Merry Christmas!
Today the Church continues to profess that we celebrate the birth of the Savior and thus we continue our celebration of Christmas. This is entirely different from what our culture is professing unto us. As far as society is concerned Christmas is over and it is long gone. Thus Christmas trees are now thrown to the roadside and lights which ones lit up the night sky have been taken down from homes. Thus that Christmas music which once played from the radio has now been transformed into another genere. People have partied themselves out before Christmas even got here and now life moves on as if nothing ever happened.
Nevertheless, we must profess that we are still in Christmas. In our profession of this reality we get to the heart of what is important within this season. At the heart of what is important is Christ and that joyous occasion of His birth. The word “Christmas” means the Mass of Christ. Our culture places the emphasis upon many things, but forgets the two things which are most important. The Mass and Christ. Concerning these two realities our culture is more then happy to shove them to the side by the pursuit of worldliness.
Thus today we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. We come to discover Mary and Joseph gathered around the crib of our Blessed Lord. Their attention is placed entirely upon Him. They do not cast Him to the side in order to pursue the ways of the world, but rather they continue to pour out prayerful adoration to their child. As they raise Him into an adult they do not do so by giving scandal, but rather by giving example of how one comes to pursue virtue.
Only if our homes were modeled after that of the Holy Family. If our homes were modeled after the Holy Family there would indeed be a transformation within society. Instead we so easily cast off Christ from our midst. Instead of of assisting at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass it is easy to give excuse to why we are unable thus placing Christ to the side. Instead of being heroic by pursuing virtue we so easily get caught off guard pursuing a life which is segregated from religion thus casting Christ to the side. Instead of a family which gathers together in adoration of Christ everyone goes their own way to do their own thing thus casting Christ away from their midst.
May families thus make the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph their example. May parents be heroic as Mary and Joseph were heroic. May they guide their children as they came to guide Christ. If the family does not pray together you cannot say that Christ has been placed at the center. If the family does not attend Mass you cannot say that Christ has been placed at the center. We cannot be like the world which has cast decorations to the side and now moves on because we must continue to dwell with the Messiah and to allow our heart and soul to be modeled after Him.
