YEAR C: HOMILY FOR THE FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY (4)

YEAR C: HOMILY FOR THE FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY

HOMILY THEME: LET THE FAMILY BE TRULY HOLY.

BY: Fr. Clem. Mezie Aladi

HOMILY: GOSPEL: Luke 2:41-52

” The great danger for family life, in the midst of any society whose idols are pleasure, comfort and independence, lies in the fact that people close their hearts and become selfish” .
– John Paul II

My dearest people of God, the feast of the holy Family on this last Sunday of the year offers us yet another opportunity to reflect on the human family that is fast disintegrating in the modern society.The family, the first institution established by God for the advancement of creation through procreative love has been subjected to serious manipulation through science, technology and evolving ideologies that is counter productive, exclusive and destructive.

The Human family is the microcosm of the society and the domestic church according to the second Vatican council. In the family children are raised and trained in the values that promotes love of God and neighbour, affection and appreciation. The family comprises of the father, the mother and children; but where there is no child the family does not cease to exist because conjugal love is the very essence of marital union. Naturally, a man and a woman makes up a family. It follows from this therefore that LESBIAN AND GAY MARRIAGES are threats to the family institution, an aberration, a sacrilege, a pervasion, a deprivation, a denial and a sin against the natural and divine law. Say no to it.

Family responsibilities belong to the father, the mother and the children. The primary responsibility of every father and mother is to care and raise their children in the fear of God. The family institution is fast disintegrating due to what I call the “work load” which implies a situation where parents hardly have time for their children due to the demands of their Job. When a man and a woman spends more time at their job, it’s to the detriment of the parental upbringing of their children. Often You hear parents say “we are working hard to make money to give our children the best in life” and I will quickly add…”that is possible only when you come home and see them at home”, if they have gone into the street then the best life you want to offer continues from there. Survey of different families has demonstrated that parents who don’t spend time with their children at home ends up loosing them to bad societal influences. My dear your job is not more important than your family; Give quality time to your family and work responsibly. The Catechism of the Catholic Church gives the following advice to the parents: ” Parents have the first responsibility for the education of their children. They bear witness to this responsibility first by creating a home where tenderness, forgiveness, respect, fidelity, and disinterested service are the rule” .

The Family nurtures and grooms. The father lives up to his responsibility, the wife performs her duties and children respects and obey their parents. When a woman is the bread winner and controls her husband the family is under threat. Dear wife, even if you make more money please remain submissive to your husband and you dear husband and father, Joseph supported the holy Family just with his carpentry work so don’t be lazy if your wife works so hard, try and support her no matter how little, she will always appreciate your efforts. Dearest couple your HOME IS YOUR HEAVEN , SCATTER IT AND IT BECOMES A HELL FOR YOU. The family should not be a courtroom where attorneys argue but a confessional where each admits his or her own fault and forgives. Like the holy Family, every family should be built on prayer, love, care, concern, affection, forgiveness and appreciation. Always love and appreciate each other in every situation. A family that prays together stays together.

DIVORCE:
Beware of divorce it is the worst element of disintegration of the human Family. Joseph did not divorce Mary in spite of the strange pregnancy. Learn to listen to the inner voice of the spirit. Children suffer most when Divorce happens. For the sake of these little ones hold your peace and let the sleeping dog lie. Stop traumatizing these children. Divorce destroys the beauty of family life. The church does not approve of it.

ABORTION:
Stop abortion.The family has a special role to play throughout the life of its members, from birth to death. It is truly “the sanctuary of life: the place in which life-the gift of God-can be properly welcomed and protected against the many attacks to which it is exposed, and can develop in accordance with what constitutes authentic human growth ”. Abortion is a serious threat to existence of the human family. It destroys its very mission and end.
Seek Natural family Planning methods and shun abortifacients and contraceptives. Remember though shall not kill.

SINGLE PARENTHOOD: It is the mind of God that children be raised in the presence of a mother and a father as Jesus was raised by Mary and Joseph, but when this ideal could not be realized due to family tragedies, the church and society supports these single mothers and fathers . But when choice is made to deprive a child of a mother or a father, the church condemns it, it is never an option. Children of single parents are deprived of essential psychological factors that enhances a balanced personality, infact the child suffers. Say No to it.

CONCUBINAGE:
The family is established through marriage institution. Why should you live together with a man or woman before marriage simply because he is your boy friend or girl friend? We all need to be reminded that Concubinage is sinful because it denies the sacramentality and sacredness of the human Family. Let your love for each other be publicly witnessed in the marriage covenant before the priest and God’s people in the temple of God. Say no to concubinage dear child of God.

SURROGACY:
Say no to surrogacy for it is contrary to the unity of marriage and to the dignity of the procreation of the human person. Surrogate motherhood represents an objective failure to meet the obligations of maternal love, of conjugal fidelity and of responsible motherhood; it offends the dignity and the right of the child to be conceived, carried in the womb, brought into the world and brought up by his own parents; it sets up, to the detriment of families, a division between the physical, psychological and moral elements which constitute those families.

OBEDIENCE:
Dear Children, obedience to your parents is highly rewarded by God and man, little wonder the 4th commandment has a blessing attached to it. Even if you have reached the legal age of 18, you are not in any way permitted or authorized to disobey your parents because they raised you and gave you life. Without them there will be no you. Mess up with your parents and you are gone. Remember some day your own children will mess up with you because whatever goes around comes around. You are not being charitable in caring for your parents both young and aged, it is a responsibility that flows from divine law . Jesus is our model. Jesus grew up at Nazareth like any other young man, obeying his parents, faithfully discharging all his duties to God, to his parents and to the community and “advancing in wisdom and age and favour before God and man. Jesus never disobeyed his parents and that is why the favour of God remained with him and he grew up in wisdom . Any child that disobeys his or her parents shall never have the favour of God upon him.

GOOD EXAMPLE:
Parents teach your children by good example. Don’t scandalized them at home. Remember every child bears the picture of the home he/she comes from. Family influences are very remarkable in shaping thscandalizety of a child don’t forget it. The first reading, taken from the First Book of Samuel, describes how Elkanah and Hannah presented their child Samuel in the Temple, consecrated him to the service of the Lord as a perpetual Nazarite and left him in the Temple under the care of Eli, the priest. This is what shaped the life of Samuel. He was brought up on the altar of God. If they had raised him in a ghetto, believe me he would grow up to be a gangster. Parents be mindful of this. Parents have a grave responsibility to give good example to their children. ”, (CC,C #2223)

“LET THE FAMILY BOND BE CEMENTED AND THE MARITAL VOWS RESPECTED. WE ARE ONE FAMILY OF GOD, THE CHURCH IS OUR FAMILY. LET’S SHUN INDIVIDUALISM AND REACH OUT TO OTHERS FAR AND NEAR. LET’S SHARE THE WARMTH TO OVERCOME THE COLDNESS OF LONLINESS”.- Clems

My dearest people of God, we thank God for bringing us to a successful end of this year 2018. We thank God for his blessings, protection and guidance as we work hard by His grace to build up our families so that He will continue to dwell among us.

From the very depth of my heart, I WISH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY A HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR 2019. YOU SHALL NEVER DIE BUT YOU SHALL LIVE TO SEE THE GOODNESS OF THE LORD IN THE LAND OF THE LIVING. I keep you always in my prayers and request for your prayers too as we journey together with hope into the new year.

Fr. Clem. Mezie Aladi

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