December 28, 2008 at Saint Mark in Norman, OK
Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14 + Psalm 128 + Colossians 3:12-17 + Luke 2:22-40
In an age of isolation and individuality this Gospel is easy to sentimentalize and then dismiss. There are profound, deep, and powerful images and implications in these verses that revealing something of God’s will for what we are to become.
The question of what makes this family “holy” is the issue. The shallow response is: “the child, Jesus.” Of course, that’s it, they think, and with that thought, they are off the hook when it comes to “holiness”. In this thinking, for holiness all you need is a few angels, some sheep, shepherds some visitors with unique gifts, a couple of dreams thrown in, and of course, an Immaculate Conception and presto, it’s a holy family. Anyone here qualify?
Of course there is something else going on, and when we dig for it, pray for it, and desire it enough, holiness becomes available to every family. You don’t need a divine child whose birth was announced by an angel to achieve it.
There are a few clues here that lay out the path to holiness for those who would seek that holiness and its blessings.
Mary, Joseph, and Jesus belonged to a people. They were not isolated, nomadic unit. They were not simply a nuclear family, but they were part of a larger religious community.
Mary, Joseph, and Jesus kept the law of Moses, and they centered their life on the Temple of Jerusalem which encouraged and assisted them in keeping alive and practicing long-held religious customs.
This is what made them holy: belonging to God’s people and living that way made a difference. Living by the laws and the values of that people and fulfilling the obligations of that people makes for holiness. And finally, practicing the customs of that people leads to the holiness desired: but the desire is the important part. Just doing the customs and keeping the rules to look good will not do — desire “completes the circuit,” so to speak.
So, you want a “Holy” family? Chapter two of Luke gives you the plan. It does not guarantee the “perfect family” nor does it promise a life without struggle pain, disappointment or tragedy. It does not necessarily imply a father and a mother all along the way. What it does promise is that the relationships of that family will reveal the presence of God and be the source of God’s work of forgiveness, love and mercy.
My wish for you all as a New Year approaches is that you will all be holy.