Genesis 15:1-6, 21:1-3; Colossians 3:12-21; Luke 2:22-40
Some brief points about Christian family life as seen in the life of the Holy Family of Nazareth.
Christian
marriage is between a man and a woman. The … parents
of Jesus … were Joseph and Mary – a man and a woman – the source of all
families. Every family begins with the exclusive love and faithful commitment
between a man and a woman. There is no other form of Christian marriage and
though the world may seek to attack this truth we Christians must defend it at
all costs.
Every marriage must be open to life. Though Mary was a virgin, and according to tradition so was Joseph, they were open to the Christ Child. Each of them accepted Jesus into their lives and so, despite their virginity, their marriage bore fruit. Mary was the Mother and Joseph the foster father of Jesus.
The parents of a Christian family should be united in one faith. There have been wonderful mixed marriages. I know all about them. But, as a general principal, if the parents are both of the same faith, if there is an intimate sharing of belief and practice, there is generally a more profound unity between the couple. And what’s more, it is the faith life of the children that is the beneficiary of this unity.
Christian parents should practise their faith. When the day came …. Mary and Joseph together took the child to the Temple. They did not send him to church with grandma or with the next door neighbours. No. It was the parents of Jesus who took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. They would have it no other way. The infant Jesus was able to fulfil his obligations as a Jew because his parents believed.
Christian parents should do all that their faith requires. Five times Luke mentions the meticulous adherence of Jesus’ father and mother to the precepts of the Law of Moses.
“When the day came for them to be purified as laid down by the Law of Moses, the
parents of Jesus took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, – observing what stands written in the Law of
the Lord: Every first-born male must be consecrated to the Lord –
and also to offer in sacrifice, in
accordance with what is said in the Law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves
or two young pigeons.”
A faithful family will be blessed by God. When parents invite Jesus into their family as its Head God blesses that family. He comes to meet it and to dwell in it. He blesses each of the members and gives grace in abundance to make sure that this family will reach heaven. Surely this is a parent’s true and real responsibility – to do all they can to ensure their child’s eternal destiny is realised?
The final lines of the passage bear witness
to this fact: When they had done everything the Law of the
Lord required, they went back to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.
Meanwhile the child grew to maturity, and he was filled with wisdom; and God’s
favour was with him.
