Merry Christmas!
The birth of Jesus in Bethlehem is the beginning of a great story with a large cast of characters. Of course, Mary and Joseph are there along with Angels, a multitude of the heavenly host, Shepherds and the Magi. The Angels proclaim "good news of great joy that will be for all the people" (Luke 2:10). The heavenly host cry out "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests" (Luke 2:14). The shepherds visit the Holy Family and then spread the good news throughout their community all the while "glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen" (Luke 2:20). The Magi make a treacherous journey to find the "newborn king of the Jews" so they could "do him homage" and present gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. The Nativity scene is complete. However, there is much more to this story.
After all this glorious activity, everyone leaves and Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus are left alone to fend for themselves. This is where our readings for the Feast of The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph on Friday, December 30 begin. Now Jesus, Mary and Joseph must face the realities of a cruel and dangerous world. They must flee Bethlehem at night for fear of Herod's persecution and become refugees in Egypt. Even after Herod's death, they cannot return home to Judea but must seek refuge in Nazareth, a town in Galilee. Fortunately for the Holy Family, they were not totally alone. They had an open relationship with God the Father, they listened to God’s messages and warnings and they acted accordingly. For Mary and Joseph in particular, their lives were focused and centered on caring for and nurturing God’s son Jesus Christ.
My prayer for all families this Christmas season is that Jesus Christ will be the heart and center of your lives. And that when you encounter the trials and tribulations of life you will turn to the wonderful guidelines St. Paul provides us in Colossians 3:12-21 for Christian family survival: “Put on then, 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. And let the peace of Christ control your hearts, the peace into which you were also called in one body.”
Loving God,
guardian of our homes,
when you entrusted your Son
to the care of Mary and Joseph,
you did not spare them the pains
that touch the life of every family.
Teach us to rely on your word,
that in our trials as in our joys
we may be clothed in gentleness and patience
and united in love.
With the Holy Family of Nazareth,
when you entrusted your Son
to the care of Mary and Joseph,
you did not spare them the pains
that touch the life of every family.
Teach us to rely on your word,
that in our trials as in our joys
we may be clothed in gentleness and patience
and united in love.
With the Holy Family of Nazareth,
may we seek your will in all we do.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord.
Amen
