“This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about.  when his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit.” (Mt 1,18)  As our gospel passage opens up to reveal the mystery of the birth of Jesus the Christ, we see that a family has already begun to be formed.  Mary is mother and she is betrothed to Joseph her spouse and is found to be with child, Jesus, through the Holy Spirit.  As the Holy Family they have something to teach all human families.  Already the newly formed Holy Family is facing a crisis.  Pope Francis speaks to us about families in crisis in his exhortation, The Joy of Love:  “The life of every family is marked by all kinds of crises, yet these are also part of its dramatic beauty. Couples should be helped to realize that surmounting a crisis need not weaken their relationship; instead, it can improve, settle and mature the wine of their union. Life together should not diminish but increase their contentment; every new step along the way can help couples find new ways to happiness. Each crisis becomes an apprenticeship in growing closer together or learning a little more about what it means to be married… Each crisis has a lesson to teach us; we need to learn how to listen for it with the ear of the heart.” (AL,232)

    Both Mary and Joseph in their own way are troubled by the news of her conception.  Each of them is called to wrestle with the question, “How can this be?”  Each of them ponders deeply the mystery that is unfolding before them and each opens “the ear of the heart” to listen for the Word of God to reveal to them what they are being called to do.  Before acting, they seek God’s will in prayer.  Mary and Joseph both exhibit a contemplative spirit.  They ponder deeply the experiences of life and seek to find the “finger of God” writing tenderly his Word and Will upon their hearts.  They turn faithfully and trustingly to Sacred Scripture to find God’s ways being revealed by the prophets so that they may hear the Word with the “ear of the heart” and follow in his way.  They wait for the gentle whispering of the Holy Spirit that assures them that God is with them.  An angel appears to each of them and reassures them with the firm and gentle instruction, “Do not be afraid.”  Once they discover God’s will and plan for their family, they respond with the obedience of faith and act upon the Word, putting God’s plan into action.  Each of them, “did as the angel of the Lord had commanded” them.

    The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches us, “The Christian family is the first place of education in prayer.  Based on the sacrament of marriage, the family is the “domestic church” where God’s children learn to pray “as the Church” and to persevere in prayer.  For young children in particular, daily family prayer is the first witness of the Church’s living memory awakened patiently by the Holy Spirit.” (CCC,2685)  In prayer, the Holy Spirit assures us that “God is with us” and that we do not need to be afraid in the face of difficult situations but that we can indeed place our trust in the Lord.  Every Christian family is called to be a “domestic church” the primary place of prayer, worship and formation in the faith.  Christian family prayer weaves the bonds of love, woven by the Holy Spirit, that binds the family ever stronger together.  Every family will face difficult times of crisis but prayer can turn these difficult times into opportunities for growth and deeper faith.  In the midst of crises, families are never alone.  There are angels that watch over them and present their prayers and needs to our loving Savior who intercedes for us continually before the Father.

    Joseph is a dreamer but every mother and father dreams about their child.  Their naming their child expresses their dreams for their child.  Pope Francis instructs us, “You can’t have a family without dreams. Once a family loses the ability to dream, children do not grow, love does not grow, life shrivels up and dies…With their prayers, parents prepare for baptism, entrusting their baby to Jesus even before he or she is born.” (AL,169)  Through their prayers and dreams, the angel reveals to Mary and Joseph that their child will be named Jesus and that “he will save his people from their sins.” 

    Mary and Joseph teach us that parents need to be contemplatives.  They need to learn how to discern God’s will in prayer.  Families need to be “domestic churches” and pray together daily.  Prayer sanctifies the family and keeps it strong.  Fear is useless, what is needed is faith, hope and love.