Transcript
Today we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family. Bringing together the two words, Holy and Family, would seem to be an odd combination for many people in our world today. For many the word Holy is itself a somewhat foreign word and speaks of things not of this world. The word family, while itself familiar to us, can bring a diversity of images to mind and heart. And even as we bring these two words, holy and family, together for our celebration of the very particular family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, they can seem to be at odds with an image presented to us in today’s gospel. Mary’s words to Jesus are somewhat startling, “My child why have you done this to us? See how worried your father and I have been, looking for you.” And yet, as we listen and hear Mary’s words it may just be that we hear where the holiness of all our families and the family of the Church actually sits. As Saint Paul reminds us, it is with the forgiveness, compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience and love between us in all our relationships that the holiness of God shines out!