The Holy Family
Being up here in London with our daughter and her young family for the Advent and Christmas seasons has been especially heart warming for us in our new status as empty nesters back home. We have experienced the warmth of family, particularly from our two young granddaughters both under five years of age. Their hugs and smiles have warmed our spirits in the midst of muscle trembling cold nights.
Being up here has reinforced that family is not about doing but about being. So often the world makes us believe that we are as good as what we have accomplished and what we own. Family helps us understand that it is about who we are.
This realization has deepened my appreciation for the gift of presence, both in giving and receiving it. In the simple acts of hugging on the sofa, reading stories, or sharing a meal, we’ve found a profound sense of belonging and love that no achievement can replicate.
Our granddaughters don’t care about what we’ve done or left undone; they simply delight in who we are—GiGi and Dadad, their safe and loving companions. This is the heart of family: a place where we are loved not for our accomplishments, but for our presence, where we are reminded of our worth simply because we are here, together.
I imagine this is what it was like for the Holy Family in Nazareth—a life not defined by grand achievements, but by the quiet rhythm of being together in love. In their humble home, there were no accolades or worldly measures of success, only the simple joys of shared meals, meaningful conversations, and the mutual care that bound them as a family.
Mary and Joseph would have delighted in the small but profound moments of Jesus’ childhood: His first steps, His laughter, and the joy of His presence. In their daily lives, they modeled the essence of family—a sanctuary where love, faith, and belonging flourished, reminding us that the most sacred and meaningful moments often come from simply being present to one another.
Today’s families are often very different from the nuclear family of Mary, Joseph and Jesus. They might consist of single parents, foster or adoptive parents, stepparents, grandparents with custody or various other expressions. Yet, the true meaning of family is not lost, it is the quality of the relationships that count.
As we reflect on the Holy Family and its enduring message, we are reminded that family transcends structure—it is about love, commitment, and the shared journey of life.
As we close this year and enter the Jubilee Year, let us celebrate and nurture the relationships that make our families strong. Families, in all their beautiful diversity, are the true pilgrims of hope, walking together through life’s joys and challenges, illuminating the path for future generations.
Let us walk with each other, carrying the light of Christ into the new year, embracing the sacredness of family life as the foundation of our faith and hope.