There is the fullness of LIFE, which according to St. John is the LIGHT shining in the darkness. For there is a BIRTH. There is, too, the Herod who sought to destroy the very life of the CHILD. And fearful of the threat to his power, he ordered the murder of innocent children; he was specific about his order: “all boys two years old and under” will have to go. Thus, the tragedy of innocent children slaughtered. From ancient times down to our present century they are still remembered, these children who share in the birth and saving passion of Christ. There, too, is an Egypt, a place of refuge for the Holy Family — JESUS, MARY and JOSEPH. The dream of Joseph and a warning to take mother and Child and flee to Egypt until such time when in another dream God will recall them from hence to live their quiet family life in Nazareth.
All the elements which surround today’s family are here. The brief account of today’s Gospel makes us keenly aware that there is a proclamation of life in the birth of the Redeemer. In sharp contrast, there is the threat to life. The family is supposed to be a place of refuge from which place of safety from every threat, God will call every member to people His Church. There is a massacre of infants born and unborn. But in spite of that threat, the building up of family remains to this very day, a guarantee of God’s action to create the new people of God through Jesus. He came to renew everything that is eternally good and beautiful, everything which is the foundation of LOVE. The future of each family unit depends upon this love, the mutual love between husband and wife, of parents and children, for love is the true source of the unity and strength of the family.
Newly married couples tell each other: “We shall walk the path of life together.” A union of two at the start and then a new community in Christ with the coming of children. The Church is so concerned with the family because of the impact of media — films, shows, radio and television largely dominated by pornography, violence, the flaunting of family immoralities which are presently considered as “modern trends”, above all the manipulation of truth which do not serve the truth about man.
It is significant that the Gospel according to Matthew today mentions, practically, the birth and the danger, which Jesus immediately had to confront. The fact, according to Pope John Paul II has a certain “prophetic eloquence”. Even as a Child, Jesus is a “sign of contradiction”. And families who follow him should likewise be prepared to signs of contradiction. They will be declared outmoded because they are not in favor of pre-marital sex, of separation or divorce, of abortion and contraceptives, of wives and husbands jumping in bed just with any man or woman. These are all immense threats to life not only to the life of persons but to whole civilizations. That we are in a “civilization of death” is being confirmed by very frightening ways.
On this celebration of the feast of the Holy Family, let us pray for a reawakening of conscience. Let us pray that there be no more Herods. May every home be the haven of family life knit in love, shedding its light and love in Christ, and sending out children who will be the new people of God.
Feast of the Holy Family, Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23.