Our Holy Families

Gospel: Matthew 2: 13-15, 19-23

This feast presents us with more challenges than answers in our quest for holiness and wholeness in our lives.  We have overlaid the person of Mary with so many divine privileges that she no longer relates to ordinary human experience for many people.  And we have so overemphasized the divinity of Jesus that we no longer relate very much to his humanity.  The idea we have of the Holy Family is such that we cannot relate or possibly achieve that unrealistic ideal that dominates iconography.  

We overlook the fact that so little has been recorded of the life of this family both in the canonical scriptures and in the Gnostic Gospels that we come to invent our own ideas about its inner workings.  Yet, today's Gospel gives us enough to speak of holiness for them and for ourselves.  Joseph, Mary, and Jesus faced tremendous dangers and risks and perils.  Yet, they continually remained open to the promptings of God in their life to lead them to places of refuge and safety.

This openness is our key to holiness in our families as well.  We face innumerable struggles in our various family units - biological families, families of faith.  Families come in all shapes, sizes, and constituencies.  Each face their own unique challenges.  The example of the Holy Family here is that if we are continually open to the movements of God within us, we can navigate our challenges, finding refuge along the way as we journey together to the reign of God.  This is the key to being a holy family in our own lives.