Today we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family.  Of all the possible ways that the Blessed Trinity could have chosen for Son of God to become a human being, God chose to be born in a human family.  This makes the institution of the family sacred.  So on this Sunday after Christmas the Church holds up the Holy Family as a model for us all.  

            In his letter to the Colossians, Paul gives us a beautiful description of what a Christian home should be.  "Put on 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.  And over all these put on love, that is, the bond of perfection."

            Whether we are wives or husbands, children or parents, slaves or owners, Paul exhorts us to live first in Christ and everything else will come together in that love.  What a powerful description of the Holy Family and what our families could become.  Families are under a great deal of pressure in our culture because we are so focused on personal gratification.  Once all my needs are met, then there might be something left over for you.  No family unit can survive that kind of approach to life.  It wouldn't work in the city of Colossae in Paul's time and it will not work today.

            The model for our family must be the model of love seen in the Holy Family and throughout the life of our Blessed Lord.  Christian disciples are called to live in the peace and joy of Christ, especially in our homes.  As Paul reminds us, we must be thankful.  We should encourage one another and teach one another by example.  Whatever we do, we do it for the Lord, not for ourselves.  In this way our families become our first churches where Christ is proclaimed by every member to the glory of God the Father!