Holy Families

The feast of the Holy Family, Dec. 28, is a time to remind all families, no matter their configuration, that God calls us all to be holy families. CELEBRATING THE LECTIONARY provides an intergenerational Liturgy of the Word to assure families of their holiness.
The plan provides a sample bulletin announcement inviting families to the event and asking them to bring family photographs. The following is excerpted from the liturgy plan.
PROCLAMATION: Sirach 3:2-6. Read very matter-of-factly. Emphasize the If's and the obvious consequences.
RESPONSE: Use Psalm 128. Either sing it or use the psalm reading from the Lectionary for Masses with Children.
PROCLAMATION: Colossians 3:12-17. This reading expands the definition of family. Speak with enthusiasm, proclaiming a vision of God's reign.
PROCLAMATION: Matthew 2:13-15,19-23. Explain that this story is an event from Jesus' infancy. Tell the assembly that Mary and Joseph knew that God was a member of their family, and so they were prepared to listen and hear God's message to them.
SAMPLE HOMILY: The readings today all consider messages of love which can be imitated by our own families today. The first is directed toward children and the love and respect they should have for their parents. This reading presupposes an ideal world where parents are devoted to their children. If that is not the case, children can pray for their parents that the parents may someday be worthy of their children's respect.
The second reading is a primer on how to live as a family.
The Gospel focuses on Joseph, his dreams and his protection of his family from harm. The underlying message is that Joseph worked in partnership with God, who is a member of all our holy families.
At first glance, we think of today's feast as one that honors the holiest family of all, Jesus, Mary and Joseph. But today's feast also honors all of us who belong to a family. We are born into families. We live in small groups we call families. Our attempts to live together in harmony are not always perfect, but the effort is important. Spend a moment in quiet looking at or thinking about your particular family. Think of one thing you love about being part of that family. When everyone is ready, share that one thing. No responses or comments, please. Just hear what every member of your holy family has to say.
(After a few minutes of sharing, continue:)
We don't know too much about the Holy Family in Jesus' early life. We can speculate that their lives were pretty ordinary. Mary cooked, cleaned, and carried water from the village well. Joseph worked as a carpenter, while Jesus probably played with his friends, did his chores and went to school with the rest of the boys at the synagogue. Some Scripture scholars believe that Joseph died while Jesus was still young, so Mary may have been a single parent raising a child. Was it the fact that Jesus was the Son of God that made his family holy? Or was it the fact that this family lived an ordinary life and included God as a member in the ordinary events of daily life? Just being a family together and including God makes a family holy.
Family life is about creating memories together. It is about making the simple chores of our family lives extraordinary because they are done with love and care. Spend a few minutes now sharing a special family memory with other members of your family.
(After a time, continue:)
In today's Gospel, Joseph has a dream that warns him of future danger. Later Joseph has a dream that tells him the danger is over. Think for a moment about the dreams that your family has. Parents, tell your children about the dreams you have for your family.
(Take time to share.)
Family life is in jeopardy today. There are so many distractions that pull us apart: long work days, TV, money worries, power, sports and our own selfish interests. It is up to all of us to support each other as we work to be holy families. We can all be role models for each other. How many of you have heard the saying: The family that prays together stays together ? Well, we pray together as a church family every week. And I encourage all of you to do it often in your own families during the week. But add one more word to that saying. The word is play. The family that prays and plays together will stay together.
FAMILY BLESSING: May the Creator of all and the head of all our families shower us with blessings as we approach the new year. Grant us patience with each other as we go through our days. Help us to bear one another's mistakes, to forgive one another's wrongs and to be gentle with those who are younger as they learn what it means to be a family. Give us the gift of gratitude for our families. Help us to appreciate the unique qualities that each member brings to make our family holy, whole and complete. Let the example of our family shine through so that all people will see your goodness through us. Let us be models of the Holy Family in 1998.
Using holy water, bless the families and their photos.