Holy Family

Sir. 3:2-6; 12-14

Col. 3:12-21 December 30, 2016
Mt.2:13-15;19-25

Introduction: We live in a society that threatens one

stability and unity of the family. Every family at various
times faces its own problem either from within or from
without. In the Gospel today, the King so obsessed with
staying in power. Like the ordinary family today parents
may face serious sickness of one of the children as one of
them may be shriken with a life-threatening illness. Or
one of the spouses may be falling into another man or
woman in a same-sex or the other sex relationship. How
are they to handle these trials?

1. Family means having someone with you not only in

good times but also in bad times. It is sticking
together enduring that you need each other
especially on the face of trials. In Joseph, it could
have been easier to abandon Mary and Jesus behind.
After all, Jesus is not his biological son. Or for Mary,
just to leave the responsibility of protecting the child
to Joseph. After all, he I the head of the family. But
no, they faced the problem together. Mary and
Joseph fled their child to Egypt. It was clear to both of
them it was their responsibility to take care of the
child and they did so together! Being together does
not change the problem but it does give the
assurance that one is not alone but is with the other
at the darkest hour of the night.
2. Along the way, as the family tries to solve the
problem, there may be conflict among the members
but it does not mean that they have to leave each
other behind. The way may be troublesome but one
 has to remember the aim: aside from solving the
problem is to keep the family together until they get
through it. Unfortunately, many couples today
especially the young just quit leaving their future,
hopes, and dreams into ruins. Nothing is sweeter
than a family that stayed together amidst difficulties
and made it through together.
3. Finally, that height is only possible in the context of
love which is fundamental and innate vocation of
every human being but a higher bond of love called
friendship and self-giving. More than a mere lust
which only sees object as a means to satisfy ones
appetites. Such friendship and self-giving is capable
to recognized and love persons for themselves, like
the love of God, that is a love capable of generosity.
One desires the good of the other because he is
worthy of being loved. Although this can be a topic of
a homily by itself. Sex in marriage must be placed
within the context of LOVE within the FAMILY even
only as an addendum here.

Conclusion: Children need the family where they can best

grow and developed. They need strength of the father
and comfort of the mother when they deal with difficult
life situations. Couples too need each other expressed in
their mutual self-giving in love. The Holy Family leaves us
an example of how a family faces difficulty challenges in
life: not leaving the other behind but staying in mutual
self-giving in love!