Sunday, December 26, 202

FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY, AND JOSPEH1

(Samuel 1:20-22.24-28; I John 3:1-2.21-24; Luke 2:41-52)

The other day a woman took her four children to mass at noon. All the children sat calmly. When it was time for Communion, they entered the line without discussion. One after another they extended their hands to receive the host. They were well-bred, accustomed to church etiquette. In today's Gospel Jesus shows the same docility in the Temple in Jerusalem.

Mary and Joseph take Jesus to the Temple to familiarize him with the customs of the Jewish people. They celebrate the Passover in which the story of the liberation of the people of Israel is told. They show themselves as good Jews faithful to the Law of God every moment of their lives. This kind of godliness is needed now more than ever.

We live in a time of intensive individualism. Everyone has his own telephone, the symbol of this turn to the self. With the telephone the person does not have to participate in the family, in the classroom, or in any group that surrounds him. Rather, he can have a virtual community at his disposal with his phone. Instead of listening to his parents, he can be tutored by a guru more agreeable to his way of thinking. Instead of reading inspiring books, he can look at stimulating pictures.

Among other things, the question of sexual intimacy in the world of individualism is worth attention. The prevailing culture no longer says that young people must wait until they are married to have sex. Now even in schools, I am told, they teach that intimacy can be beneficial to anyone. According to individualism, the unmarried as well as the married have the right to take advantage of it. It is implied that sex outside of marriage is all right because it gives people pleasure. There are only two restrictions. Both people have to give their consent. Also, the act must be "safe", that is not productive.

It is a big lie. Sexual intimacy is much more than an innocent experience of pleasure to the individual. Rather, it unites two people in a relationship that is at the same time spiritual, emotional, and intellectual as well as physical. Furthermore, it leaves both persons, particularly the woman, deeply affected. By the mere form of the act the participants realize that they are not atoms in life. Sooner or later, they will realize that they are parts of larger units. They are like parts of molecules in which atoms always have their existence. This means that we cannot get much from life alone. Each of us needs other people, and most of us need a stable partner. You cannot overcome the loneliness, the nonsense, and the reproaches of life without this support. In sexual intimacy without a strong commitment from the other, one or both people will one day be left feeling defrauded.

It is particularly the duty of parents to relate both the promise and the responsibility of sexual intimacy. As in other things, you fulfill this duty by both words and actions. You have to sit down with your adolescents to talk about it. You also have to model the companionship of marriage by your support for one another. Today’s gospel ends by saying that Jesus was obedient to his parents. It is hoped that your children will give the same obedience when you share with them about married life.

It is time to make New Year’s resolutions. What are we going to do differently to get more out of life? Attend the noon mass? Very good. Spend less time on the phone? That sounds right. Talk to our adolescents about intimate matters? In this way we can imitate the family of Jesus in Nazareth.


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