December 31: Feast of the Holy Family

This week's readings

The Holy Family went through excruciating ordeals. Mary and Joseph had to battle disbelief! Their faith was tested by the angel’s announcement that Mary would be the mother of our Savior. They trusted the angel and the Holy Spirit and Joseph’s dream helped him believe Mary. They set off to Bethlehem without assurance of a place to stay and then later when back at home they were alarmed by the threat of King Herod killing all baby boys under two years of age. Again they set off, this time as refugees to Cairo, Egypt to escape Herod’s murderous jealousy.

And you know the rest of the story. At age twelve Jesus’s parents franticly searched for him; he was found in the temple teaching the high priests. As an adult he was threatened by townspeople who wanted to throw him off a cliff. Later his mother watched her son hang from a cross.

Yet we see paintings of a serene, peaceful and clean Holy Family. No blood, no animal smells nor sounds, no wailing in pain, no confusion nor blaming.

How do we find calm assurance in the midst of our own family crises? When we ask God’s help, someone, or some story nudges us to forgive or assist and we are carried through in ways we never could predict. Yes, no matter how unruly, ungodly, unchurched or unkempt, we too are in very holy families. God loves you, unabashedly.

Deni Mack, D. Min
Pastoral Associate