Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph – Year C
Sunday, December 29, 2024
“As a custom which started in kindergarten, I always wrote ‘JMJ’ at the top of the blackboard, as I do on every piece of paper before I write — and which I hope will someday be on my tombstone [It is]. In answer to many letters, the public finally recognized me and the words Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.” —From “Treasure in Clay: The Autobiography of Fulton J. Sheen.” Whether lecturing, writing, or filming his television series, Archbishop Fulton Sheen habitually began with JMJ to invoke the guidance of the Holy Family. Today, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. The Feast falls within the Octave of Christmas, the liturgical period in the Church that spans eight days, beginning on December 25, the Feast of the Nativity of the Lord, and concluding on January 1, the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. We are invited to reflect on the Holy Family and parenthood.
Parenthood is not just a role; it is a profound vocation that encompasses both the physical act of bringing new life into the world and the spiritual responsibility of guiding and nurturing it in the faith. Mary and Joseph understood that their child is a precious gift from God, as all children are. This knowledge fosters a sense of stewardship for parents entrusted with their children’s care. Mary and Joseph were not only caretakers of Jesus but also His primary teachers who taught Him to read and write. They wholeheartedly embraced passing their faith as a sacred duty. Parents are called to teach their children about God, instill moral values, and guide them in their spiritual journey. “The family is rightly described as the domestic Church. As such, it transmits the faith and the Christian value system from one generation to the next.” —Pope John Paul II. The domestic church is where faith is lived out daily.
Today’s Gospel recounts the story of the Boy Jesus in the Temple. It is the only story about the life of Jesus recounted by the four Gospels between the time He was presented in the temple until He began His public ministry. Mary chided Jesus for abandoning the family by remaining behind in Jerusalem. Still, she and Joseph revealed the virtues of forbearance, patience, kindness, and forgiveness, ideals of the Christian life inscribed by Paul in today’s New Testament Selection from Colossians.
Imagine Mary and Joseph as a young couple with a shared dream of how their life together would unfold. Imagine the whirlwind they felt when they learned that God had a different purpose for their lives and would transform them in ways they never anticipated. Imagine their hearts racing with a mix of astoundment, uncertainty, excitement, and anxiety. This Octave of Christmas serves as a time of extended celebration of the birth of Christ. It allows us to reflect more deeply on the mystery of the Incarnation and its implications for salvation. Moved by the Holy Family’s response to their calling, ask for the grace to accept God’s promises and surprises for you and await them to be fulfilled faithfully.
Go in Peace to Love and Serve the Lord.