OF ALL the universal themes in life, “family” is one that is closest to our hearts. It one of the “favorite things” that we can talk about and one that can either bring a great deal of joy or anguish to anyone of us.
On holidays like Christmas and New Year, we long to be with our families. We get excited to see our parents, siblings, nieces and nephews. We find comfort in being around them and we experience this joy in family that no money can buy.
I remember seeing on television a poor family who were squatting on the floor of their house and having a simple meal of rice and fish on Christmas Day. The mother was asked what brings her joy on Christmas. She responded, “As long as we are together as a family, I’m happy and that’s all I want for Christmas.”
As we celebrate the Feast of Holy Family this Sunday, let has give thanks to God for the gift of family. Let us remember its value and its important role in our lives and in the society. Let’s hold its sanctity and relevance in this world, especially when it is threatened by violence, poverty, and secularism.
There is nothing like having a united and healthy family, and, of course, one that has enough resources to feed one’s children and to provide them with a home and good education. That is why the government and the business sector should do their best to provide jobs, education and healthcare to families.
In the Gospel this Sunday, Joseph, the head of his new family, took seriously his responsibility of bringing Jesus, and his wife, Mary, to safety, after learning that King Herod was searching for the newborn Messiah to destroy him. He brought them to Egypt at the pleading of an angel until Herod had died. Then they returned to Nazareth to start a new life together.
We don’t have much details about their life in Nazareth; all that we can imagine is that they lived a humble, quiet, and righteous life. They were faithful to their duties to God and their fellow men and women. They presented Jesus to the temple and brought sacrificial offerings. They must had been happy and united as a family, although they were conscious of the messianic role that Jesus would play for the whole human race. As a normal human family, they had their share of fear and insecurities, but they always trusted in the one true God.
The Church’s role in our society is to be the conscience for building holy and healthy homes, where children learn and experience the values and joy of the Gospel. The Church believes that having good and healthy families means having a good society. The family is the domestic church, with parents being the shepherds of their children.
We’re all called to preserve unity, love, faith, and strength in families. As we approach the new year, let’s be like Mary and Joseph, at times fearful but always trusting and hopeful, diligent and responsible. Let’s wish everyone the best of life this coming year! Happy New Year!
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Reverend Rodel G. Balagtas attended St. John Seminary in Camarillo, California and earned his Doctor of Ministry in Preaching from Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis, Missouri. For twenty years, he has been in the parish ministry of large multi-cultural communities. Since 2002, he has been the pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Los Angeles. Please email Fr. Rodel at [email protected].
