Strive for a happy family
A layperson would surmise his view of the world as an imperfect place and would probably say that it is so because we are imperfect ourselves. There are different theories expounding as to why the world is imperfect. It is true that we try our best to be perfect in our professions and at times in our spiritual lives too. When it comes to interpersonal relationships, though many of us do quite well, there is a lot left to be desired. Such situations then necessarily affect our family life and therefore, it is not uncommon to find families with broken relationships and in painful state of affairs.
It is to counter the breakdown of the family as a unit that the Church from the middle of the 17th century began to promote devotion to the Holy Family. The Holy Family stands for the family into which Jesus was born and includes his mother Mary and foster father Joseph. From 1969 onwards the Church shifted this solemn feast to the first Sunday after Christmas. That is also the reason why most traditional Christmas cards still carry the images of Baby Jesus with Mary and Joseph. The Holy Family is also portrayed in popular Christian art.
One of the favourite sentences of Mother Teresa with which she often opened her public discourses, was, “A family that prays together, stays together.” Though an old saying, it was Mother Teresa who made it popular in our times. Her experience with many broken families made her conclude that people were hungry not only for bread but also for love, and that prayer could certainly help bring deeper presence of God in family
relations.
One of the reasons we get into conflicts in our families is because we judge others’ intentions and their actions, mostly to hide our own failures. Jesus, however, tells us quite clearly, “Judge not and you shall not be judged,” (Matthew 7:1), and “You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye” (Matthew 7:5).
The model of the Holy Family is placed before us as an example to emulate for a supposedly happy and peaceful family life. St. Paul suggests to us, “Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you have a grievance against someone...” (Colossians 3: 12-13).
The first certain step to achieve lasting peace in the world is to begin to live in peace in our own families as did Jesus with his parents, forming the ideal Holy Family.
Father Dominic Emmanuel is currently the director of communication of the Delhi Catholic Church. He can be contacted at frdominic@gmail.com
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