The following is a close approximation of the homily I delivered at St. Luke the Evangelist Church for the Feast of the Holy Family on December 27, 2020

A few years ago, I read what was supposed to be a funny story. There is a grammar school that puts on an over-the-top Nativity play each year. They always have a line of people trying out for almost all of the parts – but few for the role of the innkeeper. The role is very small, the costume is not very interesting, and the inn keeper is looked at as the Grinch or Ebenezer Scrooge

This particular year, only 1 person, a 3rd grade boy tried out. He of course got the role.  He did great in rehearsals.  But, when it came time for his line in the actual play, after Joseph knocks on the door and asks for a place to stay. The little boy, answers, “No, I am really, really sorry, but we don’t have any room. But you and your wife look really tired. Why don’t you come in and rest your feet and have a cup of coffee.”

Well that brought down the house. Everyone was roaring with laughter. But after meditating over this story, you may realize, as I did, something very important. This boy must live in a household with an extraordinary amount of love and compassion, a modern-day Holy Family.

As a people of faith, we can help transform society by making our family a modern-day Holy Family

The brings the question of what is means to be a holy family front and center.  In the 2nd reading from Paul - there is a paragraph that always raises eyes. When Paul writes the following

“Wives, be subordinate to your husbands, as is proper in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and avoid any bitterness toward them.”

- what does he mean? Paul explains this same thing in more detail in the 5th chapter of the letter to the Ephesians when he writes that Wives should be subordinate to their husbands, and that husbands are to love their wives as Christ loved the Church. What did Christ do for the Church? He laid down his very life. So are modern husbands called to lay down their lives for their wives.

The same holds true relationship between children and parents. Children, as we heard in first reading from Sirach, are called to honor, love and respect their parents. This does not just apply to young children as they grow up in the parent's home, but to adults as their parents age and have difficulty taking care of themselves. The converse is also true – parents are admonished not to nag or be overbearing to your children.

We are called to mutual love in our families between husband, wife, and children in a manner that reflects the Holy Family. It is the same manner as the extraordinary love in the Trinity, where the love between the Father, Son, brings forth the Holy Spirit.  In a sense, a holy family, your family can be an icon of the blessed trinity for all the world to see and to imitate.

And finally, after living a life of difficulties and sacrifices, the Holy Family experiences what many would consider the two worst things that can happen in a family - the death of a spouse and then finally, Mary faces what is the ultimate pain for most parents, the loss of her child.  Our God is empathetic to our everyday struggle to be a Holy Family because He has lived those very same struggles that we do. 

In the early days of the Church, the world was not much different than it is today.  There was rampant immorality,  crime, world-wide disease and corrupt leaders. Yet, over time, Christians changed the world.  The change came not through force, but by the holiness of individual Christians, and the holiness of the families. People saw how Christians lived their lives.  It was so different from the world that people looked in from the outside and thought “Wow! I want to be part of that.”

 If having a perfect life does not make us imitators of the Holy Family, then what? How are we to become imitators of the Holy Family and thereby transform our culture one family at a time? That is for your homework.

Go home today and start making your family more perfect. Spend as much time together as possible. Love your family generously and deeply.  A family that disappears into their separate rooms watching their separate TVs just cannot represent the love of the Trinity. Neither can a family where everyone has their own activities and hobbies that they do separately.  Play games together. Go hunting, fishing, play music, swimming or whatever it is you do. Eat meals together. Talk to one another about your deepest hopes and fears.  And of course, pray together.

Some of you who live alone, have no children or family relationships might be thinking that this homily has nothing to do with you.  But people, made in the image of God, are made for community. Having a family relationship does not require that you be a close blood relative. Seek out community with whom to form that family relationship. It could be here at Church, in your neighborhood, or with those you consider close friends.

And finally, for those that already have strong families, if there is room in your heart, why not prayerfully consider inviting someone who is alone to participate in the life of your family?  It can start with something simple, like offering a cup of coffee and a place for someone to rest their weary feet.