The Holy Family of Nazareth, Year B.

As we celebrate the feast of the holy family, let us recall these words of Pope Francis that, it’s important to renew the families, and to look at the complexity of the issues which are pastoral, moral, spiritual and doctrinal and are affecting the families. Today, let us take the opportunity to think of these complexities affecting the family, and resolve to renew our faith and trust in God. Abraham shows us the importance of faith and fidelity as we live our family lives. Today let us take the opportunity to renew our commitment and fidelity to our marriage covenant.

Again, Pope Francis reminds us that, the joy of love experienced by families is also the joy of the church. The desire to marry and form a family remains vibrant, especially, among young people, and this is an inspiration to the church. As a response to that desire the Christian proclamation on the family is good news indeed says Pope Francis. In today’s celebration of the Holy Family of Nazareth we make the proclamation of joyful Christian families, catholic families well founded in the sacrament of holy matrimony and nourished by Eucharist and Reconciliation. Like Abraham, Mary and Joseph, be faithful to God and one another.

The second reading encourages us to reflect the Trinitarian Love, Unity, and trust in God who lives in a family. Let the human Father reflect the Fatherhood of God, and the human mother reflect that happy and faithful Motherhood of Mary, while children, the sonship of Jesus.

St Julian of Norwich offers to our families unwavering hope with her words “All will be well, and all will be well” Julian sees God as a most loving Father and Jesus as hard working Mother who never tires to work for her children and can never feed first until she feeds the children. She sees Jesus in the Eucharist as a Mother ready to feed us first, to offer us his grace to make sure we are satisfied. Today we pray that with the words of St, Julian of Norwich ‘all will be well’ with our families. Let Joy, peace and trust, unity and Love become good news to the families.

Today, we have the opportunity to think of the beauty, and richness of the sacrament of Holy Matrimony that elevates our families to that of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, and as the catechism of the Catholic Church teaches us this sacrament makes marriage new and good because, the grace of God is given to the husband and wife.

Finally, let us make a proclamation of hope to the suffering and challenged, troubled, widowed, and the single mothers’ families that they may get joy and consolation from the Lord. Joy and peace.