Holy Family

What is it that makes a family “holy”? We have expectations of peacefulness, a lack of turmoil or discord, or an ability to deal with the ups and downs of life with equanimity. These expectations can lead us to judge our own families as not “holy”. A microcosm of this can be seen in parents of young children as they come to Mass. Many parents in exasperation wonder, “Why do I even bother to come? I spend so much time disciplining the children that I cannot pray!” Likewise the parents of teenagers or twenty-somethings living at home can have similar feelings when coming to Mass as a family becomes a herculean task. Indeed sometimes that experience can be even more discouraging and even destructive of a parent’s faith. Our brief glimpses into the life of the Holy Family from the Gospels reveal that even they experienced turmoil and misunderstanding. What makes a family “holy” is not what they do, but what God does. Being open to, aware of and responsive toward God’s presence with us enables us to receive holiness as a gift. Because of this, every family is called to become and can be a Holy Family.