I think a lot of Catholics have this rosy picture of the Holy Family. The mother was without sin. The son happened to be THE SON OF GOD. And the third member, St. Joseph, wasn’t exactly a slacker. (see: SAINT Joseph)

What problems could a trio like that actually have? Let’s come back to this thought.

This is the time of the year when many of us find ourselves wondering why our families don’t look anything like those Hallmark Christmas movies. A husband who participated in the purchase of every card and gift. A mother who finds all her husband’s idiosyncrasies as charming as the day they met. Children thrilled to spend hours laughing with each other. Their spouses relaxed by the roaring fireplace. Grandchildren grateful for every gift and perfectly behaved. The turkey a glossy golden brown.

For many of us – no matter how hard we tried – this was not our reality.

Christmas might’ve been more like this: the husband kept trying to escape into televised sports and drink. The mother spent most of her emotional reserves trying to keep herself from murdering her daughter-in-law. The children attempted to keep the conversation light, doing their best to avoid real issues with more delicacy than a brain surgeon. The in-laws silently prayed their children would misbehave so they’d have an excuse for an early exit. The children didn’t seem capable of genuine human interaction and were hypnotized by their phones. And the turkey had less moisture than an Arizona riverbed.

If you experienced any (or all) of this, I want you to pray to the Holy Family. They understand stress. The mother’s pregnancy was scandalous. She gave birth in a cave. The husband stayed although the child wasn’t his. The child’s life was immediately in danger. They fled the country as refugees. They eventually made the arduous journey home. They did not enjoy physical intimacy like most married couples. As a child, the son seemed to know more than either of the parents. The son was eventually murdered by the state for a crime he didn’t commit in front of his mother. They know family stress. Talk to them.

Mary and Joseph would be honored to pray for you and Jesus would love to bring healing to your family.

David is recovering from back surgery. This article is a reprint of his bulletin column from Dec 22, 2019.

BACK TO LIST BACK