Friday, December 30, 2016

Homily: Holy Family 2016 - Four tasks for holier families

The Second Vatican Council was prophetic in many ways.  The Council fathers saw the growing materialism, the breaking down of families, increased number of divorce, and they sought to brace the Church for the upcoming cultural revolutions.  The Feast of the Holy Family was a direct result of Vatican II, it was added to the liturgical Calendar that we might celebrate the dignity of the family and that our savior was born as a member of a family. 

It is typically celebrated the Sunday after Christmas, but when a Sunday does not occur between December 25 and January 1, the feast is celebrated on December 30.

Saint John Paul II, who was present as a bishop at the Second Vatican Council never tired of reminding the Church that the future of humanity depends on marriage and the family.

Saint John Paul wrote a wonderful document on the family called Familiaris Consortio. He wrote:
At a moment of history in which the family is the object of numerous forces that seek to destroy it or in some way to deform it… the Church perceives in a more urgent and compelling way her mission of proclaiming to all people the plan of God for marriage and the family.

And within this document, he gave four tasks for the family, so that families may become what God made them to be.

One, the persons of the family must always seek to grow in communion with one another. Husbands and wives, parents and children must seek to deepen the bonds of love that join them.

Two, Saint John Paul called upon families to be at the service of life. He encouraged spouses to be generous in bringing new life into the world, as well as being diligent in raising those children in the faith.

Three, he called upon families to contribute to society. Families should foster deep bonds of communion with other families, and work to ensure the protection of families through political means.

Finally, he called upon families to share in the life and mission of the Church. Families should come together for the Sacraments of course, but also joining together for prayer, scripture study, faith study, charitable works and evangelization.

Perhaps in these four tasks there is an examination of conscience for each of us: how to I build, strengthen and heal the bonds of love within my family? How do I help my family serve life? What can my family do to strengthen communion with other neighborhood families? and how can my family better share in the life and mission of the Church?

May our families be inspired by the example of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, the Holy Family. As Saint John Paul said, “and may it be they who open your hearts to the light that the Gospel sheds on every family” for the glory of God and salvation of souls.



That the many ministries of the Church may strengthen family life throughout the world,
we pray to the Lord...

That governments may protect the institution of marriage, made by God as the union
between one man and one woman, we pray to the Lord...

That the family may become ever more the sanctuary of life, where all are welcomed as a
gift rather than a burden, we pray to the Lord...

That families burdened by divorce, abuse, or alienation may seek and find the help of the
Holy Family, we pray to the Lord...

That our family members who are ill may enjoy the consolation of the Lord and the
presence of their loved ones, we pray to the Lord...


That our family members who have died may be welcomed into eternal life…and for X. for whom this Mass is offered,  we pray to the Lord...

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