December 28, 2013
The First Sunday After Christmas, Feast of the Holy Family
Today we are celebrating the feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. We see the mystery of the birth of Jesus unfold within the family of Nazareth and the coming of Christ into our families today. In our society families are nuclear, broken, mended and blended. We have the traditional family of mom and dad raising the children but also single parents and grandparents raising the children. There are families with two moms and families with two dads. We celebrate Golden anniversaries of married love and fidelity. We also know the pain of separation and divorce. We must ask: Does the family of Nazareth have anything to say to contemporary families? A close reading of the infancy narratives in the Gospels according to St. Luke and St. Matthew shows Joseph and Mary dealing with fear, asking questions, accepting challenges and responding to threats on Jesus’ life. We can take solace knowing when Mary and Joseph were troubled they remained faithful to God and loyal and devoted to each other.
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Christmas
Next:
Epiphany of the Lord
