Feast of the Holy Family

“After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions, and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, ‘Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.’ And he said to them, ‘Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?’ But they did not understand what he said to them (Luke 2:46-50).

Mary and Joseph found Jesus in the temple, answering and even posing questions to the temple instructors. When asked why he had stayed behind and worried his parents, he replied to his mother with words that she and Joseph did not grasp.

Forgiveness and patience are perhaps the most needed virtues within a family. Living side by side, day after day, we find much to forgive in each other. We all need patience to bear differences in personality, preferences, or habits.

In this story of the Holy Family, we see the same needs. Mary and Joseph displayed patience and forgiveness with the young Jesus as they found him in the temple and tried to understand why he had stayed behind.

When we practice these ordinary family virtues of patience and forgiveness, we are doing much more than overlooking the faults of others and giving them a second chance. We are being introduced to a wonder hidden within them and within all of us. We are being introduced to God’s presence in our midst. By practicing these virtues, we grow in wisdom and grace before God and our families.

Which relationships in your family are the most difficult? Which are the most comfortable? Why?

Adapted from PrayerTime: Faith-Sharing Reflections on the Sunday Gospels, available at the RENEW International store