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God is so noble that He seeks man’s consent even to adorn him. He has been knocking on the door of every heart for many years. Still, He asks many: 'Why is it not being opened?' Unless we open it, we cannot enjoy His presence or sup with Him. This is one of the reasons that many people are unable to experience the glorious birth of Christ in their hearts and the subsequent appearance of the star in the spiritual heights.
The core motivation of the Christian faith is to praise God for His great mercy in giving us His Son, Jesus Christ. This is the way of goodness and the essence of Christianity. We are bound to constantly thank God for this gracious gift. Christianity is fundamentally a response of gratitude for the gift of Jesus Christ, as such love was almost unbelievable to mankind. The supreme love of God was displayed on the Cross. Our Christian lives should be a direct response to this esteemed love expressed by Jesus Christ. We must be awake and alert to this purpose at all times. Therefore, a Christian has no right to slumber, for the Protector of Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps. Though we may currently be asleep, we should wake up to express our gratitude to God and to propagate His love in our lives and actions.
The Man is God in miniature and the home is heaven in miniature!
Once, John Wesley, an English evangelical preacher, was conducting an open-air meeting, and thousands of common people gathered to hear his message. The theme of his sermon was "The Transforming Power of Jesus Christ." Among the crowd were two young men who had come prepared to throw stones at Wesley. However, after hearing his inspiring message, one of the young conspirators told his accomplice that the man's face was shining like an angel. The stones fell from their hands. As Wesley was leaving the pulpit, the two youths followed him, and one of them kissed the hem of his garment. Wesley turned around, raised both hands, and said, "God bless you, my children." Later, one of them remarked that he was only a man and not an angel. His friend retorted, "...Yes, he is a man like God."
Following Abraham Lincoln's death in 1865, Leo Tolstoy described him during the 1909 centenary of his birth as "a Christ in miniature, a saint of humanity". Aligning ourselves with the joy of the Creator's glory should be the sole purpose of our Christian life.
Before we begin considering the family of Jesus, let us review a few contrasting families to make the theme more evident. In the first family of God's creation, Adam was the head of the family. Being the first man, it was expected that Adam would die first, but that did not happen. Before Adam died, his older son killed his brother. It was the first murder and the first death in the world. Abel was not killed by a terrorist; he was murdered by his own brother. The funeral was done disgracefully, without any priest, parents, or relatives present. His brother dug a pit and covered his body. Is this a family?
Next, let's examine the domestic life of David, whom God appointed commander over Israel. At the close of the funeral service, referring to this great King musician of Israel, we say, 'O David, sweet singer of Israel! Descend with your lyre and harp and play to teach us how fragile we are and how short our days in this world are.' ' ['C{ktbensâ a[pcKmbI\mb ZmhotZ! Cu temI¯nð a\pjy³ F{X £WnI³ Fópw Ahsâ Zn\§Ä F®s¸«hbmsWpw R§sf A\pkvacn¸nt¡ïXnóp, \o Inóchpambn Cd§nhóp ]mSpI.'] We see a father who fathered nations but failed his own children. This powerful king wisely governed the scattered tribes, forging them into a united nation. The shepherd boy was blessed by God to be a valiant soldier, strategist, statesman, diplomat, composer, musician, and a very successful king, with many achievements. Yet, despite his nationally flawless reign, David faced significant family problems, experiencing turmoil at home.
Many people deeply mourn for their family and children, sometimes sacrificing everything of their own for the sake of their loved ones. King David is a supreme example of a father who endured severe mental anguish regarding his children
. David was facing a multifaceted crisis, primarily a family crisis. It was not just a political enemy conspiring against him, but his own son, forcing the father to declare war against his own child. This was a massive, devastating storm that swept him off his feet. Despite the betrayal, David pleaded for mercy for his son, charging his commander, Joab, to "Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom". Although all the troops heard the king’s charge concerning Absalom, he could not obtain mercy from them. While Absalom was riding his mule, his long, beautiful hair became caught in the thick branches of a great oak tree. He was left hanging between heaven and earth, and the mule ran away. Joab’s men surrounded him, and in triumph, they struck and killed him. The prince's body was disposed of disgracefully, thrown into a large pit in the woods with indignation. Upon hearing the news, David forgot all the joy of his victory. Overwhelmed by the sorrowful tidings of his son's death, he went to his chamber and wept bitterly, saying, "O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!". These, too, were incidents that happened within a family.
How many Christians today will stand with Jesus for their convictions if it results in trial and tribulation? Many may stand with Him when there are few burdens or encumbrances involved. Many, however, cannot remain steadfast in their beliefs. Nowadays, some believe that following Christ involves no tension—that it is an easy path and a bed of roses. Let us peep into a Cinema 'The haunted mind'. Many years back the encounter with Naxal Varghese was a haunting experience for the Police Constable Ramachandran Nair. When Ramachandran Nair was pointing his pistol to this Naxalite leader, brave Varghese was very enthusiastically and emotionally raising the slogans of his ideologies. Who will take this stand for his ideologies and conviction? The man facing imminent death before the police officer’s ready-to-fire gun was not the one trembling during the encounter; rather, it was the police officer holding the gun pointed at the criminal who was shivering in that scenario. Constable Ramachandran Nair reported that this incident haunted his mind for the rest of his life.
After the marriage of Princess Diana and the Prince of Wales at London's St Paul's Cathedral on July 29, 1981, the chief celebrant, Archbishop of Canterbury Robert Runcie, offered ceremonial advice: 'Those who are married live happily ever after the wedding day if they persevere in the real adventure, which is the royal task of creating each other and creating a more loving world. It must be specially true of this marriage, in which are placed so many hopes.' The Archbishop added, 'Every couple are Royal on their day of wedding.' Diana, Princess of Wales, tragically died on August 31, 1997, in a high-speed car accident in Paris where she was a passenger.
Now the modern world is looking to be at big speed. Today's advertisement itself is like; 'Put your feet in the fast track.' This is what is happening around us. But we all know the story "The Turtle and the Rabbit Run a Race". Rabbit laughed and made fun of at turtle, such a slow walker and decided 'No use for me to run all the way now.' Many time we feel the changes are intolerable. President Clinton had told once, 'We have to make changes our friends, not our foe but we have to work together to shape change, lest it engulf us.'
An oak tree stands very high with thick branches, but the truth is that its roots have grown very deep, and its trunk has grown high over many long years. Life is not always found in the rush of increasing speed. Enoch did not rush through his life; he walked slowly, in step with God. This teaches us all that life is about more than just speed, as this fearful, frantic pace can lead us into dangerous traps. Our lives should become a prayer: "God, You are our source of inspiration. Lord, inspire me to surrender my roots so that I may reach my destination".
Now, let us examine a case in our native region, specifically somewhere in Mid-Travancore. This provides a clear illustration of the harm inflicted upon children due to parental negligence.
Both the father and mother were employed in Dubai. Their son and daughter were pursuing their studies in Kerala. The son, Shaji, was attending a college in a city within Kerala. These children were completely deprived of their parents' love and warmth. Much like the experiences of many children today, they felt abandoned, neglected, and unloved, through no fault of their own.
Shaji was consistently melancholic and did not socialise or converse much with others. He had only one close friend, named Biju. Shaji insisted to his friend Biju that he wished to visit his home and stay there for a week. During a vacation, Shaji accompanied Biju to his house. In Biju's absence, Shaji wept openly in front of Biju's mother, declaring, "If a child is to be born, he should be born like Biju; I am experiencing extreme poverty amidst great wealth."
Shaji's parents never showed concern for his education, general well-being, or emotional state. Their visits to the children were infrequent and perfunctory, as though merely fulfilling a mandatory obligation. They did, however, provide an abundance of money to the children.
In due course, Shaji developed an addiction to alcohol and drugs. The parents' realization of the situation only occurred when, one day, Shaji went missing from the hostel. His father travelled the entire distance and began a desperate search for Shaji. In his profound distress, the father searched everywhere possible, crying out, "Shaji, my beloved, where are you?".
The loud lamentation of this grieving father echoed widely, perhaps even reaching Shaji's ears. But Shaji was unable to recognize his father's voice, as he had become insane by that time. This is also an incident that took place within a family.
In contrast to the family atmospheres mentioned previously, let us look into the family of John Wesley, whom I referred to earlier. Wesley spent his early years under the careful direction of his remarkable mother, who sought to instill in him a sense of vital piety leading to a wholehearted devotion to God.
As their mother’s death approached, the children gathered around her. On her deathbed, she looked at her children and instructed them: "Children, as soon as I am released, sing a psalm of praise to God".
Who would be able to say this? How beautiful a life she lived! How beautiful an ending she had! John Wesley emerged out of such a family atmosphere.
The story of Catholic Father Dominic begins with his birth name, Luis Brown. He was an atheist who edited a magazine dedicated to propagating his atheistic ideologies. His wife, Elizabeth, was a very pious woman. Elizabeth became paralyzed and was bedridden for ten years. On her deathbed, she lovingly called her husband to her and asked that he convert to God and be baptized.
After Elizabeth’s death, while Luis was reading her diary, his eyes caught these words in a prayer she had written: "O God, transfigure my husband towards you, and give me enough tolerance until his repentance."
Eventually, following his wife's death, Luis realized that for all those years, he had been disobeying God, while his wife suffered for ten long years praying for his repentance. Consequently, Luis became a believer in God, and later, he became a priest, taking the name Dominic. A man who once did not believe in God at all had transformed into a representative of God and a retreat master.
A prominent retreat leader articulated from his vast experience that a priest is not molded in the theological seminary; rather, he is
transfigured in his own home long before he ever arrives at the seminary premises. A member of the clergy is not formed among philosophical and theological libraries, but is shaped and fashioned in the "potter's wheel" of the family through a life of prayer and sacrifice.
An elderly Catholic mother was continuously praying the rosary. A young man asked her what she was constantly chanting with those beads. The old mother replied, "I hold the first rosary bead to pray for my elder son, who is a missionary priest. When I hold the second bead, I pray for my daughter, who is a nun working in charity. When I hold the third bead, I pray for my parish priest."
Against the backdrop of these vividly contrasting family atmospheres, let us turn to the home and home life of our Lord Jesus in Nazareth. The Holy Family consisted of three members: Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. Never before has there been a family so holy and pious, nor will there ever be again. It was in this house that our Savior lived for thirty years, submitting Himself to His parents. Let us consider the characteristics of each member of this Holy Family.
Joseph: Head of the Holy Family
In the Gospel according to St. Matthew, Joseph is exemplified as a "just" and "righteous" man. In the modern world, these two words, "just" and "righteous," are considered obsolete; one will absolutely never find a character certificate describing someone as "just" or "righteous."
Yet, what is meant by a "just man"? It was the defining attribute of the head of this Holy Family, Joseph.
Secondly, Joseph was the sole protector of that family. How many children in this world are ruined without getting any protection from any body? But Joseph was a careful protector of the mother Mary and the child Jesus. There were many incidences where life of the child and the survival of the family were at threat. But as per the divine perception Joseph render all the protection and security to the mother and the child. In the darkness of the night he carried the infant child and with the mother fled to the foreign land of Egypt to save them from the cruelty of King Herod.
The next member of the Holy Family is Mary, the mother of Jesus. Her greatest attribute was her disposition toward surrender. Mary was a village girl with no formal education. When the angel Gabriel taught her, like a child, about the great events to come—which were far beyond the understanding of this young peasant girl—she asked the angel, "How can this be?"
However, when the angel assured her that nothing is impossible with God, she surrendered herself and said, "Let it be," according to the will of God. She asked no further questions regarding the manner in which it would be accomplished, but surrendered entirely, saying, "Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word".
This phrase, "Let it be," was uttered for the first time by the Lord God, and the entire universe was created. It was spoken for the second time by Mother Mary, and the Savior was born into this world. It was spoken for the third time by Jesus Christ on the cross, accomplishing the salvation of all mankind. Now, it is our turn to say, "Let thy will be done in our lives."
Furthermore, Mary rejoiced in her Savior. While some people place their trust in earthly strength—such as chariots and horses—Mary found deep satisfaction and confidence in God as her Savior. She took more pride in the salvation she shared with all believers than in the unique honor of being the mother of Jesus. She had profound reasons to rejoice in spirit, meaning to rejoice in the Lord, because of the gracious things He had done for her, particularly His condescension and compassion toward her.
We see a contrast here with the prophet Habakkuk. Habakkuk desperately begged God to relieve and help his people in their affliction. He lamented to the Lord that the crops were ruined, the fields produced no food, the cattle were dying, and life had become miserable. However, he hoped that the final outcome would be comfortable and glorious. Despite all these trials, he said, "Yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will have him to rejoice in, and will rejoice in him".
Mary had the noble culture of respecting others. Two thousand years before, the words what hear from her is, "Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been looking for You anxiously". This is a culture to be cultivated in the family. In this sense, As Jesus was greatly differing from the first man, Adam; Mary also was greatly differing from the first mother, Eve. In the current world there is no need for a dagger or a pistol to kill a person. A mere word can destroy the life of a person. That is what is going on in many families. Any member of the family can annihilate another member by their abusing words. By this due respect given to others, Mary was not loosing any thing in her life, but by that same humility, she became the one counted by all the generations as blessed. Mary had also the culture of caring for others. Her concern for the household was well revealed, when she and her son together attended the marriage in Cana.
The Lord Jesus is the main focus of the Holy Family. As the Evangelists say, 'I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written about the sayings and doings of our Savior'. The greatness and attributes of our Savior are too vast for any tongue to fully narrate. At the age of twelve, Jesus was full of wisdom, eager to grow in knowledge and share it. His devotion to worshipping His Father was exemplary. At this age, He serves as an example for children and young people, who should learn from Christ to enjoy the company of those who can help them grow, and choose to learn from teachers (doctors) rather than others. When His earthly parents expressed concern, He immediately submitted to them.
This world itself is to be considered a single family. The Savior came to this world for the great joy of the entire world-family. May the Savior of the world deeply enter our hearts. The entire world should become one family, with Jesus as its central member. As John bore witness to Jesus, He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the entire world.
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