| Families are like stones packed together on the banks | | | | other children as well (Mark 6:3). Each year Joseph |
| of a stream. When you scan the stones from a | | | | took his family to Jerusalem, a trip that was part |
| distance, they look a lot alike. But when you get down | | | | religious obligation, part family vacation. |
| on your knees and examine them closely, you see | | | | Some experts note that Mary, like Joseph, was a Jew. |
| their individual colors, grains, chips, faces, and angles. | | | | She came from the same hometown, Nazareth in |
| When we celebrate one special family, the Holy Family | | | | Galilee. Her family betrothed her to Joseph at the usual |
| of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. Like a collection of stones | | | | age for Bible times, probably early to middle teens |
| viewed from a distance, this family looks like a lot of | | | | (Matthew 1:18). Her surprising pregnancy put her at |
| other families. It is loving, care-giving, and nurturing; its | | | | great risk (think of the stoning today of pregnant, |
| members balance work, home, civic and religious | | | | unmarried women in some societies). Joseph almost |
| obligations, and they cope with stress and anxiety. | | | | did not marry her, but changed his mind when he |
| Luke 2:41-52 is read for Holy Family Sunday (the first | | | | learned that the pregnancy was from the Holy Spirit |
| Sunday after Christmas) and gives us a close-up look | | | | (Matthew 1:19-20). And Mary had a prodigious memory |
| at a very special family. This pericope is the only story | | | | (Luke 2:19; 51). She most likely supplied many stories |
| in the Gospels that tells about the childhood years of | | | | about Jesus to the apostles and evangelists when |
| Jesus. Bible experts cite several reasons why Luke | | | | they began preaching about her son, Jesus the Christ, |
| included it. | | | | and writing their gospels about his life and ministry. |
| One reason offered is that of pointing to the similarity | | | | The Holy Family played a very important role in the |
| between the childhood of Jesus and that of the Old | | | | faith of Jesus' first followers. In fact, some of these |
| Testament prophet Samuel, who spent time in the | | | | first followers loved the family's special features so |
| temple of Shiloh and about whom it is said that, like | | | | much that they wrote additional gospels in the second |
| Jesus, he grew in wisdom and strength (1 Samuel | | | | and third centuries. The Protoevangelium of James, for |
| 2:26). Another is to show that Jesus was a precocious | | | | example, identifies Mary's parents as Joachim and |
| young man, who deeply loved and closely studied the | | | | Anna, and tells stories from her own infancy and |
| law of Moses and who could discuss it intelligently with | | | | childhood. The Infancy Gospel of Thomas also tells |
| experts in the law. | | | | many imaginative stories about Jesus and his childhood |
| Other experts suggest that Luke uses the story to | | | | playmates. |
| remind us of Joseph's special features. He is Jewish, | | | | As we focus on Jesus and his earthly family, we call |
| and belonged to the royal house of David (Luke 1:27). | | | | to mind that Jesus, the Son of God, extends the |
| He lived in his hometown of Nazareth, in the area | | | | boundaries of kinship and welcomes all of us who |
| called Galilee (Luke 2:39). A carpenter by trade, Joseph | | | | believe on him into the family of God (Mark 3:35). |
| and his wife, Mary, not only raised Jesus, but cared for | | | | |