Christmas & the Holy Family
I love Christmas. Everything about this time of year makes my heart sing. From garland draped across railings and glowing candles in the windows, to carolers on every block and the smell of cinnamon lingering in the halls, it is so cozy and warm. I love baking dozens of Ricotta cookies for my loved ones, and dancing around my living room to Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You.” I love lighting each candle on our Advent wreath, walking alongside Mary and Joseph as they prepare for Jesus to be born, while we prepare our hearts for the coming of our Lord. All of these things are inherently good and bring so much joy, but my absolute favorite part of this time of year is the oodles of quality time spent with my family.
As we grow older, family time usually falls down on our list of priorities. All of a sudden life becomes so busy with exams, sporting events, driving tests and more. It’s so easy to just assume that that you’ll have a meal together one of these days. It’s much harder to schedule in time to be together, to share about the other aspects of your lives or to even just play a board game. But no matter how challenging it is to find the time, especially when everyone has been stuck together in the house for so long this year, it is crucial to do so.
In this week’s readings, the importance of family is emphasized. In our first reading from Sirach, we are reminded of our duty to honor our parents. The continual sacrifice of our mothers and fathers, all in order to provide, protect, teach, and give the best opportunities for their children, is such a beautiful and under-appreciated gift. We are called to be kind and obedient in return (and even into adulthood, though it may be lived out differently). In his letter to the Colossians, Saint Paul says that children should honor their parents and the Lord above all.
I can think of no better example of this idea, especially in this season, than the Holy Family. Mary and Joseph made tremendous sacrifices for Jesus out of love, and he gave them perfect love and obedience. In this week’s Gospel, we hear about Mary and Joseph bringing Jesus to the temple to present Him to the Lord, as customs required. They meet Simeon, who proclaims that Jesus is to be a light for revelation and glory. He then tells Mary that by loving Jesus, her heart will be pierced. Think now of the journey that Mary and Joseph have already taken by that point. From learning of the coming of Christ into the world to all that this meant for them specifically. Think of the preparation they have done mentally, physically and spiritually. Now they get a glimpse of the continuous sacrifice they will make for Him out of pure love, even if they don’t yet know quite what that will look like (especially Mary).
While our parents may not have embarked on a journey like this one, riding a donkey across the desert at nine months pregnant or giving birth in a stable, they do continually provide and care for us in many other ways. And even if we have a rough relationship with our own parents, or if they haven’t been part of our lives in one way or another, or even have passed away, we can still find ways to honor them, even if it’s not sharing a cup of hot cocoa.
This Christmas season, I challenge you, with support from Saint Paul, to honor your father and mother, whatever that looks like at your stage in life – and whether they’re perfect or not. Whether it be writing a letter thanking them, cooking a meal for them to enjoy, sitting down together to watch a Hallmark movie, doing a video call from across the country, or even just praying for them… ‘Tis the season after all.
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