Holy Family
Sermon for Holy Family
It is indeed wonderful but also an insight I think of the Church tradition to have today as the first Sunday of Christmas as the feast of the Holy Family. Why?
Because as much as we love our families they also drive us crazy and we play our part in that!
The much anticipated family reunions of Christmas can, if we are not careful, give rise to the raising of tensions and of old wounds. The close proximity of family members combined with a small kitchen that someone is used to being in control of, of shared bedrooms or bathrooms, of old habits, jealousies, gripes and forgotten annoyances that had been forgotten are being recalled, the things that get under our skin, the renewed required patience towards and tolerance of others and they of us, amidst much caffeine, lack of proper sleep, and increased sugar and alcohol intake can give rise towards rows with words said, that are later regretted but can't be unsaid.
It reminds me of the priest visiting a house in a parish and not this one, where he heard a row behind the door...
Time and moving out of house to our independent way of doing things makes us forget about the tensions that can arise when people live or are thrown again together in close proximity. We can be close to family members but sometimes too close for comfort! Brothers and sisters can, without being conscious of it, grow up and grow apart from one another. Contact can be less frequent.
Which brings us to the Holy Family
This does not mean we are called to be a perfect family. No such thing as a perfect family exists anywhere because of our fallen nature. A wise old priest once said to me 'we will never know what goes on behind closed curtains.’
On the plus side we have different but hopefully complementary strengths talents and gifts to offer.
It is indeed wonderful but also an insight I think of the Church tradition to have today as the first Sunday of Christmas as the feast of the Holy Family. Why?
Because as much as we love our families they also drive us crazy and we play our part in that!
The much anticipated family reunions of Christmas can, if we are not careful, give rise to the raising of tensions and of old wounds. The close proximity of family members combined with a small kitchen that someone is used to being in control of, of shared bedrooms or bathrooms, of old habits, jealousies, gripes and forgotten annoyances that had been forgotten are being recalled, the things that get under our skin, the renewed required patience towards and tolerance of others and they of us, amidst much caffeine, lack of proper sleep, and increased sugar and alcohol intake can give rise towards rows with words said, that are later regretted but can't be unsaid.
It reminds me of the priest visiting a house in a parish and not this one, where he heard a row behind the door...
Time and moving out of house to our independent way of doing things makes us forget about the tensions that can arise when people live or are thrown again together in close proximity. We can be close to family members but sometimes too close for comfort! Brothers and sisters can, without being conscious of it, grow up and grow apart from one another. Contact can be less frequent.
Which brings us to the Holy Family
This does not mean we are called to be a perfect family. No such thing as a perfect family exists anywhere because of our fallen nature. A wise old priest once said to me 'we will never know what goes on behind closed curtains.’
On the plus side we have different but hopefully complementary strengths talents and gifts to offer.
The second Reading reminds us of some of the
qualities or virtues that may have been very much put to the test in the last few days - compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness,
patience, bearing with one another, and forgiveness.
The Holy Family of Jesus Mary and Joseph were perfect but not without problems, crises and crosses, toils and disappointments. Joseph wanted to spare Mary publicity, there was misunderstanding, there was no accommodation, they had to flee for their lives and live abroad away from a cruel dictatorship, they had to put bread on the table, Jesus was misunderstood .
But they put God first, and Mary and Joseph were open and obedient to what God wanted.
They had each a personal relationship with God as well as being faithful to their religious customs and observances.
I think it is also time for us to recognise and accept that we are part of a much larger family as well i.e. the Christian one, the Church, and all of us are baptised brothers and sisters on one another. May 2014 help us to a greater realisation of our responsibilities not only to our blood relations but our spiritual ones as well.
The Holy Family of Jesus Mary and Joseph were perfect but not without problems, crises and crosses, toils and disappointments. Joseph wanted to spare Mary publicity, there was misunderstanding, there was no accommodation, they had to flee for their lives and live abroad away from a cruel dictatorship, they had to put bread on the table, Jesus was misunderstood .
But they put God first, and Mary and Joseph were open and obedient to what God wanted.
They had each a personal relationship with God as well as being faithful to their religious customs and observances.
I think it is also time for us to recognise and accept that we are part of a much larger family as well i.e. the Christian one, the Church, and all of us are baptised brothers and sisters on one another. May 2014 help us to a greater realisation of our responsibilities not only to our blood relations but our spiritual ones as well.
posted by Unknown @ 5:34 AM
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