Feast of the Holy Family - Fr. Leo

On YouTube, I’ve been watching clips of military personal surprising their loved ones by returning a bit early from long absences.  Some are only a couple minutes long, but they warm and inspire my heart.  Common to each clip is not only the excited surprise of family members, but also the long wordless and deeply felt hugs.  No words can describe the wordless power and presence of love!

After sensing the wordless power of love in the YouTube clips, the words of our scriptures today seem ,but an attempt, to safeguard and hold up this God-experience with words.  I think what we read, can only be a reminder of what we somehow know is good and true.  Sirach suggests what is the proper regard for parents as they age.  The words are inspiring, but also understandable by a deeper part of us that already knows the truth of what is being hinted at in words.

Paul’s words to the Colossians seem to be obvious in the clips I watched.  There was gentleness, heartfelt compassion, kindness and unconditional love in the embraces of fathers and sons, brothers and siblings, etc.  With the enlivened hearts of the embracers, Paul’s words are unnecessary and seem only to describe what we already know and experience.

In the Gospel, Joseph, who is open to the work of the Holy Spirit, takes action and does all he can to protect his family.  Because his heart awakened with love, he does what love requires.  It seems natural that he would do as he did.

Words are not necessary when our hearts are enlivened in love.  It is only when we are less connected with the love in us, that we need words to remind and teach us of love’s powerful experience.  So, as we listen to today’s scripture on the Feast of the Holy Family, let us be reminded, but also moved to live in the Spirit, actively experiencing the love of God that bonds us with our families and with the universal family of humankind, past, present and future.