Series: ONE SPARROW’S PERCH by Margaret Anne Ashfield ofs
A HOLY FAMILY
What is a family? What makes a family holy? What does the Feast of the Holy Family have to do with a band concert!
At first glance there seems to be no connection. Perhaps you will find it in this “true” story.
This Christmas our son was to perform in his school band concert. I was supposed to work that evening and although his father and sister were going, he was disappointed because I always attended all his activities.
At the last minute I was able to get the evening off, so joined my family and hundreds of other parents, sitting on the bleachers in the gymnasium attentively listening to their children play. As I looked around, I saw people who had given up their time, their needs and their wants, to be there to share this precious moment with their child. Just like Mary and Joseph, they would do whatever they could to support and nourish their child. They would help and protect each other as they struggled through the pain and joy of family life.
As I listened to the band play, I realized that they too had formed a family. A family where each member, each instrument bringing it’s own unique gift, and through working together, is important in bringing harmony to musical piece. At the end of the concert, small groups of people gathered together throughout the gymnasium, as family and friends, shared the joyous experience.
We belong to many types of families – our biological family – our work-place families – our fraternal families – and by adoption, by God’s great love for us, to the family of God. Like Mary and Joseph, we know all about dying to self for the good of others. We know the love and joy we experience when we are together.
We are all part of a “Holy Family”. How do I know? Because, where there is love, there will be found a holy family.
What is a family? What makes a family holy? What does the Feast of the Holy Family have to do with a band concert!
At first glance there seems to be no connection. Perhaps you will find it in this “true” story.
This Christmas our son was to perform in his school band concert. I was supposed to work that evening and although his father and sister were going, he was disappointed because I always attended all his activities.
At the last minute I was able to get the evening off, so joined my family and hundreds of other parents, sitting on the bleachers in the gymnasium attentively listening to their children play. As I looked around, I saw people who had given up their time, their needs and their wants, to be there to share this precious moment with their child. Just like Mary and Joseph, they would do whatever they could to support and nourish their child. They would help and protect each other as they struggled through the pain and joy of family life.
As I listened to the band play, I realized that they too had formed a family. A family where each member, each instrument bringing it’s own unique gift, and through working together, is important in bringing harmony to musical piece. At the end of the concert, small groups of people gathered together throughout the gymnasium, as family and friends, shared the joyous experience.
We belong to many types of families – our biological family – our work-place families – our fraternal families – and by adoption, by God’s great love for us, to the family of God. Like Mary and Joseph, we know all about dying to self for the good of others. We know the love and joy we experience when we are together.
We are all part of a “Holy Family”. How do I know? Because, where there is love, there will be found a holy family.