…behold, the angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child’s life are dead.” He rose, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel.
We notice, in the various passages read in Advent and now in the Christmas season that no one did anything on their own. Rather, they all acted with unity and loyalty as family.
When Mary heard from the angel that her cousin Elizabeth was pregnant, Mary went off to be with her and tend to her needs. When Joeph was trying to figure out what to do, God, through His angel sets him straight, take Mary into your home.
When the shepherds hear of the birth of the Messiah, Christ the Lord, they go and encounter a family together in the stable.
When the Magi arrive, which we will hear about this Tuesday, they arrive to find a family.
When the time comes for Mary’s purification and the dedication of Jesus at the Temple they go as a family.
When Jesus’ life is in danger from Herod they flee and go into Egypt as a family.
When Jesus was twelve the family went up to Jerusalem for the festival as they always did.
The strength of these poor, meek, and humble people came from God and God’s working through them as a family.
God never said to any one of them, well you run off and do this on your own and we’ll get back together later.
No, God’s perfect self is expressed in the best possible way as unity. The Holy Trinity is in unity, and as my old seminary buddies used to say, the unity of community is the totality or reality.
When we are in unity with each other, starting with family, we come to the best reality. Our shared strength and commitment builds up the weak up and encourages the failing.
Our message as the Church is that family, holy family life, at home and in church, is essential and at the core of the good of all.
