Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph
As this Octave of Christmas continues to unfold, the liturgical readings provide us with something like observation windows concerning the “rest” of the Christmas story. While growing up, we always enjoyed hearing our elderly aunts, uncles, and grandparents telling stories about the “good old days,” even if we had heard them before.
The stories of the Holy Family, during those “hidden” years before Jesus began His public ministry come to us as treasured memories passed down from the early Christian community. There were no photos to capture the moment, and yet we can imagine and feel the emotions of the family. Just imagine the terror of Joseph and Mary having to flee as refugees into far-off Egypt in order to protect the life of their child. Their eventual return to Nazareth must have brought some comforting normality to their lives. And yet even here the Gospel tells us that as Jesus was approaching his teenage years, his parents experienced another terrifying moment. Just imagine Mary and Joseph desperately searching for the young boy Jesus for three days in Jerusalem.
Perhaps these Gospel stories point out that God intended His Son to have the full human experience in the context of the human family. But His place is not confined to the distant Holy Family of Nazareth. It’s important to imagine Him in the midst of today’s refugee family, the poverty-stricken family, or the family crushed in sorrow and tragedy. He is there also, always. That is what “family” means, and we must commit to preserving it.
Reflection by Fr. Daniel Petsche, OSB
Posted in Articles for Christmas, Daily Reflections