Dec 29th, 2024: Feast of the Holy Family

Dec 29th, 2024: Feast of the Holy Family

by | Dec 30, 2024 | Homilies

Feast of the Holy Family

Today we celebrate the feast of holy family Jesus, Mary and Joseph.  This feast is meant to assure us that God works in and through the normal and often messy reality of our family lives.

Today’s readings help us understand the Holy Family in two ways. First, some passages—including one from the Book of Sirach—lay out an ideal for family life: children honoring parents, parents nurturing children, everyone practicing kindness, humility, and patience. If that seems lofty, it’s because it is. None of us does it perfectly. But Scripture tells us such virtues are worth striving for, because they reflect what healthy, faithful relationships can look like.

Yet the Gospel also opens our eyes to something larger. We hear about Jesus traveling to Jerusalem with Mary and Joseph for Passover. Cultural traditions of the time meant men and older boys traveled together, while women and younger children traveled together, so it’s not too surprising they lost sight of Jesus for a day. But we can imagine their panic when they realized their son was not with either group. How many parents in this church have felt that flash of panic if you lost sight of your child for even a minute in a store or a crowded place?

When they finally found Jesus in the Temple, Mary let her worry spill over: “Son, why have you done this to us?” To modern ears, Jesus’ reply—“Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”—can sound dismissive, almost as if he’s brushing her off. But Luke wants us to see something deeper: Jesus identifies himself first and foremost as the Son of God, committed to his divine mission. Yet he remains fully part of Mary and Joseph’s household, returning home with them and growing “in wisdom and favor.” This is not a rejection of family; it’s an expansion. We see that while our earthly households are vital, our ultimate home is always with God.

In those few lines, we realize the Holy Family faced real challenges too. Mary speaks in frustration, Jesus asserts his independence, Joseph stands quietly to the side, undoubtedly unsettled by the ordeal. Their relationships are loving but not without tension—just like our own families. That is why this feast is so comforting.

We’re reminded that holiness is not about perfection; it’s about God’s presence working in and through our human failings, anxieties, and joys.

The Letter to the Colossians calls us “chosen ones, holy and beloved.” That’s who we are in God’s eyes. If you’re a parent, a grandparent, or even a child yourself, you might recognize how easily we can fall short of these family ideals—tempers flare, misunderstandings arise, chores get neglected, and schedules clash. Yet here’s the good news: it is exactly within these ordinary struggles that God’s grace takes root and flourishes. Every act of forgiveness, every gentle correction offered in love, every patient moment listening to a family member’s worries—these become stepping stones in our journey toward a holy family.

This feast also reminds us not to limit “family” to biology alone. The Bible tells stories of people who felt excluded or were on the margins—like Hannah in the Old Testament, longing for a child, or Mary, unexpectedly pregnant with Jesus. But God chose them, heard their prayers, and drew them into His larger story.

 In the same way, our Christian life calls us to extend the love and support we give our own families into the wider family of God. Friendships, parish communities, and even chance encounters can become moments of seeing each other as brothers and sisters in Christ.

As we continue in this Christmas season, the Holy Family invites us to keep Christ at the center. That means bringing our anxieties, our imperfections, and our daily routines to him. We do our best to love one another, to support one another, and to remember that, in the final analysis, every home finds its true meaning under the Fatherhood of God. Mary, Joseph, and Jesus were a family learning and growing just like us, yet they opened themselves to God’s will. By doing so, they became a beacon of hope for all families.

So let’s pray for our families in all their shapes and sizes. Let’s pray for those who may feel alone, for those with strained relationships, for parents overwhelmed with responsibilities, for children navigating new phases of life. May we clothe ourselves with the virtues Saint Paul mentions—compassion, kindness, humility, patience—so that our homes become places where love flourishes and God’s presence is recognized.

On this Feast of the Holy Family, take heart: our God desires to dwell with us in the very heart of our families, however imperfect they may be. Jesus chose to spend most of his life in an ordinary household, sanctifying our daily routines and reminding us that every moment can be a place of grace. May we welcome him there, so that we too may grow in wisdom, in favor, and in love.

St. Martha Prayer

Your faith led Jesus to proclaim, “I am the resurrection and the life.”

Your unwavering belief allowed you to see beyond His humanity when you cried out,

“Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”

With firm hope, you declared, “I know that God will give you whatever you ask of Him,”

and Jesus called your brother Lazarus back from the dead.

With pure love for Jesus, you welcomed Him into your home.

Friend and servant of our Savior, I too am “troubled about many things.”

Pray for me that I may grow in faith, hope, and love,

and that Jesus, who sat at your table, will hear me and grant me

a place at the banquet of eternal life. Amen.