Happy Feast of the Holy Family! In today’s readings we see clearly how to live out marriage and family life according to God’s perfect design.
Husband and Wife
First, let’s discuss the relationship between Husband and Wife. In the Gospel, the angel appears multiple times to St. Joseph and tells him where to bring Mary and Jesus. St. Joseph obeys the angel, and Mary obeys Joseph. This interaction shows clearly God’s design for Marriage. The husband is to be devout in the faith and submit himself totally to God. The husband is the leader of the family, and God will give him the grace to lead the family and make decisions.
The wife is to obey her husband faithfully. The wife should pray for her husband, give counsel, and should strive to imitate the Blessed Mother’s perfect obedience to St Joseph. The Second Reading today emphasizes this point as well: “Wives, be subject to your husbands, as it behoveth in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and be not bitter towards them.” -Col 3:18-19. And although this is difficult, remember that this is pleasing to God and the way God desires us to be sanctified. Living marriage the way God designed will bring peace, joy, and an abundance of grace! God knows the way to make us happy; we must trust Him. Also, meditate on how the saints are saved through obedience, especially religious and priest saints.
Parents and Children
Second, let’s discuss the relationship between parents and their children. In the second reading today, St. Paul says: “Have mercy, benignity, humility, modesty, patience: Bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if any have a complaint against another. Even as the Lord hath forgiven you, so do you also. But above all these things have charity, which is the bond of perfection” Col 3:12-16.
He goes on to say: “Fathers, provoke not your children to indignation, lest they be discouraged.” Col 3:21. Parents are to treat their children with love, mercy, patience, humility, and fairness. And children are to honor and obey their parents and take care of them in their old age: “support the old age of thy father” – Sirach 3:14.
If you desire a more peaceful family life, then embrace your role as husband and wife. If dad and mom’s relationship is well ordered, it will have beautiful and lifelong effects on the children.
[Readings: Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14; Colossians 3:12-21 or 3:12-17; Mt 2:13-15, 19-23]
