Day 1: The Holy Family

When I contemplate the Holy Family, composed of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, I describe it as extraordinary, with emphasis on both “extra” and “ordinary.” The three members of the Holy Family are sacred and beloved, and during their earthly life, they lived in our ordinary world with its everyday joys, tasks, and struggles. 

The Holy Family is set apart for God unlike any other family. In many ways, the Holy Family was also an ordinary family. Jesus, the second person of the Holy Trinity, had a human childhood. He probably took naps, scraped his knees, and played pretend with his cousin, John the Baptist. Mary, the most blessed among women, would have been a stay-at-home mom. She might have kissed Jesus’ boo-boos and sang him lullabies when she wasn’t sweeping the floor or baking bread. Saint Joseph, Mary’s most chaste spouse and the “foster” father of Jesus, had a day job to provide for his family. When he was home, he might have helped Jesus buckle his sandals or talked with him about what he learned in Hebrew school. 

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph each had a role to play in God’s plan for salvation, but on a more immediate and intimate level, they each had a role to play in their family. Their mission was to love and serve each other throughout their human and humble lives, and their mission also extended beyond their home in Nazareth.

In Amoris Laetitia (The Joy of Love) by Pope Francis, he writes, “Families should not see themselves as a refuge from society, but instead go forth from their homes in a spirit of solidarity with others.” The Holy Family shows us how to go forth and embrace solidarity with those around us. We can recall how Mary anticipated the needs of the bride and groom at Cana when she told Jesus that they had run out of wine and how Jesus was the perfect example of the ministry of presence to everyone he met, taught, and healed. Today, Jesus, Mary, and Joseph still stand in solidarity with us. They knew firsthand not only the joys of life, but also the struggles of fleeing from one’s home and grieving the death of a loved one. They’re an image for us when life gets messy. They intercede for us daily and guide us closer each day to God. 

With this concept of the Holy Family in mind, I look at my own family, and I see glimpses of the Holy Family. In my home, I see a family of three that’s present and attentive to each other’s needs and tries to share God’s love with each other every day. My husband, Nathan, reminds me of Joseph, and it’s not just because of his beard. Whether it’s going to work for us or just loading the dishwasher, he does everything with humility and love for his family. I’ve watched him grow leaps and bounds in his faith throughout our marriage, and he inspires me to become holier as well. Every year, I renew My Marian Consecration  on a Marian Solemnity. In a unique way, Mary keeps me in her Immaculate Heart and lends me her Heart so that I can love my family the way that she would. 

In this season of my life, I’m not able to go to Eucharistic Adoration often, but I constantly adore my baby, Max. When he’s sleeping, playing, or babbling endlessly, I look at him with adoration. Jesus’ instructions to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and care for the sick come alive with my little one. By doing these things for my baby, I do them for Jesus himself. Taking care of my baby is not distracting me from Jesus. By loving him, I’m loving Jesus. 

There are so many ways that the Turley family relates to the Holy Family, and there are also many ways that the Holy Family practices the ministry of presence with us. As we increase our devotion to them, they give us constant reminders that we’re in their hearts. Learning from their example, Nathan, Max, and I strive to share God’s love wherever we go. At Mass, at doctor’s appointments, or at the grocery store, we remember that everyone we encounter is a beloved child of God.

Franciscan Mission Service finds inspiration from the Holy Family and looks to their example of accompaniment, solidarity, and humility. We may envision the memorable moments in their lives, like the Annunciation, the Nativity, and the Finding of Jesus in the Temple, but we know that Jesus, Mary, and Joseph strived to live according to God’s will through every humdrum yet sacred day. This Advent, we invite you to journey towards Bethlehem with the Holy Family. Join the Holy Family and us as we go forth to share the light of Christ this Advent and Christmas season. Welcome Jesus, Mary, and Joseph into your hearts and homes and allow them to make what’s ordinary extraordinary. 

Question for Reflection: How do the members of your own family remind you of the Holy Family?