Many churches celebrate the feast of The Holy Family on the
Sunday after Christmas. This morning, I
found a beautiful picture of the Holy Family on a blog that I frequent, A Concord Pastor Comments. I find it very interesting in many ways.
The first thing that strikes me is the age of Jesus. He looks like a young man about eighteen or
so. We know very little of Jesus’ life
with his family. We think of Jesus,
especially at Christmas, as a cute little baby.
We then hear about his presentation in the Temple which according to the
Law of Moses takes place forty days after his birth to complete his mother’s
ritual of purification after childbirth. This event was recorded by Luke and then there
is silence, until once again Luke relates a family story that takes place when
Jesus is twelve. Mary and Joseph and a
large group of their relatives and friends travel to Jerusalem on a pilgrimage
following the custom that is part of the Passover celebration. After several days they begin their return
home and only notice that evening when they sit down for dinner that Jesus was
not with them. I often wonder about what
Mary and Joseph said to each other when they realize that their young son has
been left behind in the city of Jerusalem.
They rush back and after a lengthy search they find him in the Temple in
a discussion with the elders who were amazed at his learning, especially given
his young age. He was rightly admonished
by Mary, and his only response is a reminder to her that he must be about his
Father’s business.
So, here we have this icon of the Holy Family, by Aidan Hart, showing Jesus as a young man at the dinner table with his
family. I try to picture families today
sitting together having dinner with their eighteen year old children and wonder
if there are any similarities. I wonder if Jesus could be asking to be
excused to go watch a football game. Or,
head over to a friend’s house to play video games. Or, run off to the Mall with friends to hang
out. Somehow I doubt it. I also don’t see a television in the
background or any electronics like cell phones or I-pads sitting around the
table. That’s different. Last week my wife and I went out to dinner
and as we waited for our meal to be served, I looked at the couple sitting next
to us. Each was deeply engrossed on their cell phones in
whatever it is that can be more satisfying than sitting with someone engaged in
a meaningful conversation. I thought that
they might be an anomaly until I looked around and saw several tables where
someone was engaged with their phone. I
find this sad. I find this just another example
of the breakdown in our human interaction on a familial level.
So often when a child is accused of doing something wrong
their parents will immediately defend them and say my child would never do
that. I wonder how well some parents
know their children. They don’t talk to
one another. The children lock
themselves away in their rooms with televisions, and computers, and smart
phones, and the parents are happy that they are quiet and out of their
hair. Out of sight, out of mind. But when do they talk? When do they connect? When do they discuss issues that might be
troubling them? Do they think that it is
the teacher’s job, or the school counselor’s job to help their children cope with life's problems?
One of God’s greatest gifts is the gift of family, where we
are placed in an environment of peace, and love, and care for one another. This is certainly not always the case but it
is what God intended families to be like.
Every family has issues and problems of their own. There are none that are perfect. I know this on a personal level. But God calls each family to at least strive
toward peace and fulfillment. To work
through their problems whatever they are.
God does not judge a family by its brokenness. Rather he seeks to find families working
together, seeking to heal and reconcile their brokenness. This is what God calls families to do.
It can start at the dinner table tonight. Will someone please pass the forgiveness?
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