The celebration of The Holy Family of Nazareth, Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, serves as a beacon of inspiration and guidance for our families. The Feast of the Holy Family encourages us to thank all the people God places in our lives.

In the Gospel of today, we see that Jesus, Mary, and Joseph faced their own challenges. They went to Jerusalem to celebrate the annual Jewish festival, and Jesus was lost in the Temple. Mary and Joseph’s search for Jesus made them return to Jerusalem to find him teaching among the elders and wise people. Jesus asked his mother, Mary, “Was I not supposed to be about my Father’s business?” This incident, a moment of distress for the Holy Family, is a reminder that even the most revered families face challenges.

We, too, are called to be purposeful and committed in God’s business, witnessing and proclaiming all the things God has done for us. Jesus is the Word of God who became human. Jesus enters our human history to show us what being human means.

With Mary and Joseph’s unwavering faith in God, we are trying to revive this same spirit of family life and togetherness, a spirit that is deeply rooted in faith. As we gather as a family, we recall how, as a family (immediate family and extended family), we can show our commitment to one another in good times and in bad. We often look at other families and sometimes imagine what it would be like to exchange families. However, we quickly realize that each family must handle the challenges and situations that confront them. 

God brought us through everything to reach this day when we can trust in his great love again.  Our celebration of Christmas is rooted in the hope that we can learn how to be family all over again. Let 2025 be a year filled with hope, as we renew family bonds and celebrate that God is with us!

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