What is a Holy Family?
In Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) 3:2-7 it says, Children, listen to me, your father; act accordingly, that you may be safe. For the Lord sets a father in honor over his children and confirms a mother’s authority over her sons. Those who honor their father atone for sins; they store up riches who respect their mother. Those who honor their father will have joy in their own children and when they pray, they are heard. Those who respect their father will hose who fear the Lord honor their father and serve their parents as masters.
Where did that come from?
Please note that verse 7 is not included in the readings for today, but I thought it included wonderful context. Jesus as a child served His Mother, Mary and Joseph.
The model of the Christian Family should be the Holy Family’s ideal. Nonetheless, I know of no human family that follows this model. Statistics for today, show fewer and fewer people and families consider themselves Christian and fewer still go to Church.
My family is not an exception. Our daughter, Emily, stopped by to visit this week. She had a day off from work and brought food for the old folks. She listens to Christian radio but does not go to Church. Nevertheless, she made us proud this by telling the following story. My granddaughter and her were in Walmart and when they were walking out to their car, she noticed a homeless man and his dog trying to keep warm in the near zero-degree weather. She was so moved that she ran back in the store crying all the time and purchased food for the man and dog food for his dog.
My wife, Anna, and I both cried. We both thought that we must have done something right. My daughter’s motives were out of respect and honor for the homeless man. It was not judgmental but did come from prayer, obedience and respect. The respect and honor she felt first came from the family. Even though my family is not the exact reflection of the Holy Family, it is modeled after Jesus, Mary and Joseph.
When I pray, I pray for the salvation, and the physical and emotional wellbeing of my family. I try to mention each one every morning. The point is that as a family we keep on praying. We do not know the future or God’s timing in answering our prayers, but we have to be consistent and follow what we preach.
I agree with Pope Francis that the only way we can change the world is starting with our own family. As a family we need to serve each other and the world. Happy New Year!
God Love You Always
Bob Burford
PS: Please pray for the salvation, and the physical and emotional health of the Ukrainian people. Pray for the salvation of all the Russian soldiers and pray for peace. Please pray for Cancer victims and their caregivers.
