Feast of the Holy Family: Resembling the Trinity

Today's Readings: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/123117.cfm

On this day of the Feast of the Holy Family, I cannot be more thankful for God's goodness and grace in my life, particularly for the people I am grateful to call my family. Truly, they have shaped me in a way that has drawn me to the Father, a gift I wouldn't trade for anything.

But even under these circumstances, we, as a family, are just as flawed as any other institution in the world. We bicker, we grow weary under stress, and we often lose track of valuable time to spend together. Thankfully for us wandering Christians, we have a divine model to look up to: that of the Trinity. This community of three persons is a very comprehensible expression of the nuclear family; two beings come together, equal in dignity, to create a beautiful expression of love between them...a child. Between them is nothing short of total selfless love, each person caring wholly for the others. Prayer and devotion define the dynamic which circulates about them, in such a way that no individual person in their Trinity is more superior than the others, a concept which perplexes so many of us.

I recently finished a book by William P. Young titled, The Shack, a novel that (while not expressing the full truth as is done by the Catholic Church) so simply and elegantly describes God's Trinity through the eyes of Mackenzie, a heartbroken father who's nearly lost hope in God's mercy and love for him in his life. I'll be honest...I've never been more able to picture God in this way before coming across this book. I had always believed in the Trinity, but - being it is such a difficult and divine concept - I was never capable of understanding the undying and unwavering love the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit possess. And while I am certainly no expert on this matter, Young's novel touched my heart so as to light a spark of devotion to the Trinity, who loves us so much and is "especially fond" of each of us (Young).

So....why do I speak of this story at the present moment?...to draw upon a delightful model of family life. Our time with family is a powerful way to grow in relationship with one another and with God. As my pastor put it, "holiness is not a solitary pursuit....we are meant to live in real relationship with God and one another." What a beautiful task to focus our energies! It is such an innate part of us to love and to be loved...and for good reason! God desires for us to live in relationship with Him through all we do. He is always with us! What more could we ask of a father, brother, or friend?

Drawing upon this idea of relationship, we're reminded that our relationships with family members are stunning mediums with which to discover our Lord and Savior's presence, sometimes within the simplest actions: a smile, an embrace, a helping hand, a simple prayer, or an act of forgiveness.

Sadly enough, the world's idea of family is degrading; only a small portion of households are considered the "traditional" or "nuclear" family. It is sad to know that divorce rates are rising, children are alienating from their parents, and couples are taking advantage of each other. A true household embedded in Christ, according to our deacon this morning, is truly the domestic church, a sanctified community where vital morals, values, and virtues are fostered, first between the union of marriage, and followed by the expression of love through children (hmm...sounds like the Trinity!). This idea of the "nuclear family," where prayer acts as the foundation for growth and selfless love acts as a driving force for drawing nearer to the Father, is essential in our development as holy vessels for God's love. And today, our world advertises the lie that such ideas are petty and futile.

I implore you today, regardless of your family's history or current state, to take time this week to strengthen the relationships within your family. Maybe there has been curt division resulting in years of grief and resentment...find those with whom this tension resides, and ask God to help you forgive them for past injuries. Maybe you feel exhausted by the demands of the world, and have lost time to simply sit and watch a movie with those in your household...try to perhaps rearrange some priorities this week to make time to do something together. Or better yet, set a New Year's resolution to bring your family closer to Jesus, in whatever way that might be. Whatever it is you decide to do, ask the Holy Spirit to wrap His warm embrace around your household, aiding you in the journey of growth to holiness. He will no doubt bless you with His grace and love!