My parents went back to Texas today. I'm trying to keep my chin up, but it’s difficult when one gets a voicemail from one’s mother informing one that it is a balmy 73 degrees in ones favorite place. Having my parents here made it feel like home.
In fact, when I was lounging on the couch with my dad close at hand watching Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 2, with a slice of warm rum cake and a dollop of cool whip by its’ side, and my mom’s ubiquitous presence cleaning every inch of our house (thanks again so much, momma!), i could almost hear the Texas stars singing. I was home.
My parents made our house home to me this week. And now they are gone into the wild blue warmth of Texas yonder, and I am here. I won’t be totes negative nancy (no offense to you nancys out there). It is sunny and not too cold. But, it ain’t home.
All that being said, I will focus on what is so good and beautiful about this day.
1) It is still the Christmas Season. Thus I will continue to say Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas!
2) It is the Feast of the Holy Family. While I could write a few books on the beauty and depth and humility and love that radiates from the Holy Family, I’ll try to keep it short. I have a room to makeover after all.
The Holy Family is my North Star. I contemplate their constant obedience to the will of God and ask that I may imitate them in this.
But it's so hard, right? At least it is for me. It seems like life and God's Will don't make a lot of sense most of the time.
The thing is, I doubt the Divine Will ever made a whole lot of sense to them-nor do I believe it felt that great a lot of the time. Taking a pregnant woman as your wife because the Angel told you to. Riding on a donkey extremely pregnant to a strange town to have your baby in a cave. Riding on another donkey to Egypt to protect the life of your infant Son from being taken. Hearing that your child “is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted (and you yourself a sword will pierce) so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” (Luke 2:34-35).
But all along they trust. They trust in the darkness that they are being guided by the Divine Light. And they obey. Joseph hears a word from an Angel, recognizes it immediately as the Will of God, tells Mary, who also recognizes the voice of the Father in the voice of her husband whom she knows has given himself to God, and off they go. Always to do His Will, because that is their desire.
They have a complete and perfect communion of wills, and thus they are Holy. They are the Holy Family because God’s Will is their only desire and happiness. That is why, at the very heart of things, we should seek to imitate them. Because, no matter what it was, all they sought was our Creator’s will. Trusting that He knew better for them, and all of humanity, better than they knew for themselves.
Mary said: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Luke 1: 38
Joseph: “When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home” Matthew 1: 24
Jesus said: “I came down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me” John 6:38
I am beginning to realize more and more that God’s ways are not my ways. A lot of times my life makes little sense to me, and the darkness seems to make the least sense of all. And that’s when I look at my North Star. The Holy Family. Their hope and trust and life is centered on the Will of God. Always. When the night was illumined by a brilliant star on the eve our dear Savior was born, and when they had to walk through the dark night, fleeing for Jesus’ life.
I pray you find yourself in the embrace of the Holy Family, and have rest for yourselves with Jesus. His yoke is easy, and His burden is light.
Happy Feast day, whether you are in the tundra of the north, or the sweet sunshine of the south. Be Merry!
Although it’s been said many times, many ways
Merry Christmas, to you!
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