Florida Catholic | Sunday Word

Feast of the Holy Family

Holy families not without struggle; Holy Family serves as model

December 28, 2008 :: Sir 3:2-6, 12-14; Ps 128:1-5; Col 3:12-21; and Lk 2:22-40

MSGR. MICHAEL V. REED | SPECIAL TO THE FLORIDA CATHOLIC

A comedian was once asked by interviewers about her family. She responded that she came from a typical American family.

“You know,” she said, “me, my mother, her third husband, his daughter from a second marriage, my stepsister and her live-in boyfriend.” Obviously she meant this to be funny, but for many people the state of their families brings anxiety and tears instead of laughter.

On this first Sunday of the Christmas season we celebrate the feast of the Holy Family. Let us not lose sight that the same Jesus whose birth forever changed the world, bringing hope and joy into the lives of believers, was born into a human family.

We might not so readily accept the word “typical,” but we must consider Mary’s unusual pregnancy; the oppression and injustice that she and the Jewish people suffered under Roman rule; the significant division and corruption within Judaism; the feeling by Jews of being overwhelmed living in a society seeped in Greek culture, language and religious beliefs; and the desperation of those who felt that the only way to change the world was through violence and bloodshed. Not exactly typical.

Typical or not, Jesus was born into a human family and we go further to describe them as “holy.” When the Scripture uses “holy,” it points to a Hebrew word that means “to heal” and “health.” Therefore, a “holy family” should indicate a bond and relationship between people that brings healing and good health. A loving and caring family can bring tremendous healing and health to its members, particularly in times of trial, struggle and sickness. A holy family is one that helps one another through the challenges of life. I would also suggest that holiness includes humor, laughter, compassion, understanding and the capacity to forgive and be forgiven and to love and be loved.

Clearly, just because we use the word “holy” doesn’t mean that a family is trouble-free. Jesus, Mary and Joseph did not live trouble-free lives. The census, fleeing Herod and their exile in Egypt are but a taste of their struggles. What makes them “holy” is how they handled the problems, conflicts and difficulties that came their way.

In the Gospel of Luke (2:41-52), Jesus went with his parents to celebrate the great pilgrimage feast of Passover (Pesach). If there is any example of how to handle catastrophe and crisis, it is the Passover. By the time Jesus was 12 years old, the Passover had been an annual celebration for more than 1,400 years, since 1391 BC. Probably like many devout Jewish families, Jesus and his parents would have traveled three times a year for special feast days commanded in Deuteronomy 16:16. One of the most significant commemorated the freedom of the Jewish people from Egypt after 430 years of slavery. From the presentation of Jesus in the Temple shortly after his birth to 12 years of age, the Temple with its massive renovations and new construction under King Herod was a familiar sight for Jesus.

At age 33 and after Jesus celebrated the Passover meal with his disciples, he was arrested, tortured and crucified. He would die upon the cross on the day of Passover – the paschal Lamb of God. Jesus’ disciples would remember him by celebrating the Passover meal which he instituted before his death.

I imagine that holy families get into fights, hurt one another, get disappointed, don’t see eye to eye. What they don’t do is give up on each other or alienate one another. Instead they might come together and celebrate the Eucharist: salvation, deliverance, liberty and transformation. Typical? I hope so!

Msgr. Reed is chancellor of the Pensacola-Tallahassee Diocese.

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