The Holy Family

Today we are invited to reflect on the family called holy. 

What is the definition of family? In the Catechism of the Catholic Church, we read, \”A man and a woman, united in marriage, together with their children, form a family\” (2102). What exactly does being a \”holy family\” mean? 

In the second reading from the letter of St. Paul to the Colossians, we read, \”Put on, as God\’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if one has a grievance against another; as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do. And over all these put on love, that is, the bond of perfection.\” (Col. 3:12-14) Love is understood as an essential name of the Holy Spirit, who is the bond of love and unity of the Father and the Son. The Holy Spirit is God who absolutely wills to make families be united in peace and love and to lead them to true happiness. From him, they obtain a spirit of poverty willing to accept all things with patience and tranquility of mind, so that they might experience the joy and beauty of sanctified marriage, for God made man and woman in his own image and likeness.

The reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew draws particular attention to St. Joseph and leads us deeply into the beautiful mystery of him who is the humble man, the foster father and heroic guardian of the Son of God and his Mother, who is now the Guardian of the Universal Church. Joseph and Mary stand out among the poor, meek and suffering of the Lord who confidently hope for, receive salvation from, and are deeply grateful to the most merciful Father, who protects his Son from Herod. 

Through the intercession of the Holy Family, may God bless and protect families so that parents and children may imitate the simplicity and trust of Jesus, Mary and Joseph in the home at Nazareth.