Sunday 29 December 2024
Feast of the Holy Family
1 Samuel 1:20-22, 24-28. How happy they who dwell in your house, O Lord – Psalm 83(84):2-3, 5-6, 9-10. 1 John 3:1-2, 21-24. Luke 2:41-52.
Families of our heart
During the lead-up to the US election one of the topics aired (with varying degrees of sincerity) was what it meant to be a parent. Did having children make you more grounded or more of an asset to society than someone who did not? Having children may make you less selfish in some ways – that is, decisions are not individual but family focused – but they may also be limiting. Putting your own family first could curtail consideration of wider societal implications of policies. Having children does not necessarily make you a ‘good person’ just as not having children does not make you a ‘bad person’.
Families are also not confined to your biological children. After all, the Holy Family might justly be considered a blended family. Joseph was a caring father and role model. He fled to safety in Egypt with his family and when it was safe to return to Nazareth he provided a stable home life. On this feast of the Holy Family, we pray for families everywhere. We pray they know peace and stability, and have financial and emotional security.
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