Holy Family Sunday (B) “My eyes have seen your salvation…” Merry Christmas everyone! This is the last Sunday of 2014 and as often the case, the Holy Family Sunday is the last Sunday of the year. It is also very fitting that our Readings wrapped the theme of Family with the theme of Faith. Let us then reflect their relationship guided by our Readings. 1. Faith plays a central role in the Realization of a Family. There is no family without faith, i.e., family is a vocation, as sharing in God’s plan. On the other end faith realizes the dream of the couple (Abraham and Sarah), completing their love in having Isaac, their own son. Love is completed when God is allowed to take part, to intervene, to take a central role in the making and building of the family. In today’s “culture of utility” the role of faith is often compromised in our tendency to program family life, to secure the future and plan things the practically benefit the members, often forgetting the very mission of the family. 2. Faith strengthens the foundation of Family. Family is founded in love. Faith and love complement. As true love waits, true love also humanizes, sanctifies. The strength of the family goes along in being nourished by faith. In the same vein, the family is strong because it is continually nourished by love, that is, members ever renew themselves in the constant giving and receiving of gifts and presences with each member. Think of a tree or plant. It receives and gives. The moment it stops giving, no matter how fertile the earth where it stands, it will wither and die. The strength of the family then is seen in its capacity to give – not just in receiving (not just in gaining, not just having high income). Here often, the giving is like “a sword that will pierce you.” Yes, like the heart of the giver, a pierced heart is a loving heart. Parents experienced this when they give their daughter/son for marriage. It is also when a father or a mother or a family member decides to go (abroad), separates her/himself, uprooting oneself from the comfort and protection of the family, so as to give more. God is for us this Christmas. Uprooting himself, leaving behind his majesty and divinity and taking on our humanity, becoming flesh for us, that we can fully hear and receive him. 3. True family is Redemptive. Redemption brings peace. This is what the Holy Family is to us, to the world, to all creation. When our family is living in love, our neighbours our close to us, our gate is always busy welcoming visitors. But when the family is engaged in sin and/or in maladies mentioned by the Holy Father in his Christmas message to his co-workers in the curia, then we see people distancing themselves from us, our neighbours are afraid of us, they keep themselves as far away as possible from us. Peace results to a family built and nourished by love. Salvation is realized to the family where God dwells, where he is welcomed and counted as an indispensable member. Merry Christmas and Advance Happy New Year to all!
Posted on: Sat, 27 Dec 2014 12:29:22 +0000
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