A Time of Renewal: Embracing the Holy Family’s Example
In today’s fast-paced world, nearly everyone carries a mobile phone. When you buy a new phone, it comes with clear instructions on how to use it properly, to avoid damage and ensure its longevity. In much the same way, when God gives us the gift of family, He also offers us guidance and instructions for living out that gift in the best way possible. Yet, too often, we fail to follow these instructions, and as a result, our families suffer.
Sadly, as Fr Mark mentioned in his homily, it is rare to hear of a family story in our parishes that isn’t filled with hardship. Far too often, we hear of struggles, disappointments, and fractured relationships rather than joy and peace within the home. On social media, families are often portrayed as happy and perfect, especially during the festive season. But is this portrayal the true reality?
In the Bible, we encounter people like Mary and Elizabeth, who prayed fervently that their children would grow in holiness. This contrasts with our own prayers, which often centre around desires for wealth, health, or perfect relationships. Holiness, however, should be at the heart of every family, nurtured from within the home. Sadly, this is often not the case.
In this season, we reflect on the themes of Advent: Hope, Joy, Love, and Peace. These gifts are found in the child Jesus. But how much of our time is spent in prayer or reflecting on God’s word? We dedicate so much time to preparing physically—shopping, cooking, decorating—but how much time do we give to our spiritual preparation? Without this, we risk filling our lives with distractions and replacing godly values with those that lead us astray.
The family is the cradle of society, where we discover the identity of God. Yet today, like in the story of the birth of Jesus, we often tell God that there is no room for Him in our lives. The word of God must take root in our hearts. We need to be clear on who we are and whose we are. Many of us celebrate Christmas without truly welcoming the “birthday boy”—Jesus. If He is at the centre of our families, only then will our values begin to reflect His love and our prayers begin to shift: Our prayers must shift: Let Your will be done, Lord.
As we continue to reflect on the themes of Advent, let us consider these key aspects for our families:
- Hope – The hope that only Jesus can promise, not the fleeting hopes offered by the secular world.
- Peace – If we want true peace in our lives, we must invite Jesus into our hearts and homes.
- Joy – True joy cannot be found in a life of sin, but in living in alignment with God’s will.
- Love – Love is not merely an emotion, but the very essence of God. God is love, and this love must define our families.
Let this season be a time of renewal for our families, as we strive to centre our homes on Christ. Only then will we experience the peace, hope, joy, and love that He offers.