By Rev. Fr. John Damian Adizie

Today is  the  Feast   of  the Holy family of Jesus,   Mary   and   Joseph.  This  feast highlights the important role the family plays in the life of every individual. It is a day to reflect on some of the challenges facing the family.

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It is a day when family members are encouraged to pray and celebrate together. Some families can as well use this medium to settle their disputes. Above all, every family is called upon to emulate the Holy family.

These are the  lessons  one  can derive from  the  Holy Family: The Holy Family is a law abiding family: They were not rebellious.

They did not deny the child Jesus any of the customary rites. For instance, “When the time came for   their   purification   according   to   the   law   of   Moses,   they   brought   him   up   to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every firstborn   male   shall   be   designated   as   holy   to   the   Lord”), and   they   offered   a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtle doves or two young pigeons.” (Luke 2:22-24).

If you want your family to be declared holy then you must be law abiding. The Holy Family were inspired by God: They followed strictly the direction of the Most High God. For instance, before the birth of Christ, the angel told Joseph that the child must be called Jesus ‘for he will save his people’ (Matthew 1:21).

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That was exactly what they did in Luke 2:21 “At the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.” If you want your family to succeed then you must follow God’s instruction.

The Holy Family is a Training Home: Proverbs 22:6 declares, “Train children inthe right way, and when old, they will not stray.” That was exactly what happened in the Holy Family. “When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord,  they returned to  Galilee. The  child   grew   and   became   strong,   filled   with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him” (Luke 2:39-40) Our Lord Jesus

Christ   acquired   most   of   his   knowledge,   wisdom   and   understanding   at   home, through his family. Every family has a vital role to play in the upbringing of their children.The Holy Family dedicated their Child and family to God: Our Lord Jesus Christ was dedicated to God in accordance to the law of Moses which declares; “Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord”  (Luke 2:23).

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The Holy Family had their own challenges: For instance, as the boy Jesus was missing for three   days,   the   family   were   able   to   manage   their   challenges   without   blaming anyone.  The Holy Family is caring: Mary told her Son,  “Child, why have you treated us like this?

Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety.” As Joseph did not abandon Mary when their Son was missing, fathers should not leave their parental responsibility to their wives alone. All hands must be on deck! When Mary found her missing child she did not beat him up for all the pains he caused them, she kept all these things in her heart (Luke 2:51). We should be patient with one another.

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Finally, the Holy Family is the most favoured family on earth. According to Luke 2:52 the child Jesus “increased in wisdom and in stature, and in favour with God and man.” Child of God, from today, your family will be favoured and it shall be well with you, in Jesus name – Amen!