The Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, & Joseph
Brothers and Sisters...
When I was seven years old my brother Bryan was born into our family on the 28th of December, the Feast of the Holy Family. Bryan’s birth seemed to emphasize even more; how the celebration of Christmas is a family time. The gathering of the family, the growing family, the memories of family, even the sufferings and pains of the family. They are all bound together in this time that the Son of God came into the world to restore larger family bonds that were lost by Adam and Eve. As St. John writes in his prologue to the Gospel:
“But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name…” (John 1:12)
We celebrate the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph today. We remember that God chose to bring His Son into the world in the smallest and most beautiful way….and to be raised and nurtured and protected in a family.
Today, we also celebrate how each of our families are meant to mirror that Holy Family, with God’s grace, and we celebrate the larger family that the Holy Family made possible. The brothers and sisters of Jesus that do the will of God (Matt. 12:48-50). The brothers and sisters in the faith that will someday hear: “Come…inherit the Kingdom…whatever you did for the least brothers of mine you did for me…” (Matt. 25: 40).
God bless our families…and our family…
Fr. Chris Uhl, OMV
