2026 Cycle A - The Holy Family

Readings

The Holy Family

Sirach 3:2-6,12-14; Psalm 128 or Psalm 105; Colossians 3:12-21 or Colossians 3:12-17; Mt 2:13-15 & 19-23

Homily Theme

We are all family

This weekend the Church offers several options for the Scripture readings. Yet whichever readings we hear, they all speak of family: fathers and mothers, husbands and wives, sons and daughters. Ultimately, they remind us that we are all children of God the Father. We share Jesus as our Brother and Mary as our Mother. Through Baptism, we belong to a very Holy Family.

When we hear the phrase “the Holy Family,” we naturally think of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, and we expect a homily centered on them. After prayerful reflection, however, I would like us to consider another holy family — the Church, of which we are all members.

Saint Paul often describes the Church as the Body of Christ, made up of many parts, each with a different role and purpose. A body functions best when every part is present and healthy. When one part suffers, the whole body feels the pain. When a part is missing, the body is weakened. The same is true of any family. Today, many members of the Church’s family are absent or not fully engaged, and the Church suffers because of it.

Imagine what the world would be like if every baptized Catholic attended Mass each Sunday and regularly received the sacraments. Imagine if every Christian never sinned and if they did, they immediately repented and asked for forgiveness in confession. Unfortunately, that is not the kind of world we live in.  Neither is it the kind of Church to which we belong.  Our families are made up of imperfect spouses, imperfect parents, and imperfect children. And so is the Church.

Jesus our brother died for us sinners and it is His redemptive love that will makes the Church well again. The Church is a holy family because of the original Holy Family’s yes to the Father. Let us all mean our yes to Him this Sunday.

When broken families reach out to their problem members in love, their families can be healed with that love. This Sunday let us all reach out to the lost members of our Church family with great love, so that the love and inspiration of St.  Joseph, Jesus and Mother Mary can make us all one again. Remember they are the only perfect Holy Family that ever lived on earth, but remember also, that Jesus and Mary both, said yes to the Heavenly Father so that we can receive His forgiveness and mercy and confidence and gratitude, we can say...

We are a Holy Family now.