Christ is born! Glorify Him!
On this Sunday within the Octave of Christmas we are given two feasts which we might prefer to keep apart. This Sunday we observe the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Jospeh. On December 28th we also observe the Feast of the Holy Innocents who were the infant children of Bethlehem who were murdered by King Herod in his attempt to kill the newborn Christ.
The Feast of the Holy Family places our focus upon the importance of the family in society. Through Jesus, Mary, and Jospeh we are reminded how the family is to point towards holiness in the midst of our everyday life. Mary was open to the will of God, Joseph was found with courage as he protected his family, and Jesus as child was found dependent on His parents.
In our modern world the family often finds itself under attack. Our culture treats commitment as something which is temporary and self-fulfillment as more important than sacrifice. This mindset leads to an increase in divorce, children born outside of marriage, couples living together outside of marriage, and a blatant disregard for the sanctity of human life.
The Holy Family challenges all of our families to something so much greater. Like Mary we are invited to remain open to the will of God being made manifest in our life and like Jospeh we must have the courage to protect the family from all the might do it harm. The family is important for we are all dependent on God and His grace.
The Feast of the Holy Innocents shows us the sad effects the sprung forth due to King Herod’s fear. In the words of Saint Augustine, “the cruelty that sought Christ found the Innocents instead.” It is these holy souls who unknowingly shed their life due to Christ who came in order that light may prevail over the darkness.
Despite the proclamation that the family ought to be directed towards holiness we should know that family life is not always easy. Fear, poverty, violence, children lost, and other issues continue to plague our fallen world and thus too the family. Through the Holy Innocents we are reminded that every vulnerable life is never forgotten and is sacred.
Christ is present in the vulnerable for he was a vulnerable child born of Mary who would lay down His life for us out of love upon the cross. Through the blending of these two feasts we are able to reflect upon our own families. How do we as a family stand against cultural, political, or personal issues which threaten the holiness of the family? How are we being invited to build up the domestic church (the Church at home) in order that Christ may always be made manifest?
May this Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph assist us in the midst of all the hardships of this life in order that we may come to pursue holiness in our everyday life.
Holy Innocents, pray for us.
Holy Family of Nazareth, pray for us.
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