The holy family

Homily for the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph
Good morning every one, I am so happy to welcome you all to celebrate today’s Holy Mass. Dear friends, every time we come to church, we celebrate Jesus the Lord who is the source of every human family and every time we come to Church, we celebrate Christ who blesses every family with peace and serenity; with love and forgiveness. Every time we come to church and receive any of the Church’s sacraments, our families become holy.
Today the Holy Catholic Church celebrates the solemn feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. And today we especially pray for our families and ask God to make them holy.
Once a teacher who was teaching the importance of the family and things that money can not buy said to the children, “money can not buy laughter and it can not buy love”. Then to illustrate his point, he said, “what would you do if I offered you $1,000 not to love your mother and father?” No one said anything. there was a deep silence. Finally a boy raised his hand and said, “how much would you give me not to love my big sister?”
Once a little boy looked at his dad and said, “dad, how much do you make an hour at work?” The father was surprised and said, “ look, son, not even your mother knows?’ Don’t ask me again. But the son insisted and then the dad looked at the son and said, “forty dollars for an hour”. Then the son looked at his dad and said, “could you loan me $20.00?” The dad said, “why?’ Please give me and then the dad gave him twenty dollars and then the son thanked his father and added twenty more dollars and gave it to his dad and said, “Dad, here is forty dollars. would you please sell me an hour of your time?”
Today’s gospel is all about holy family and how we can make our families holy.
In the holy family, we meet with Mary and Joseph. They both were god-fearing spiritual people. They loved God and listed to His divine words. Because of their faith, when they were confused about things and when they were worried about their future, angels were sent to them. They were told ‘not to be afraid of anything and be strong’.
When we are spiritual and believe in God, nothing can take us away from the love and kindness of God. The angels of God will come and guide us and they will comfort us.
Both Mary and Joseph were community oriented people. They kept the loving commandment of God and loved others as they loved themselves. For example, When Elizabeth was in need, Mary went all the way from Nazareth to Judea to help her. The bible says when Jesus with His disciples came to his hometown, people began to say to each other, “ we know His father Joseph and we know His mother Mary..” Every one knew Joseph and Mary in the community because of their generosity and kindness toward others.
Those who love God will have a generous heart and they will look at others as their own extension and have more compassion for others.
They both were good and responsible parents. Though they knew Jesus was the only Son of God. They fulfilled their parental duty to look after Christ. For example, when Christ our Lord disappeared at the age of 12 at Jerusalem temple, Mary His mother looked at him and said, “Son, why did you do this to us. do you not know that you have to be with us?’ And from that time onwards, Christ listened to his parents and thus He grew in wisdom and knowledge.
At Cana, when people did not have enough wife for the celebration, Mary inspired Christ to perform His first miracle.
Every family becomes holy when it keep Christ the head of all human family. Nothing can exist outside of Him and nothing can bring meaning. Jesus is the maker of every family. So as we celebrate the Holy family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, let us pray for our families and ask Christ to bless them. Amen.