Homilies

FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY: LET US RISE, AND MAKE OUR HOMES A NAZARETH

AFTER CELEBRATING THE JOY of Christmas day, that is, the birth of our Lord, the gospel of  the Feast of the Holy Family brings us a sad fate: the  flight of the Holy Family to Egypt and then to Nazareth. It sadly appears a family moving from one place to another.  However, due to migration, this sight is not uncommon today.

Joseph becomes a central figure in this gospel passage.  He does not say a word.  He simply listens, obeys and acts.  The angel told him to “rise.”  It is a call which repeatedly appears in many stories in the Bible.  God calls men to get up and get going.  Here, Joseph does what is told of him even in the night or late at night.  He only has to believe.  This simple man has to save the Redeemer of the world.  God chose him, a simple man, a lowly carpenter. God always amazes us. His actions surprise us but, from that, we realize that God knows what is best for us. 

As Matthew thus narrates, this flight of the Holy Family in the light of what the prophets had foretold, perhaps we may also try to look into the family in these modern times in the light of our faith.  There are quite a lot of families in ‘flight.’  Just think of the migrants.  Millions of them left their own country and moved to another country.

But we should take note that what usually happens now is the “fleeing out” of the family.  Sociologists characterize these ‘fleeing’ in various forms.  

First is the craving for more privacy. Before, there have been large families who can manage to fit in a not so big house.  At present, even if a couple has only two children, each one should have his/her own room, with a personal television and perhaps computer and internet which most often lead to isolation, worst even to depression.  This situation prevents members of the family to feel the importance of community or family living. What is emphasized is individualism and selfishness. The concern is more of personal needs and life, not the family’s.

Second is the influence of the outside world which leads to the flight from the family lifestyle, from belief and tradition, from familial solidarity.  Sometimes it is the society that can dictate the future of the child.  Or it can be peers too. I t happens that peers or “barkadas” are more influential in forming the attitudes and values of young people.. Young people may listen more to their peers that to their parents. Unfortunately, parents can only feel sorrow and helplessness when they realize they no longer seem to have an influence over their children. 

Third, there is the flight from oneself, considering the cravings and needs created by a consumeristic world. The “I” becomes central which in fact is actually leading to “I”solation.  Husband and wife must each go to work. Often, they seldom see each other. They may have different off hours. Worse, the husband or the wife is in another country and thus, leaves the spouse and children. There comes then disloyalty and infidelity. As a result, a family breaks apart.  Life of children becomes miserable.  In addition, the society brings or introduces a new form of family supported and promoted through new laws which undermine and discriminate the natural form of family. These are just some of the threats that confront the modern family most especially in rich countries where at most is the threat of the end of the family itself.  

Let us recall what the angel said to Joseph: Rise!  Joseph and Mary listened and survived the threats against their family. They were instrumental in the psychological and spiritual growth of Jesus. In fact, Jesus grew with them and found in them a shelter of belief, prayer and wisdom.  In the same way, God is also now calling every family, every parent these days to Rise! Parents should come to terms with the present-day problems and challenges being faced by them. Young people today need the care of a warm, caring, and loving family. Therefore, parents should make their home a ‘Nazareth’ where true love and faith create an atmosphere of hope and trust.  Such families are the guardians of the future.

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