Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph

       Pictured above: “The Holy Family at Rest” sculpture: A bronze sculpture donated by artist Anna Hyatt Huntington in 1963, located in the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington DC at the East entrance to the Shrine's crypt.

       The last several years, I’ve met the Holy Family School 8th Graders in Washington DC during their annual trip there. I meet them at the National Basilica to tour the church and celebrate Mass. This bronze statue of the Holy Family resting on their flight into Egypt – fleeing Herod’s reach for the Christ Child – greets us as we enter the Crypt. It depicts a very weary Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. Even the donkey is weary of the urgent and rushed retreat to a foreign land to find safety. There is certainly a commentary to be made about modern immigrants fleeing desperate situations, but I’ll not make that here today.

       Today, it struck me that the Holy Family worn out and exhausted might be how we feel ourselves after the rush of the pre-Christmas and Christmas day activities. I certainly feel a certain tiredness. We may find ourselves wanting to put some distance between ourselves and the family confrontations that might have occurred. We might want to simply leave Christmas behind. After all, the rest of the world – even our non-Catholic Christian brethren – celebrates for but 1 day on Dec 25th, while we persistent Catholic Christians stretch out Christmas for a full Octave of days and longer still until January 11 after we have rejoiced in the Epiphany of the Magi and the Baptism of the Lord in the Jordan River by John. It can seem that this journey of Christmas will go on and on. It can leave us tired, worn, and weary. It can leave each of us pulling inward to collect ourselves and gather a little inner peace. It is possible to become hardened or deaf to the Christmas Joy of Jesus’ Birth. The world presses in to remind us – like Mary & Joseph, you can’t forever remain in there in that Silent Night. Rest if you must, but remember, this journey is an important one. It is a necessary one. These are the first steps leading the People of God from Egypt – that ever symbolic land of slavery & sin – to freedom & Life, to the Promised Land of Eternal Rest. It is all too easy to grow weary on this journey. Stop & with Jesus, Mary, & Joseph, Rest. But do not dally too long, for the road ever rises out before us. “Constricted [is] the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few” (Mt 7:14).

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Holy Family Home for Christmas with Cross Catholic International. You can still contribute on Parish Soft (e-giving) or by dropping a donation in the offertory basket clearly labeled “Advent Home”. Thank you.

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Nothing Less than saints for the Holy Family of God.

Holy Family, Resting in the Father’s Protection, Pray for us.

~ Fr Jeremy M. Gries