The Holy Family in the Gospels refers to Jesus, His mother Mary, and His foster-father Joseph. Their life in Nazareth is presented not as a perfect family free of challenges, but as a model of faith, love, obedience to God’s will, and mutual support amidst the ordinary and difficult circumstances of human life.
The birth of Jesus, often referred to as the Incarnation (meaning God coming into the world in human form), is the focal point of the entire Biblical narrative. It is what makes Christianity unique among all faiths and is a central piece of the Gospel message. Yet the context of this supernatural birth is very rooted in the human story that we are a part of today.
In this way, the Holy Family serves as a model for all families, teaching lessons in love, unity, and virtue through their humble service, their strong faith in God, and their resilience in very challenging circumstances. Throughout the month of December, we will be taking a closer look at each member of Jesus’ earthly family and the example they are to us today.
But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
Luke 2.19
The story told in the Gospels—particularly in Matthew and Luke—contains vivid portraits of people steeped in the moral darkness of the world who are confronted with the great light and truth of a transcendent God. These two realities permeate and shape the existence of all people who open their lives to the Christ child who grows to become the Savior of the World.
The story of Jesus is also a recapitulation, a retelling, of the whole history of Israel, the Old Testament people of God. He is afflicted with their affliction (Isaiah 63.9) and repeats, with Mary and Joseph, the experience of the Exodus from Egypt.
When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”
So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night, and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.”
Matthew 2.13-15
This family is also depicted as an extended spiritual family—including Mary’s relative Elizabeth and her husband, the priest Zechariah (parents of John the Baptist)–where obedience to God’s will is paramount, and this divine purpose takes precedence over even natural family ties. Later in the Gospel, Jesus teaches that He is forming a new spiritual family of those who follow Him and are united by their commitment to knowing and doing the Father’s will. This is the purpose of the Church, and Christmas is our reminder that the living Christ must be at the center of family life for all who call themselves followers of Jesus.
He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” Pointing to His disciples, He said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”
Matthew 12.48-50
I invite you to take time, over the four Sundays in December, plus Christmas Eve, to consider what it means for you to be part of God’s holy family today.
CHRISTMAS IS A GREAT TIME TO INVITE A FRIEND TO CHURCH
As you know, the Christmas season is also a great time to invite friends to church. In addition to our Sunday services, we are hosting our big Christmas family event, Christmas Jam, on Friday December 12th and will be holding a total of four identical Christmas Eve services on Tuesday, December 23rd and Wednesday, December 24th. Click here for more details about our Christmas season.
I hope to see you and a friend at one or more of our services this month.
Pastor Rob
