Dec 31 – Feast of The Holy Family
The Holy Family consists of the Child Jesus, the Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph. The subject became popular in art from the 1490s on, but veneration of the Holy Family was formally begun in the 17th century by Saint François de Laval, the first bishop of New France, who founded a confraternity.
The Gospels speak little of the life of the Holy Family in the years before Jesus’ public ministry. Matthew and Luke narrate the episodes from this period of Christ’s life, namely his circumcision and later Presentation, the flight to Egypt, the return to Nazareth, and the Finding in the Temple. Joseph and Mary were apparently observant Jews, as Luke narrates that they brought Jesus with them on the annual pilgrimage to Jerusalem with other Jewish families.
The Feast of the Holy Family is a liturgical celebration in the Catholic Church, as well as in many Lutheran and Anglican churches, in honour of Jesus of Nazareth, his mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and his foster father, Saint Joseph, as a family. The primary purpose of this feast is to present the Holy Family as a model for Christian families.
- Wikipedia
Gen 15:1-6,21:1-3
Heb 11:8,11-12,17-19
Lk 22:22,39-40
…they had done everything the Law of the Lord required…
It is oft said that you never stop being a parent. This statement took on renewed significance to me, when I made the decision to embark on a much-awaited silent retreat in Cebu, leaving my young daughter in the care of trusted family members and our helper for close to a week. My husband was also overseas on retreat during the same period.
Having never been apart from her (not even for a single night), my anxiety bubbled over leading up to my trip. How would she cope without nursing to sleep? What if she acts up once she knows both parents are away?
Unable to sleep the night before my retreat, I arrived at the retreat house feeling physically spent and in dire need of divine inspiration. While I had hoped to dive right into the ‘zone’, my constant worrying prevented me from entering the sacred silence. I left each session of spiritual direction feeling more distressed. Although I was in a retreat house, God felt far away.
It was only after the Sacrament of Reconciliation that I surrendered my worries and cares to God. This proved to be the turning point, as only then was I able to embrace the spirit of gratitude and count my blessings. In entrusting all things to God, I realised how needless and futile my earlier worries were.
Just like how Mother Mary pondered the things that Simeon said in her heart, I will always wonder if I am doing enough. Will I be an adequate role model as we raise our daughter in the Catholic faith? As I navigate the ups and downs of parenthood, experiencing the joys and heartbreaks which will inevitably come, the only constant is that God is faithful and unchanging in his love. On this Feast of the Holy Family, may we continue to emulate the Holy Family in entrusting our families to God and practising the virtues of family life.
(Today’s OXYGEN by Stephanie Eber)
Prayer: Father, we pray for your grace to walk closely with you so that we too, may impart the gift of faith to our children.
Thanksgiving: Thank you Father, for the gift of Christ your Son, Mother Mary and Blessed St Joseph, whom we may model our families upon.
OXYGEN 
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