The School of Nazareth

Voice over by Angeline Chue Chue

Sir 3,2-6.12-14; Psalm: 127; Col 3:12-21; Mt 2,13-15.19-23

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, on this Feast of the Holy Family, the Church invites us to look upon the humble dwelling in Nazareth as the first and greatest school of Christian life. In a world where the very meaning of family is often confused and contested, the Word of God today offers us not a picture of perfection, but a roadmap to holiness—a holiness forged in the ordinary, often difficult, realities of family life.

The wisdom of Sirach lays the foundation with the timeless commandment: “God sets a father in honor over his children; a mother’s authority he confirms over her sons.” This is not about domination, but about the sacred order of love. Honoring parents brings atonement for sins and stores up riches before God. The text pays special attention to caring for aging parents: “Even if his mind fail, be considerate of him.” This is the fundamental school of charity, where we first learn to love sacrificially.

Saint Paul, in his letter to the Colossians, paints a beautiful icon of the Christian family, calling us to “put on, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” The family is the primary workshop where these virtues are practiced daily. “Bear with one another and forgive one another,” he urges, reminding us that the peace of Christ must reign in our hearts and homes. His instruction to wives and husbands, children and parents, is a call to mutual submission and love, all done “in the Lord.”

This blueprint for family holiness finds its ultimate model and validation in the Gospel. The Holy Family, far from being a picture of untroubled serenity, is immediately thrust into danger and dislocation. Joseph, the just man, is awakened by an angel and told to flee to Egypt to protect the child from Herod’s murderous jealousy. This humble craftsman becomes the protector and provider, leading his family into exile. He models obedient trust, not knowing how long they would be away or how they would survive. Later, he is instructed to return, and finally, to settle in Nazareth. In every step, Joseph listens and obeys, putting the safety and well-being of his family before his own plans.

This is the profound Catholic truth we celebrate: the Holy Family is holy not because they were spared suffering, but because they lived through it with faith, trust, and mutual love. They sanctified the ordinary. As Pope Francis has reflected, “The family of Nazareth is a ‘model family’ not because it had no problems… but because they knew how to face them with love and the wisdom they sought and found in faith.”

The comfort for us is immense. Our families do not need to be perfect to be holy. Holiness is found precisely in navigating the imperfections with grace. It is found in the patient listening after a long day, in the forgiveness offered for a harsh word, in the decision to prioritize family prayer over personal leisure, and in trusting God when the family faces a crisis, be it financial, medical, or relational.

The challenge is to make our homes “schools of Nazareth.” This means consciously cultivating the virtues Paul describes: choosing compassion over criticism, kindness over coldness, and forgiveness over resentment. It means honoring our parents, not just in their strength, but especially in their weakness. It means, like Joseph, taking up our God-given role as protectors and providers, whether through physical provision, emotional support, or spiritual leadership.

Let us take to heart the words of St. John Chrysostom: “The love of husband and wife is the force that welds society together.” And from St. Josemaría Escrivá: “The family is the domestic church where the father is the priest, the mother the minister, and the children the faithful.”

On this feast day, let us entrust our families to the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. May they teach us to find God not in spite of our family struggles, but within them. For it is in the daily sacrifices, the patient endurance, and the faithful love of family life that we are truly formed into the image of Christ. Amen.