Homily of the Feast of the Holy Family by Fr. Isaac Chima

Gen.15:1-6, 21:1-3

Heb. 11:8,11-12,17-19

Lk.2:22-40

Dear brothers and Sisters, today is a great feast that celebrates the beauty of an institution established by God from the day of creation, that is the Family. The church presents us the wonderful family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph as a model of every Christian family. She invites us to learn from them on how to build up our own family in accordance with the will of God.

The first and second readings present us with a powerful virtue that should be the root of every family. It is the virtue of strong faith in God even in the most uncertain times of our lives. They told us the story of Abram and Sarah and their unwavering faith in God. They remained faithful to God even when it seemed that nature contradicted the promises of God to them on account of their old age. Every family is called to have faith in God, both in good times and in bad times. The letter to the Hebrews tells us that no one can please God without faith.

The gospel of today showed us another quality that should not lack in a family, a quality that flows from faith in God. It is the quality of Obedience to the instruction of God. The gospel showed us the Holy Family faithfully obeying God’s law given through Moses concerning the purification of the mother and the redeeming of the child by presenting Mary and the Baby Jesus in the Temple. Obedience to the word of God should be a foundational virtue in every Christian family. This obedience should be in good times and in difficult times. A family that obeys the teachings of God will always find strength in God when they are in difficulty.

Now, let us look at the person of Joseph to see some virtues of a husband in the family. Joseph was a man who showed extreme love, devotion and care for his wife, Mary, even in the most extreme circumstances. Every husband should be a man of devotional love and care to his wife in all circumstances of life. Joseph did not want to disgrace his wife when he found out that she was pregnant outside their marriage. Every husband should seek the best for his wife. Tolerance is the key. Joseph was a protector of the Holy family in times of danger, guiding the family to Egypt and back to protect them from the Massacre of Herold. Every husband should protect his family from all threats to peaceful existence.   With Mary, Joseph searched for Jesus when he was lost in the temple. Loving parents should always search for their children whenever they are not where they want them to be. They will not allow their children to be lost to bad friendships in the society.

Let us also look at the person of Mary? Her silence and faith in God are golden. She was a woman of faith, who believed in God and put herself at the service of God and her husband. Any woman who is close to God will love her husband and children unconditionally. The peaceful home of the holy family was a demonstration that Mary was a woman of peace and few words. Peace should be the second name of every woman in the family. Every woman should be a messenger of peace, love and care to her husband and children. Mary was a caring mother to her family, a housekeeper who was close to her son. Every woman should be a homemaker and a close friend to her children to know their needs.

Together, parents have the responsibility to build a home where peace, love, care, tolerance will be present. A family where children can grow in love and peace. Marriage is an institution of love. Parents have the duty to train their children not only in school, but also in the faith. Teach your children the faith in God, good moral life and good societal values, and they will be wonderful treasures to you. The family is the microcosm church, the first place where the children learn about God. Therefore, parents should unite their families in prayer and the word of God every day. A family that prays together stays together. Do not forget to bring them to church to hear the word of God. The book of Proverbs 22:6 says, “train your child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

How about the children? Obedience to parents is the gift and duty every child owes to parents. Christ was obedient to his parents. He obeyed and followed them back to Nazareth when they found him in the temple teaching the teachers of the law. He obeyed Mary at the marriage in Cana and, thus, performed his first miracle. Obedience to parents is the requirement of the fourth commandment. It says, “Honour your father and your mother that your days may be long in the land which the Lord your God gives you.” (Exodus 20:12). This is the only commandment that has a promise attached to it. Children should not grieve their parents by the type of friends thy make. Do not abandon your parents to loneliness.  

I end this homily with the advice of Saint Paul to families in Ephesians chapter six verses one to four, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honour your father and mother, which is the first commandment with a promise, that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth. Fathers and mothers, do not provoke your children to anger; but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”

Happy Feast of the Holy Family. May the virtues and blessings of the Holy Family fill your homes.

Fr. Isaac C. Chima

#HolyFamily #CatholicChurch #ChimaIsaac

Image from: https://wallpapercave.com/wp/wp1876212.jpg