FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH, DECEMBER 28, 2025
- Maria Knox
- Dec 28, 2025
- 3 min read
Nativity scene by baroque great painter Peter Paul Rubens in Saint Paul's church, Antwerp Belgium
Reading I Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14
God sets a father in honor over his children;
a mother’s authority he confirms over her sons.
Whoever honors his father atones for sins,
and preserves himself from them.
When he prays, he is heard;
he stores up riches who reveres his mother.
Whoever honors his father is gladdened by children,
and, when he prays, is heard.
Whoever reveres his father will live a long life;
he who obeys his father brings comfort to his mother.
My son, take care of your father when he is old;
grieve him not as long as he lives.
Even if his mind fail, be considerate of him;
revile him not all the days of his life;
kindness to a father will not be forgotten,
firmly planted against the debt of your sins
—a house raised in justice to you.
REFLECTION
"God sets a father in honor over his children;
a mother’s authority he confirms over her sons."
Today we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family. Jesus, Mary and Joseph are the model of a family on earth. I wonder, how can we relate to an intact nuclear family today? Is this model still relevant?
In 2023, the statistics were that 1 in 3 American adults had been divorced at least once. Also, since the 1970's the rate of a child living with two married parents has dropped from 67% to 37%.
From here, things get dicey. At least 21% of adults (married or not, and in any gender and number combination) have children from multiple parents. Some sources quote that the percentage of children living in a blended family could range anywhere between 16-42% of the total population, this is, depending of the complexity of the parental arrangement. It is a very deep rabbit hole.
Research about the well being of children after divorce in their formative and adult years is not great. With 41% of children doing poorly, and often being angry. And 25% of these children reported having serious emotional problems.
It is also reported that divorced parents tend to overshare experiences with their children, they are not able to separate their needs from those of their children, thus leaving them in an unstable emotional state. Children don't know whom to respect, or what is respect. Parents have forgotten how to be parents.
Where am I going with this? We know things are dismal. So what?
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph ARE the model to follow. They teach us that it is OK to live a humble life in love and humility. Saint Joseph is a model of fatherhood on earth. As a society we have grown allergic to the word authority, and St. Joseph was the authority figure in the Holy Family. However, this doesn't mean that he was a tyrant who ruled with a dominating iron fist. He was the guardian of Mary and Jesus: their protector, but also a teacher of God's ways and their tradition to Jesus, His stewardship and service.
In one degree or another we all come from imperfect families. And no, we won't be able to achieve the levels of holiness that the Holy Family had, but that doesn't mean we have to stop trying. On the contrary, we really need to turn to their example, and ask for their guidance and protection.
Join us in praying to Consecration to St. Joseph HERE, so we can relearn, or learn what a true and good father can do for our families. Let's ask him to help us to start healing from the wounds given to us, as well as heal the wounds we have caused to our children as well.
Sancte Joseph, Custos Sacrae Familiae, ora pro nobis
Merry Christmas!
God bless y'all!
Sources:
Thank you for sharing!