My Dear People, 

Having celebrated the feast of the Nativity of Jesus, we celebrate today, the Feast of the Holy Family. The Gospel of Luke illustrates one incident which was experienced by the Holy Family, indicating to us that faithful living of Christian virtues can alleviate many of the more obvious dysfunctions in family life; yet not necessarily guaranteeing freedom from all stress and difficulty.  Mary, Joseph and Jesus also had to bear the suffering of a fallen world even though they did not participate in sin.

In reflecting about the Holy Family, we realize that they were human and what happens to ordinary humans happened to Mary, Joseph and Jesus. They were not exempt from difficulties, emotions, and stress.  Later in their lives, Jesus and Mary encountered the difficulty of living without Joseph, who was the leader and provider of the family.  

We take note that the family today is suffering. Many family relationships are broken. Today’s popular culture does not encourage families to stay together. The popular culture is mainly secular and devoid of the desire to want to live a family plan of life according to the way God designed it. The culture entices the individual to think only of themselves. When people think only of themselves, the family suffers and suffers greatly. Another aspect prevalent in today’s society is that people are looking for self-satisfaction or gratification. In this quest, many are going to remain deluded. The world around us entices us to fill this void with material and temporal things. These are all false lures.  It does not fulfill or even forward the purpose of what the family is about. 

The Gospel of Luke tells us that after Mary and Joseph journeyed back to find Jesus in the Temple, preaching, Jesus accompanied them back to Nazareth and was thereafter obedient to Mary and Joseph. Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and favor before God and man. What did Jesus do to make this happen? Basically, He followed the plan of his Father in Heaven and lived His Will every day of His life. 

This is the key to the whole passage. Many families who are struggling do not have peace in their lives. One major factor is that people have strayed away from the plan God has for families. Each family should reflect on the Holy Family (what did the Holy Family do that a family of today can do?) and then benefit from such actions. 

The Holy Family was blessed not because they received special gifts. They were blessed because they gave of self to each-other: Jesus and Mary lived in the Divine Will. In observing the Holy Family from someone who did not know they were the holy Family, an individual would not be able to observe anything extraordinary. They were ordinary beings and acted in a normal everyday fashion the same way any other ordinary family would act. The only difference is they were committed to reflect the love of God the Father in a very special way. Their actions may not always have been extraordinary, however, their intentions and their commitment and their love to reflect the Will of God was extraordinary. This is something which may not be easily observable. Yet, they were and are the Holy Family, which encourages us and inspires us to live a life in our families with utmost love, and with commitment to live out the Will of God and fulfill His plan for our families to the best of our abilities. 

Happy New Year Everyone!  May this New year be blessed for you, and may you prosper as Jesus prospered and advance in wisdom, understanding and favor before God and man. 

In Jesus’ Name,      

Fr. Vincent Clemente

Jesus, Savior of the World, Save America!