Christmas, Holy Family (C) The Feast of the Holy Family reminds us that Jesus comes not only to restore us as as individuals, but also to heal our family. The four fundamental identities help to reveal God's original plan for the family. These identities have three characteristics:

1. Relational. Each identity requires another; none are just my sense of me in isolation.
2. Foundational. They build on each other and move us from receiving to giving.
3. Gift. The identities are healthy when I receive the other as a gift and the other receives me as a gift.

Here are the fundamental identities one at a time:

1. Child (son/daughter) -- The infant feels herself to be a gift. Parents welcome her and give her safety, recognition, reassurance, delight, love and belonging.
2. Sibling (brother/sister) -- Siblings treat each other as a gift. They join the parents in receiving one another and loving one another.
3. Spouse (husband/wife) -- Giving and receiving siblings, friends, classmates and co-workers prepares us to give and receive a total gift of self in marriage. 
4. Parent (father/mother) -- Marriage prepares a couple to receive children as gifts and to give to them without counting the cost.

Sin, wounds, and self-protection cause siblings to compete with each other for the scare resources of parental affection. Friendships become a choice and friends are rejected when they no longer meet my needs. Spouses use each other rather than giving themselves to one another. Children are no longer welcomed as gifts, and the cycle repeats itself.

Hannah receives Samuel as a gift and she gives him back to God (see 1 Sam 1 and 2). Jesus comes to heal our families. He does that by healing our fundamental identities. Jesus invites us to discover that our true father is God the Father, and our true mother is Mary, the Mother of Jesus. Even after we our born, our belly button marks the place where we drew life from our mother. Mary is the relationship we need to grow in first. Mary will introduce us to Jesus and Jesus will lead us to God the Father.

(29 Jan 2024)

Going Deeper: Start a daily Rosary. Check in with your spiritual mother Mary once or twice each day. 

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