A few weeks ago, on the feast of the Holy Family, I listened carefully to the priest’s homily on that first Sunday after Christmas. However, I soon switched into a sarcastic mode as he praised the virtues and holiness of the Holy Family, lamenting the lack of such families in our society today. I couldn’t help but wonder: was he referring to the same Holy Family I know?
In the story I’m familiar with, a young, unwed girl mysteriously finds herself pregnant without ever having had any relations with a man. Could you imagine her trying to explain to her parents? She runs to her older cousin supposedly to help her because she too was expecting a child in her old age, but was it out of choice, or was she sent by her family to avoid being the gossip of the village? Remember, all this took place in a strict Jewish society over 2,000 years ago. Actually, there was a man involved, a righteous man, Joseph by name, her future husband. In all of Scripture, he utters not a single word. Instead, he only dreams.
Br Carmel Duca MC
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