Cycle A - Year II:  

29 December 2013: Feast of the Holy Family

(Liturgical color: White)

Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23

God loves the family!

It is said that the Philippines has the longest Christmas season, starting from the "ber" months. That means, from the month of Septem-ber. But time seems to pass so fast and Christmas 2013 will soon be part of history.

How did we celebrate Christmas this year? Was it all only just material celebration?

Christmas is when the almighty God comes to our world as a "helpless" infant. Jesus chooses to be born in a human family, with Mary as His mother and Joseph as protector. Thus, it speaks loudly how highly God regards family life.

The theme of the Gospel reading on Jesus' human family is so relevant today, particularly in our country where there are persistent attempts to weaken and destroy the Filipino family values.

Even in the global scene of the modern world, family life is chaotic with parents and children seem to be running in different, sometimes opposite, directions and thus sacrificing interpersonal relationship which is either weakened or completely lost. So that members of the same family act like strangers to each other.

Family life is never easy. This fact was no different for Joseph and Mary. They had to work through, with a little divine intervention, the circumstances of Jesus' conception. And Mary had to give birth to Jesus away from home, in the town of Bethlehem. Soon after Jesus' birth, the holy family had to flee to Egypt to avoid King Herod who was searching for the child Jesus to kill Him.

We can learn something from the examples of the holy family on their love, concern and respect for each other. God loves the family. By the incarnation of God the Son, God unites Himself with everyone through the family. Mother Teresa wrote: "The family that prays together stays together, because such a family learns something about how God loves each one of us."

It is in His human family, fraught with trials and challenges of everyday living that Jesus grew in wisdom, age and grace in preparation for His saving work. In much the same way, God intends to prepare us for life's many challenges and thus make us strong in His grace through the ups and downs of family life.

The Gospel also depicts St. Joseph as a man who was obedient to God. He models how the father of every home exercises his role as head of the house by seeking first and foremost the will if God  for himself and his family.

It is critical for both parents to be close to God, to be prayerful and to have an obedient spirit so that they can hear God speak and follow His plan for the family.

May our celebration of the Holy Family call to mind how highly God the Father regards family life. May we re-dedicate ourselves to building a strong relationship with Christ so that we can be a member of our own family that builds unity through our deep care and virtuous deed.

A blessed Sunday to us all. And thank you for a moment with God.

Ad Jesum per Mariam!

Nick Isip