The Holy Family

As a child, I never fully grasped the importance of feast days and traditions in the Catholic Church. I have nothing against them, but I just never really cared to take a deeper look. But as I got older, I realized that they make total sense. They make sense when you want to get closer to Christ and to grow in faith. The Apostle Paul was right when he admonished the Thessalonians to honor traditions: “So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter.” (2Thes 2:15)

Today the Church celebrates such a feast, the Feast of the Holy Family–Jesus, Mary and Joseph. This great, grand feast tells us that the true grandeur of life is found in simplicity and performing life’s daily, repetitive duties. In the world that tells you to place ambitions, pursuit of wealth, and materialism above all else (not that they’re inherently wrong), the Holy Family reminds us that true wealth is found in life’s “everyday obscurities” and gaining Heaven is not dependent on one’s economic and social status (indicated many times in the NT). Even Jesus Himself lived for 30 years as an ordinary Man doing ordinary things, and only 3 years living His public mission!

Here’s a piece of great reflection on this Feast:

“…But if we follow the model of a Redeemer who for thirty years lived in obscurity, it should not distress us to be ignored. There are very few people of worldly importance; far in the majority are the multitudes of ordinary people whose path to heaven is unexciting and unromantic. How very kind of God to show us by His long hidden life that His plan of redemption includes everyone, even those whose lives are so unremarkable that the world does not notice at all!” (http://catholicsaints.mobi/ebooks/dorcy/chapter06.htm)

Happy Feast of the Holy Family! May we learn from the Holy Family what truly is important in life! 🥰💞