embrace the virtue of obedience. Second, we can learn from our blessed Mother the importance of pondering. The moment She received the Agnel's Greetings, Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. (Lk 2:19). So, with every Word from Scripture, every gift that the Lord gives, every Mass that we attend, we should have a spirit of pondering. Third, we have to follow the example of St. Joseph. St. Joseph was a man of a doer and not merely a listener. He believed entirely in God's word and acted upon it. For instance, he listened to the angel and took the Blessed Virgin as his wife. (cf Mt 1:20-21). As a foster father, when angle instructed him about the threat of Herod in the dream, he acted promptly and led the family to Egypt (Flee to Egypt is depicted next to the Holy Family Window). So, in every instance in Sacred Scripture, St. Joseph was not just a mere listener, but the doer of God’s will.
So dear brothers and sisters, as we are at the end of this Christmas Season, let us seek the blessing of the Holy Family of Nazareth. Let us ask the help of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph to help our families to grow in greater unity and love for each other. `