Father Carroll's Homily for the Feast of the Most Holy Family 2014

Homily for the Feast of the Holy Family 2014

          There is something to be said about the importance of families.  As we come here today we celebrate the feast of the Most Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.  Yes it is true from the very beginning the Holy Family was no ordinary family.  Yet despite their uniqueness they are truly an example and model for us to look towards. 

          In our Second Reading there is a line contained in it some may find controversial and perhaps even offensive.  Yet if we truly understand Saint Paul we recognize its profound meaning.  That line of course is “Wives, be subordinate to your husbands, as is proper in the Lord.”  Now if we leave it there that’s where the problem lies, but the passage goes on to say, “Husbands love your wives.”  Understanding Saint Paul we come to understand that in marriage there must be mutual submission of husband and wives to each other.  For a successful marriage there must be a willingness to sacrifice individual desires, needs, and wants for the sake of the other.  It is that mutual love that brings worth life…both physical and spiritual. 

          The readings today also speak about the relationship between parents with their children, and children with their parents.  One thing we must understand is that we don’t choose our families.  All families have their struggles.  Yes there are some families in today’s world that are broken.  It is those families we must pray and if we are one who has experienced that in our lives than we must know that we can turn to the Holy Family for our example.  In our first reading we heard, “God sets a father in honor over his children; a mother’s authority he confirms over her sons.”  The role of our parents is to guide and nurture us as we grow and it’s a role that never ends, despite what we children think when we get older.  Be open to their counsel. 

          Now the second part of our first reading says, “My son, take care of your father when he is old; grieve him not as long as he lives.  Even if his mind fails, be considerate of him.”  For those of us who are children with older parents it is important to us not to neglect our responsibilities to care for them and see that they are cared after.  Many of them cared for us when they were younger, and some perhaps had their short comings keeping in mind no family is perfect, we still have an obligation to respect and care for them.  Of course in today’s world more often than we care to admit there are extraordinary circumstances that might make this extremely difficult if not impossible.  That’s unfortunately a reality that we must contend with in today’s society, but as a norm we as children have an obligation to our parents.

          Concluding our reflection I would like to return once again to Saint Paul’s letter to the Colossians.  Listen to his opening words “Brothers and sisters:  Put on, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another,  if one has a grievance against another;  as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do.”  We do have an example in the Holy Family.  Turn to them, and pray to them.  Follow their example.  These words from Saint Paul really sum up how we should live our lives.  Going forth let us seek the intercession of the Holy Family as we persevere each day building up and supporting our families.