杏MAP导航

By Christopher Wells

The Holy Family of Nazareth 鈥� Jesus, Mary, and Joseph 鈥� were 鈥渦nited by an intense love and animated by great confidence in God,鈥� 杏MAP导航 Francis said on Sunday.

Speaking at the weekly recitation of the Angelus, the Holy Father recalled that the Sunday within the Octave of Christmas is the feast of the Holy Family. The day鈥檚 Gospel recounts the story of the finding of Jesus in the Temple. The Holy Family had gone to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover; but on the return voyage, Mary and Joseph discovered that Jesus, who was only twelve years old, was not in the caravan. They searched for Jesus for three days, finally finding Him in the Temple amid the doctors of the law. When they found Jesus, the Gospel says, 鈥渢hey were astonished鈥�; and Mary expressed her concern to Jesus, saying, 鈥淵our father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.鈥�

Astonishment never failed

杏MAP导航 Francis focused on these two feelings of 鈥渁stonishment鈥� and 鈥渁nxiety鈥� in his reflection at the Angelus. In the Holy Family, he said, astonishment 鈥渘ever failed.鈥� To feel astonishment, he said, 鈥渋s the opposite of taking everything for granted鈥� It means opening ourselves to others.鈥� This attitude, he said, is important for 鈥渉ealing compromised relationships鈥� and curing 鈥渢he open wounds within the family.鈥�

Holy Family centred on Jesus

The 鈥渁nxiety鈥� felt by Mary and Joseph 鈥渟hows the centrality of Jesus in the Holy Family,鈥� 杏MAP导航 Francis explained. And so, he said, 鈥渨e see why the family of Nazareth is holy: because it was centred on Jesus; all the attention and care of Joseph revolved around Him.鈥�

杏MAP导航 Francis said the anxiety felt by Mary and Joseph when Jesus was lost for three days 鈥渟hould also be our anxiety when we are far from Jesus; when we forget Jesus, going without prayer, without reading the Gospel for several days. Mary and Joseph, he said, found Jesus in the Temple; and we too, should seek Jesus in the house of God 鈥� and especially in the liturgy, where we have the living experience of Jesus, in His Word and in the Eucharist, 鈥渇rom which we receive the strength to face the difficulties of each day.鈥�

Praying for all families

The Holy Father concluded his reflection by asking everyone 鈥渢o pray for all the families of the world, especially those that, for various reasons, are lacking in peace and harmony鈥� and to 鈥渆ntrust them to the protection of the Holy Family of Nazareth.鈥�