Feast of the Holy Family

 

HOLY FAMILY HOMILY, CYCLE A


Cycle “A” brings us first of all to the Book of Sirach, chapter three. The point is that, within the family unit, each member needs to honor the other (3:1-16). By honoring those around you, you will in turn be honoring the message found in the Book of Sirach. Of course, it’s not always easy honoring the people who share your life. There’s typically friction, and sometimes even episodes of conflict. That’s why the Sirach reading is followed by a selection from St. Paul. The mandate we encounter in the Book of Sirach becomes more manageable if we incorporate Paul’s advice in Colossians chapter three. Pay special attention to verse sixteen: Let the word of Christ dwell within you, richly. With the help of the word, you’ll stay on track as a family. 


The word doesn’t cancel out the difficulties. But it allows you to navigate, when the difficulties do present themselves. In terms of the difficulties to be potentially faced, they will come from within and they will also come from without. You won’t always get along with one another. Buttons are going to be pushed. There will be strain, there will be periods of anger. These are challenges that flare up from within. Meanwhile, don’t be surprised if there are challenges that come at you from the outside. It can happen to any family—even the Holy Family. Matthew records an unscheduled journey for the Holy Family. They are already far from home because a census has been declared by the emperor (Luke 2:1-7). Now, with Herod’s reign of terror, the Holy Family will have to spend time in a foreign land (Matt. 2:13-23). 


Eventually, they will make their return to Nazareth. In other words, they are impacted by the outside threat, but only for a time. It’s a bumpy road for the Holy Family. Nevertheless, they finally reach where it is that they want to be. By way of example, consider the 1939 production, Stagecoach. There’s turmoil within the coach, and there’s also turmoil that encroaches from the outside (outlaws, Apache indians). And yet, in the end, they do reach their destination. It’s a bumpy, rather eventful ride. But they persevere and they ultimately prevail. You could call it a happy ending. 


You’re thinking: “That’s a movie! You can’t compare a movie to real life! They overcome because it’s in the script!!”  Granted. Point taken. You don’t have the benefit of a script. But here is what you DO have: you have the commodity being promoted by St. Paul. By this, we mean that you have the gift of God’s Word. Spend personal time in the word. If at all possible, share the word within your family. The extent to which the word is made present determines the extent to which your family will find its way. No, you don’t have a script. But you do have something even more advantageous—you have the benefit of The Living Word. 

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