Feast of The Holy Family 7.1.07
Many committed Catholics find themselves at larger family gatherings over the Christmas period. And what can happen is that discussions start over religious matters, and this can often turn ugly as various lapsed or dissenting family members poke fun at those who still believe these things.
This is what Our Lord referred to when He said that He had come to divide a family, three against two, father against son etc.
It was not Our Lord’s will to have people quarrelling but that He knew there would be division as a consequence of the different reactions that would be made to Himself.
In every family here, no doubt, there are non-practising, non-believing members, and we pray for their return to the faith (or first coming).
Ultimately so we can be reunited and find the true source of all human unity – Christ.
No use being a close family if we are all in the wrong place!
So we pray passionately for union with Christ, and through Him with each other.
Unity in belief; unity also in peace. In the Holy Family we find both. Total union with the will of God in belief and practice.
we might feel excluded from such exalted company. How could we hope to set foot in that house, where holiness burns like a fire.
It is as though they are on top of a mountain and we are down far below just looking up and wishing we could be where they are.
After all, in our houses, there is quarrelling and nasty comments being made, and a lot of inconsiderate and selfish behaviour.
How could we hope to have a house like that where everyone is thinking of the other first?
Rather than be discouraged and just declaring that we can’t do it, we can try another approach.
If we spend some time in their house, we can allow the effects of their holiness to rub off on us.
When we spend time in the company of others we are influenced. Ever visit a convent or monastery where there is a holy atmosphere, and you feel different? Or even a quiet church full of statues and stained glass windows.
The atmosphere affects us and we feel a little bit holier. Not saints all in one day, but just a slight improvement.
Well, the same principle applies here. Let us visit the house at Nazareth in our prayer and meditation.
Praying the Rosary is one way, especially the Joyful mysteries.
But every Mass, every time of quiet prayer is a chance to enter this holy environment and draw a lesson or two.
I emphasize ‘quiet’. The Holy Family would not have been listening to Triple X, Y or Z, would not have been playing on the computer all day and night, would not have turned the television on as soon as they stepped in the door – they would have lived in tranquil silence, we imagine. It is hard to imagine any noise more discordant than the sound of carpenters’ tools.
And no shouting matches either! What sort of a place is this?
Not boring as some would venture. Another dimension altogether. Getting in touch with ourselves. You pay a fortune to go on a course to ‘find yourself’.
You could find yourself at home if you turned off enough gadgets.
Just try a little silence and a little kindness. We cannot do this just by willpower, but we don’t have to.
We can drink in this shower of grace that comes from a higher place.
Take this drink and it changes from being ‘don’t argue’ to you ‘won’t argue’. The nastiness simply goes out from us and we actually become holy.
Not a dream, just reality waiting to happen.