Today is the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. The message in the reading from Sirach is as meaningful today, if not more so, than it was some 2,200 years ago.

God, in his infinite wisdom, saw that a family that respected and honored one another was essential to his plan. A family would be the source of not only a sense of belonging and a home, but where honor, duty, justice, and compassion were taught, and comfort and love were found. A family would be the wellspring of strength in times of need and would be there to celebrate the joyous occasions of life.

I think we all would agree that being part of a loving, caring family is truly a gift from God and is one that we deeply cherish. So, why not share this gift with others? Why do we so often withhold our love and caring from those who are not our members of our biological family, but who need the love, comfort, and support we find in our family just as much, if not more, than we do?

Just think what the world might have missed, had Jesus decided that his love and compassion were limited only to Mary and Joseph. If he had not willingly laid down his life for those outside of his family, people he did not know, we would have no hope of salvation. It is as simple as that!

As we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph and go about the New Year, let us strive to be more inclusive in our definition of family. Let us include the disenfranchised, the infirm, whose lives are confined to nursing homes, our neighbors and office mates who sometimes annoy us, and those whose political persuasions are not the same as ours.

If we can be more Christlike in expanding our definition of family, then we, too, can make the world a better place not only for those we interact with, but for the good it does for our own well-being.
And in so doing find joy in extending our love to all of God’s children.