As it does every year, the Catholic Church celebrates the Feast of the Holy Family the week after Christmas. The Gospel was Luke 2:41-52 – the only account we have of Jesus’ childhood. The family was in Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover. But on their way back, travelling in a caravan, Mary and Joseph discovered that Jesus was not with them. They went back to Jerusalem and found him in the temple talking with the priests. During the homily, it was noted that when Jesus’ parents found him, his mother said to him,
“Son, why have you done this to us?
Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.”           During his homily, the priest pointed out the words of Mary – “your father and I”. He explained that Mary set an example for us even in that statement. She spoke of her husband first, then herself. In this Holy Family, she was putting others before herself. The priest went on to challenge each family to do the same. Instead of being the one who needs the attention, or the one who has to be right in a situation, or the one that expects others to make them happy, we should be the one lifting up the other, letting things go that should be, and doing good for others. As I looked around the church, I noticed all the different families. I was blessed to be there with my son and his fiancee. In front of us was a husband, wife, and two little girls. Behind us was an elderly gentleman in a wheelchair accompanied by an elderly woman and a man. A few pews ahead, there was a family with the mom nursing a baby. I noticed the chatter of a couple unhappy children and parents trying to calm them. There were some single people as well. I thought of them as part of the larger church family. I thought of my parents who have left this earth and their family members who I pray they are with right now. That reminded me that we believe in the Communion of Saints – all those who have loved and served God. I can’t even imagine how many that would be, but we are all part of that family as well. I have heard it said that we are each children of God. I think that is the most amazing and Holy family that we can be a part of.

I Found God today pondering a Holy Family.