Brothers and Sisters

Brothers and Sisters

In his homily for the Feast of the Holy Family, Year C, Father Hanly reminds us that the Holy Church is our family and that we are all brothers and sisters in Christ.

Readings for The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, Year C

  • First Reading: Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14
  • Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 128:1-2, 3, 4-5
  • Second Reading: Colossians 3:12-21
  • Gospel: Luke 2:41-52

Homily for The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, Year C

Dear parishioners, today is called the Feast of the Holy Family. Every year on the first Sunday after Christmas, we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family, which is very appropriate. Why?  Because we just celebrated Jesus’ descent unto mankind, we now  celebrate his choice to be a member of a family. 

This event is of great significance.  Just as the birth of Jesus reflected the dignity of humanity, so God’s choice to be part of a family mirrored the dignity of the family. 

Where does this dignity come from?  It comes directly from God because He consecrated it. 

Because of this, everyone should value the importance of the family; be it the country, society or the individual, each should respect the family, protect its rights, contribute to its development, and strive for the family’s well-being.

Fellow parishioners, I believe everyone will think this is inevitable, and there is no need to talk about it. But today, on the Feast of the Holy Family, I would still like to emphasize the importance of the family.

There are different arguments in the world today. Some say that the individual is most important, family comes second .  Others say that the country is most important, the individual and family do not matter much.  Although both country and individual are important, the family is the backbone and pillar of society, the basis of an individual’s life.  If the family is healthy, the country and individual will be fine.

The early Church also recognized this.  We always say that the Holy Church is our big family, that we are all brothers and sisters in Christ, we call God our Father, Jesus our brother, and it is the Holy Spirit that made us a family in God. 

Moreover, even in our daily lives, to show the deep relationship between all people, we often address others as uncle, auntie, brother, sister.  We say this to show that all people, irrespective of their nationality, skin color or race, are part of a big family,  closely related to each other, and should care for each other, love and help each other, sacrificing themselves for the development of their family.

Dear parishioners, in summary, on this yearly Feast of the Holy Family, we pray that God will bless every family in the world, especially those in our parish, and that God will strengthen and preserve the relationships among all its members, that all of them will recognize the dignity that God has bestowed on us, respect each other, love and help each other, and live together in harmony. 

I wish you all a Happy New Year and that all things will be to your hearts’ desire.

Footnote: This homily was delivered by Father Hanly at the Wah Fu Mass Centre of Our Lady of Lourdes parish in Hong Kong in 1985.