"When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him." Luke 2: 40 On this the sixth day of Christmas, we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family. In Luke 2: 40, Mary and Joseph bring Jesus to the temple for his consecration to the Lord as prescribed by law. The Holy Family is approached by Simeon and Anna who recognize God’s Light in Jesus as gift to the world. Simeon proclaimed to Mary “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted-and you yourself a sword will pierce-so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” Luke 2: 34-35.
When I listen to these words, I can see Mary and Joseph with a perplexed countenance as to the meaning of this message. What were they thinking? Did they understand? It seems that they were called to keep pondering their call in the Incarnation Mystery. Were their hearts heavy as they returned with Jesus to Galilee? They probably travelled on in silence and humbly resolved to fulfill God’s plan so that “the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him”(Luke 2:40) and Mary and Joseph too.
The Holy Family puts before us the image of community in family living. At Eucharist this morning, Father Joel shared that “life begins in family.” It is in family that we learn to live, love, and share our inner life with others. Our immediate family life molds us to generate extended family life, either in married life or religious community life. As I took time to thank God for my parents and my brothers and sisters, a wave of beautiful memories surfaced:
My mother’s attentive, caring, presence as she watched us take our first steps,
recorded our first word,
walked with us on the first day of school,
nursed us when we were sick,
made sure we ate together as a family EVERY night,
went to bat for us if there was a teacher-student conflict,
sacrificed her own needs so that we would have school clothes and books each year,
hosted our birthday and graduation parties,
travelled with me when I entered the Monastery,
sat as Mother of Sorrows as two of my brothers lay dying,
and the list goes on and on.
In other words, whenever there is a family celebration, whenever there is an unexpected or sad event, she has been right there with her heart wide open in love.
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| My parents on their Wedding Day What were they pondering within their hearts? |
I think of my father also, always faithful to his parental duties in our early years as he supported my mother in the raising of nine children,
diligently worked to support us,
insisted we be on time at the supper table,
helped us with homework,
took us on family outings such as the circus, the zoo, drive-in movies in the family station wagon dressed in our pajamas with plenty of popcorn and soda,
and going to Church every Sunday and getting there on time to make sure we sat in our regular pew (the Cohen Family pew).
I think of all my brothers and sisters and thank God for all the love they have shown me and am thankful for all the love I have been able to gift to them. I thank God for their part in generating new life- for bringing so many nieces and nephews into the world for me to love. I thank God for all my nieces and nephews who are now bringing forth more new life- all the grand nieces and nephews.
Life does indeed blossom forth from the Holy Family. In our daily prayer with the Scripture readings of Jesus' life, we are formed and steeped into the qualities needed for holy family life-love, respect, kindness, consideration, generosity, humility, obedience and sacrificial service. How can we not follow their example of community? How can we better grow and become strong, be filled with wisdom, and definitely know that the favor of God is upon us also?"
My own holy family life fashioned me in preparation for my monastic family life. St. Benedict, in his Rule, addresses parameters for a holy family life in community. He insists on punctuality at prayers and meals, obedience to the Abbot and mutual obedience, humility, proper order of work and prayer, proper care of the sick, and correction of faults. In Chapter 72 of the Rule, The Good Zeal of Monks, St. Benedict presents an exemplary model for holy family living, whether secular or monastic: "This, then, is the good zeal which monks must foster with fervent love: They should each try to be the first to show respect to the other (Rom. 12:10), supporting with the greatest patience one another's weaknesses of body or behavior, and earnestly competing in obedience to one another. No one is to pursue what he judges better for himself, but instead, what he judges better for someone else. To their fellow monks they show the pure love of brothers; to God, loving fear; to their abbot, unfeigned and humble love. Let them prefer nothing whatever to Christ, and may he bring us all together to everlasting life." (Rule of St. Benedict, Ch. 72: 3-12.
What else is there to say about the wonderful gift of family? There is probably so much more, but the important thing is to thank God for all the memories, good and sad, and in this remembering, the heart is softened to continue to grow the holiness of family life.
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| Sacred Heart Monastery Monastic Community Christmas Day 2011 |
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| The Cohen Family |
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