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(31st December) Homily for the Feast of Holy Family

READ: (Sir 3:2-6, 2-14; Col 3:12-21; Lk 2: 22-40)

REFLECT: Let us enrich our families with the riches of love, obedience and self-surrender

Today we have different categories of families; families that live in unity and families that live in disunity, families that live in love and families that live in hatred, families that live in mutual self-giving and  families that live in selfishness. While we analyze why this difference is, we come to know that the lakhs of families lack love today. Therefore, a question rises in our hearts as to what and how we need to equip ourselves to live a life of love. All the more, the day is suitable to reflect and find answer because we celebrate the feast of the Holy Family, where Holy Family stands as an example and model for all the families in the world.

However, we do not have information at length to know how they lived. But the sources and information that we have speaks lot about the Holy Family. But all three in the Holy Family have accompanied God greatly throughout their journey. What is so unique about them (Jesus, Mary and Joseph) is their total YES to God’s call in their life. Jesus said YES to God by way of incarnation for the salvation of the entire humanity. Mary said YES to God to bring forth savior to the world. And Joseph said YES to God to accept Mary as his wife and assist Jesus in his human formation. And the basis of their YES is deeply rooted in three qualities which we are called to have. They are love, obedience and self-surrender.

1.     Love:

 The most powerful weapon in the world that God used to gain mastery and victory over the world is Love in and through His only Son Jesus. That’s what we read in Jn:16, “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son that we may not perish but have eternal life.” the Feast of the Holy Family invites us to plant the seed of love to sprout through life, to cement the building of life with love.

2. Obedience:

There is a saying, “it is better to obey than to disobey.” The fact is that obedience causes joy, peace and tranquility whereas disobedience causes hatred and revengeful feelings. Sometimes even it extends to murder someone too. Today God does not ask of us to offer holocausts and sacrifices rather our obedience to commands of the teaching of the Church, authority of state, society and family. This obedience was definitely the hallmark of the holy family to find solace in God.

3. Self-surrender:

The famous Philosopher Wittgenstein says, “Whereof one cannot talk thereof one must be silent.” But our silence should not be a mere silence rather it should be reflective, recollective and effective as well. It should enable us to mend the broken heart, to find the path mislead in life. And in holy family we see total adherence and surrender to God. Jesus says, “If possible take away this cup of suffering, yet not I want but what you will.” Mary says, “I am the handmaid of the Lord.” Joseph accepts Mary to be his spouse.

Today when we examine whether we have all these three qualities mentioned above, perhaps we may remain silent or accept the fact that we lack. Because families live without love, parents have no regard for their children and children in turn have no regard for their parents. This may not be the approach of all but there are good families who continue to live an exemplary life. Thus, it is a call for action in our families, communities to lay the foundation of love, obedience and self-surrender for family is the first and best school of human formation, where we are formed, informed a lot, transformed for the better. May the Holy Family bless our families and communities that we may live in love, obedience and self-surrender.

RESPOND:

Do we love one another sincerely in our families?

Do we understand the significance of obedience to one another in the family?

Do we accept each other in the family and make a self-surrender for prevailing peace in our families?

Let us live in love, understand the importance of obedience and accept each other as they are in the family to live a peaceful life. Amen.

Happy Feast of the Holy Family. God bless us all…

Live Jesus!