OVER ALL THESE, PUT ON LOVE

THE HOLY FAMILY - Matthew 2:13-15,19-23

On the Sunday after Christmas, we celebrate the Holy Family, which is Jesus' family. We know nearly nothing about his extended family, as we find no more than a few references to his relatives in the gospels. However, we do know his nuclear family, composed of Joseph, Mary, and Jesus himself. 

The nuclear family is the basis of any human society and, as such, it must be protected and strengthened. In a family, life is nurtured by the fire of love, but in our time, the family is being threatened and attacked. There are ideologies and groups that promote them, which despise and devalue the family and its importance in society and in the upbringing of children. Many families willingly abdicate their responsibility in favour of a form of the State that overlooks and overrides everything. They take the children away from their families and impose a form of education that ignores their parents ' concerns. 

A married couple forms the beginning of a new family and is called to be at the service of life. Indeed, every child that comes into this world has the right to be welcomed and loved by its parents. A couple dominated by selfishness will not fulfill its calling. Their mission is to nurture life and be at its service. That is only possible with love. Only love provides the strength, patience, persistence , and resilience to live for the children. Only love makes it possible to find joy and peace in the love of their children. We can see that in the Holy Family. Joseph took good care of Mary and Jesus. He accepted that responsibility without questioning or complaining and acted upon it when it took them to Egypt and then brought them back to Nazareth. When Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, Joseph and Mary became very worried and looked for Jesus tirelessly. Later, during Jesus' public ministry, Mary was never far away. She accompanied Jesus to Jerusalem and then to Calvary, sharing his joy and pain. 

The first reading emphasizes the love, full of respect and care, that children must have for their parents. In his letter to the Colossians, Paul speaks of relationships based on love between parents and then between them and their children. 

As a summary, let us meditate on Paul's words: “You are God’s chosen race, his saints; 

he loves you, 

and you should be clothed in sincere compassion, 

in kindness and humility, gentleness and patience. 

Bear with one another; 

forgive each other as soon as a quarrel begins. 

The Lord has forgiven you; 

now you must do the same. 

Over all these clothes, 

to keep them together 

and complete them, 

put on love. 

And may the peace of Christ 

reign in your hearts, 

because it is for this that you were called together 

as parts of one body. 

Always be thankful.” (Colossians 3:12-21).