FAMILY TIES

Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Matthew 2:21,23

He rose, took the child and his mother… (and) went and dwelt in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, "He shall be called a Nazorean."

When we are just starting to raise a family, my wife and I would be changing address almost every two years. In our first year, we lived with our in-laws in Mandaluyong. After a year, we would transfer further south in Cavite, when Motorola transferred its facility in that location. We would stay there for three years until I joined General Electric so I have to transfer near the Makati area, and rented a townhouse.

Then the opportunity to work in IR-China presented itself, so all of us expatriated to Xi’an, where we stayed for another three years. We came back in 2006. At present, we live in a condominium that me and my wife invested on. For 14 years, we were like nomads going from once place to another. But we did stick together, through thick and thin. As family, “no one will be left behind!”

The Holy Family have traveled farther – going from Jerusalem, to Bethlehem, to Egypt, then back to Israel, where they settled finally in Nazareth, fulfilling what was prophesized about Jesus. There, He would live as a young carpenter, “and (He) grew up and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him”.

Almighty Father, we thank You for the gift of family. We acknowledge that our image and name as family come from you. We believe that within our family lies a homemade holiness. We are Family. We give thanks to You for the many joys and blessings that have come to us through family.

Oh Lord, we pray for the strength to be a light within our family. May we open our hearts, and carry our light to those in need. Help us to continue to appreciate the diversity of persons in our homes and in our world. As members equal in human dignity, may we build a better world and proclaim our willingness to be the holy people You call us to be. Amen +

A family is holy not because it is perfect, but because God’s grace is at work in it.