HOMILY FOR THE FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY (6)

HOMILY FOR THE FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY

HOMILY THEME: LIVING AFTER THE EXAMPLE OF THE HOLY FAMILY OF NAZARETH

BY: Fr. Cosmas Ukadike CM

HOMILY:

The family set up still consists only of: the father, mother and children. It has not yet changed.

We saw that clearly in the first reading where God spoke to Abraham promising to make of him a great nation, which was fulfilled through his wife Sarah, as she bore him a child, Isaac (Gen 15, 1-6; 21, 1-3).

The family institution is so much cherished by the Lord that he didn’t employ any other means in sending his Son to the world other than that of the natural family set up.

Jesus was not born by a gay, nor was he born by a lesbian. He was rather born into a completely institutionalized home; with a father (male) and a mother (female).

This is important for us to take note of. And in this family, there was complete obedience to the law of the Lord (Lk 2, 22-23).

They were very devoted to the things pertaining God. This is a sign of faith in God. Always wanting to do his will; by practicing their religion and observing all the ordinances.

They must have had challenges but they didn’t allow these challenges to break their marriage and mar their family life.

They lived in love and God was their strength. Family life is becoming tougher today because of the new trends of living: social media ( which connects, you to the whole world, but disconnects you from your immediate family), money centered activities (which tells you you can make more money but which gives you no time for pleasurable moments with your family), poor orientation of family life (it deceives you to think that you are more important than the other, but it breeds lack of mutual love, respect, equality of dignity, availability, dialogue, etc.).

The Holy family of Nazareth made God the center and source of their lives. This helped Joseph and Mary to see God in each other and they loved and honoured each other such that their child Jesus had a conducive home growing up.

Nothing distorts the orientation of a child like; a home where there's no peace and love. Children who grew up in homes where the father was always hitting the mother or where the mother was always calling the father names, hardly got the right orientation. They grow up believing that violence is the way of life. They may end up having no love in them, especially if they felt they were never loved.

Jesus was brought up in a loving and caring home; in the home where he was taught to work like his father in his carpentry workshop and pray like his mother who would always ponder and glorify the greatness of God.

We pray that our families may learn something of the virtues of the family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph.

And may the Holy Family make our families like theirs+

Blessings on your day.
Fr. Cosmas Ukadike, C.M.