By Father Rich Tomkosky
As we continue to celebrate the mystery of the Son of God becoming one of us during this Octave of Christmas, we look to the Holy Family of Joseph, Mary and Jesus and ask for their help in living out our family life in imitation of them. They are our models of goodness. What does the Holy Family teach us?
The dignity of living a “hidden life”
The reality of earthly life is that most of us are not going to be famous. Instead, most of us are called to live a life in the world and in our families that many will not notice, but if we live it with a spirit of love, mutual self-giving, respect and obedience, it will please God very much; it will be our path to holiness and will help the people around us to grow in holiness as well.
Remember Jesus lived a “hidden life” for 30 of his 33 years on earth, so it must have a noble dignity and importance in God’s eyes. And Mary and Saint Joseph always lived a hidden life. What matters to God is becoming like Him in goodness; not making a “big splash” on the world stage unless He wants someone to be a witness to the faith in that way – very rare.
This is an important spiritual lesson, especially for young people to remember: the goal of our life as Christians is not to become rich and famous, but rather to become holy and serve God and others in love, which is not always as exciting but in light of eternity is what really matters. It is the narrow path that leads to eternal life, while riches and fame often lead to human and spiritual destruction.
The Holy Family teaches us what family life is all about
It is meant to be a communion of love. It has a simple beauty and invaluable character. Christian family life, rooted in the love of father and mother, is the school where young people learn how to love God and neighbor, how to serve God and others, how to obey the Lord with a humble heart and treat His Church and others with respect and goodness. For this to occur, husband and wife need to have mutual respect and love for each other, as well as following all the teachings of the Church on the meaning of marriage, being generously open to having children, and educating their children in the Catholic Faith both by personal example and instruction.
As the Catechism of the Catholic Church puts it so well (see paragraph 2205), The Christian family is a communion of persons, a sign and image of the communion of the Father and the Son in the Holy Spirit. In the procreation and education of children it reflects the Father’s work of creation. It is called to partake of the prayer and sacrifice of Christ. Daily prayer and the reading of the Word of God strengthen it in charity. Do we do this daily in our families? The family that prays together not only stays together but flourishes in virtue.
The Christian family also has an evangelizing and missionary task. A holy, self-giving witness in families leads to the conversion of others to the Catholic faith. Truly if Catholic family life is lived well the Church is renewed, for the family is the domestic Church, the basic building block of the Church at large.
If you want to see an increase in vocations to the priesthood and religious life, which many Catholics do and which we so desperately need in the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown, renew your family life in holiness, and more young people will be willing to offer the beautiful sacrifice of their life to the Lord as priests and religious! And parents will be proud of that sacrifice instead of discouraging our youth from becoming priests and religious.
The Holy Family teaches us the dignity of human labor
Saint Joseph was a carpenter by trade and taught Jesus the dignity of manual labor offered to God both as a sacrifice for sin and as a means to be a noble, active, participant in the ongoing creation of God in our world.
Work is not without meaning and purpose, even the most menial of tasks, if consciously united with God it becomes an act of prayer and service to our fellow human beings. That is so important to remember especially when our work seems boring, drudgery, or without ultimate meaning or purpose. It is redemptive if united with God and an act of reparation for our sins when it is difficult to carry out.
Mary shows us this also in caring for Saint Joseph and Jesus as a wife/mother.
May the Holy Family help all of us to live in our families in that same spirit of prayer and self-giving love. God bless you.
Father Rich Tomkosky is the Pastor of Saint Thomas the Apostle Parish in Bedford and the Pastor of Seven Dolors of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Beans Cove.
