Tommy is 35 years old, and he is still single. One day, a friend asked, “Why aren’t you married? Can’t you find a woman who will be a good wife?” Tommy replied, “Actually, I had girlfriends. When I brought them home to meet my parents, my mother did not like any of them.”

His friend thinks momentarily and says, “I’ve got a solution; just find a woman who looks like your mom.  A few months later, they met again, and Tom’s friend asks, “Did you find that woman? Did your mother like her?” With a frown, Tommy answered, “Yes, I found the woman who looks like my mom. She was just like my mother. You were right; my mother liked her very much.” The friend says, “Then what’s the problem?” Tommy replied, “My father did not like her.” (Taken from an unknown source)

As you see, there are occasional tensions in the family. Nevertheless, a family is where our wounds are healed, and joys are celebrated.

The feast of the Holy Family falls on the Sunday after Christmas. It celebrates not only the family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph but also our family. It celebrates all families who strive to be closer to each other. It also honors those who struggle to bring healing and joy to their homes.  

This feast does not only celebrate the family idealized by our society. It does not focus on that picture-perfect family: an ideal mom and dad and talented and impeccable children. This feast is for all kinds of families. It is for a couple struggling to start a family. It is for a couple who welcomes children to their homes. It is also for a family who is separated because of some circumstances and differences in life. This feast is for single parents who strive to raise their children. It is also for many families facing complex challenges in life.

In all these families, you can see the element of sacrifice at work. The word “sacrifice” means to make holy. If there is no sacrifice in our homes, it is true there is no love. When love is evident, there is always sacrifice.

Even with life’s burdens and stresses, family dynamics can become more apparent. Relationships improve when we make sacrifices for each other.  We convey love through the willingness to offer time and energy for the other. It is through this process that we can have a grasp of who we are in the eyes of God.

Amid challenges or unique situations, it is important to remember to cover our homes with prayers and laughter. Yes, prayers and laughter shield us from the devil.

When we all work hard to make our home a reflection of God’s Kingdom, love and forgiveness come more easily. We can create a family that is a place for healing wounds. Our family, whether blood or adopted, can be a place to celebrate joys.

Let us be instruments of God’s healing, prayer, and joy. Let us walk on the path of forgiveness toward other family members from whom we are separated. This separation not only is physical but also due to relational estrangements.

Let us take the feast of the Holy Family as a time of healing and celebration in our homes.