Feast of the Holy Family

Mass Celebrated by Archbishop Denis Hart
at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, Melbourne,
on Sunday, 26th December, 2004, at 11.00am

Introduction

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

In the full light of the coming of the Saviour, given to all of us, born of a human family, we remember Jesus, Mary and Joseph, and thank God for the gift of the family into which we were born and nourished.

We bring the people who are God’s gift to us into the circle of his care. We ask that we may be generous in fulfilling the aspirations, which they and we have to contribute to the world, and in this Year of the Eucharist to proclaim the nearness and reality of God to our lives and thus, in Jesus, show others the way.

As we call to mind our sins, let us ask the Lord for pardon, light and strength.

Homily

My dear Friends,

You may be familiar with two beautiful descriptions of the family - “the school of love” or “the domestic church”. The prayer of today’s Mass invites us to live as the Holy Family, united in respect and love, as the way in which we journey to our homeland. We remember, therefore, that a family is not a service club, an action group or a group gathered for some specific purpose. We do not choose our family – they are God’s gift to us. It is in our family that we become people.

The Readings today give a wonderful example of family. Jesus being a refugee in Egypt, returning to Nazareth, being lost in the Temple, growing in wisdom, teaching and guiding the learned lawyers, though young himself.

Like many of our own families today, the loss of Jesus and the perplexing unfolding of the family story, remind us how families are often called to suffer and sometimes to ponder and puzzle God’s will for them.

The Readings of the Mass stress the honour and respect for those who have given us life, as we thank God for our family. They put before us the challenge of walking in God’s ways, in kindness, humility, gentleness and patience, as well as forgiveness, love and God’s wisdom. These are the way to the peace of Christ.

Families originated from the time when there were no churches, when the community met in homes and families to celebrate the Eucharist. It is in our own family that we are taught right and wrong, to love and serve. We might well ponder today how generous and faithful we continue to be to that invitation to love and service and proclaim the wonders of God’s gifts, amidst the struggles and fearsome challenges of family life.

Above all today we thank God for our families and we remember that we are a human family tied to one another, a spiritual family tied to God, asking that we may live the gifts he gives us and share them with others.

Let us pray:

“Lord of life, we are grateful for the gift of parents, grandparents and great-grandparents. These who were chosen by you for us have shared with us not only life, but also many gifts and talents. Each of us is home made. Our parents are the doorway by which we entered into the wonder of life. In our parents and grandparents we sensed and felt the thread of history and the treasure of tradition that exists within our family.

May those who guided our steps and called our hidden talents be richly rewarded by you, their God. Blessed are you Lord our God who have given us holy parents.”

+ Denis J. Hart,
Archbishop of Melbourne.