The Meaning of Family

I forgot when exactly it was when I adapted the tradition of drawing a cross with “JMJ” under it on the top of every piece of paper I write on, but it is something that reminds me that whatever I am doing or writing, Jesus, Mary, and Joseph are with me, and that all that I think, write, and ultimately do should reflect that which binds the Holy Family together: love.

What does family mean to you? Perhaps for some it is the biology that ties them together. For others maybe the relationships, without necessarily needing to be blood related. We each belong to a nuclear, biological family that is bound by blood in our DNA, but we also belong to a family that is not by DNA, but very much so by blood. We are one family in Christ because of the blood of Christ. Through Jesus we become sons and daughters of God. We to are then adopted into the Holy Family.

Brothers and sisters, let us never forget that we are part of God’s family! We call Him Father! For us Christians, family is so much more than just who we live with or who we like or get along with. For us, to be a family means to know that no matter how difficult things may be in life, we will never be alone because we have a whole family in heaven praying for us, cheering us on. To be a family means to know that we have been so loved that we are given the grace to share in the very life of God, to share in the divinity of Christ, who humbled Himself to share in our humanity.

The Holy Family reminds us of this truth. The Holy Family reminds us that we are worth it and that we are truly precious in the eyes of God, so much so that He wants to be one with us. May we allow the docility of Mary, the righteousness of Joseph, and the obedience of Jesus to teach us and to move us to a greater awareness of our identity and so live a life that embodies it.

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, pray for us!