FEAST OF HOLY FAMILY [YEAR B] SUNDAY HOMILY

FEAST OF HOLY FAMILY [YEAR B] SUNDAY HOMILY
THEME: We Must Protect the Family Institution
BY: Fr. Uchenna Onyejiuwa

Beloved, today is the feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph; a model example of what and how every family should be. The family is the oldest human institution established by God for the continuation of the creation of the most beautiful and most intelligent being on earth, the human being. It begins with the formal completion of the traditional marriage rites (which vary according to culture) between a MAN and a WOMAN and, in this Christian dispensation, ends with the solemn reception of the sacrament of Matrimony. As God’s instrument for the continuous creation of human beings, every marriage is ipso facto designed to be fruitful or open to procreation. While we acknowledge the reality of certain health conditions that might hinder the natural fruitfulness of some marriages, we strongly affirm that there has never been a medical solution that doesn’t involve gametes from both sexes; which makes it imperative that every marital union must be between a man and a woman according God’s design.

Unfortunately, for many decades now, this noble and sacred family institution has been under fierce attack by those who want to wantonly alter this natural family structure established by God, brazenly calling for the official recognition and blessing of what hitherto has been known to be sinful and immoral – same-sex unions. What makes it ridiculous is that many of those, if not all, who advocate for this type of union are products and ‘beneficiaries’ of the natural family institution. Even though what they are proposing has failed to satisfy any reasonable logic, they are still hell-bent on achieving their goal. There must be a hidden reason behind what they are advocating for. If you ask me, my first guess will be that these are the same Malthusians who think that the best way to ensure the available resources are enough for man’s greed is by population reduction; then my second guess will be that this is the devil fighting to weaken the Church’s moral teachings, which will eventually spell doom for the Church. Whatever it is, one thing is certain, it will never serve humanity any good. Therefore, it must be condemned in the strongest terms and jettisoned as an ill wind that blows no one any good. The natural family institution structured in the pattern of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph must be protected, defended and promoted at all costs, it is a fight for survival.

Before now, our focus on a day like this has been on how we can learn from the life of the Holy Family which is characterised by love, care, responsibility, obedience, humility, respect, diligence and, of course, holiness. Many families today lack these virtues and qualities, making the style and quality of life in those families fall below expectations. Today, another opportunity has been offered to us to deeply reflect on our lives in our various families and to ensure that our families are firmly established on Christ the solid rock by following the example of His Holy family and His teachings and by living a life of faith like Abraham our father in faith. May the grace and peace of Christ continue to abide with you and yours as you work to model your families after the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Wishing you once again a Merry Christmas and a prosperous new year. (First reading, Gen 15:1-6,21:1-3; second reading, Heb 11:8,11-12,17-19, gospel, Lk 2:22-40).

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