Feast of Holy Family
Readings:
1 Samuel 1: 20-22, 24-28
1 John 3: 1-2, 21-24
Luke 2: 41-52
Reflection:
Over this, Christmastide families have come together. Some may be living near each other whilst others have come from far away. It is this very time of the year that people of faith, and of no faith, make the effort to come together to create and recreate what is means to be family. Those who have no family are often invited to become part of the wider family of friends.
The Māori word for family is whānau. It encapsulates not just the nuclear family but also the wider family and those who are living and the dead so that everyone is interconnected. Together these individuals support and nurture each other.
Family life is busy, it is messy, it is noisy, it is unpredictable, it is hard work. But it is within the family circle that memories are created, so that when one looks back at some of the crazy things that happened; the hours bouncing on the trampoline with your siblings and cousins; the time Dad patiently taught you to drive whilst all the time probably thinking he was about to die; or when Mum was strict about what you ate – you can look back and smile and know that they were pivotal moments of family love that helped you to pass on these joys to others.
Today we celebrate the feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Jospeh. In the Gospel Jesus has gone MIA (missing in action). Mary and Joseph on realising that Jesus is not where he is supposed to be, are frantic with worry and immediately retrace their steps back to Jerusalem searching for him for three days. When eventually they find him, he is sitting amongst the leaders of the Temple in deep discussion. Mary’s question ‘Why have you done this to us? See how worried your father and I have been, looking for you’ gets a very strange reply from the young Jesus that he must be ‘busy with his father’s business.’ What was he on about? Neither Mary nor Joseph understood what he meant.
I am sure that many parents can relate to not understanding what their child is doing or saying sometimes– maybe you can put it down to them just being a teenager. But then again it may be something more profound that as parents you need time to nurture in your child so that they can grow in wisdom, in stature and in favour with God and those around them.
Victoria Raw is parishioner of Te Whetu O Te Moana, Star of the Sea Marlborough, NZ and is active in lay ministry.