HOMILY: The Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph
Luke 2:22-40
31 December 2023
Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez
I had the chance to watch an interview of Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes on Youtube. In sharing with the host their experiences as parents, Dingdong said he is very firm that their kids will not be dependent on gadgets. He and Marian make an effort to have activities with their kids, play with them, or have story-telling and crafting sessions. Marian also shared that even if she comes home late from a taping, she still wakes up early to bathe her children and take them to school. She makes it a point to attend all her children’s school activities because as a child her own parents were never around for her and she did not want her children to have the same experience. I was surprised that in spite of growing up in an industry that tends to have misplaced values, they chose to be traditional parents — placing a lot of effort into parenting even if it means sacrificing their convenience and personal wants. Instead, they are prioritising their children and each other above everything else.
On this Feast of the Holy Family, we look to Mary and Joseph on how to be good parents. As parents, Mary and Joseph were very much present in the life of their son, Jesus. They were available to Him for guidance and protection. In today’s gospel passage, we are told how fully the Holy Family entered into the religious practices of ordinary Jews of their time. Like all Jewish families, Mary and Joseph brought their son to the Temple to be offered to the Lord. In their family observance of the prescribed religious practices of the Jews, the Holy Family becomes a model for families today on how parents and guardians need to be present for their children and how they need to accompany them in exercising the faith.
Parents have to personally guide their children through ALL aspects of their faith formation, particularly in the often-neglected aspect of spiritual formation, which is the education and practice of the faith. Perhaps, we need to note a few reminders: Go to mass with the children; do not leave them at home when you come to church on Sundays; try to come as a family and present yourselves before the Lord. Pray together; teach your children the basics of prayer; make appointments for the family to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Learn what and how it is to be Catholic together; refresh your knowledge of our traditions and beliefs; encourage your kids to ask questions and search for answers together; do not rely on their teachers in Catholic Schools or catechists in the public schools; it is more important that your offsprings learn first from you and that they observe you practicing the faith.
Mary and Joseph were entrusted with a great responsibility. They were to raise the Son of God, no less. Just imagine what it must have been like to be Jesus’ parents. They probably felt totally inadequate for the task, notwithstanding the fact that they were very young abd had never raised a child of their own. Like every parent, they learned on the job. They were not perfect. In fact, at one point they lost Jesus after bringing him along to Jerusalem. They panicked at the possibility of having lost the Son of God. They must have been relieved beyond measure upon finding Him in the Temple days after He went missing.
Life was not perfect for them either. They were not a rich family. Joseph had to work as a carpenter to make a living for his family. He and Mary also prepared themselves for the eventuality of Jesus leaving their home when the time came for him to fulfill his mission. Through it all, they were never known to grumble nor did they abandon Jesus when life became difficult. They did not rely on their limited capacity to raise Jesus but instead they trusted that since God chose them for this tremendous task, He would also help them to accomplish the task. They persisted in God’s grace and walked into the mystery of God’s plan for their son, Jesus. Despite their own reservations and personal questions, they united their hopes and dreams with God’s plan for the salvation of humanity.
On this feast day of the Holy Family, we thank God for our families. Just as God entrusted Mary and Joseph with His Son, He has entrusted us with a family to nurture and love. To those who are married and have children: treasure the gift of your spouse and your children; do not be discouraged when your family goes through struggles. Life is never perfect. Simply pray to God for guidance, patience and understanding. Let us make it a habit to always pray with one another and for one another. Amen.
The Manger Art Print by Mike Moyers
Sunday Gospel Reflections 