THE FAMILY: THE BASIC CELL OF HUMAN COMMUNITY.

Holy Family Sunday.
December 28, 2008.
(First reading: Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14) (Psalm 128:1-5)
(Second reading: Colossians 3:12-21) (Gospel reading: Luke 2:22-40)


THE FAMILY: THE BASIC CELL
OF THE HUMAN COMMUNITY.

Jesus has come to our world as a member of the family of Mary and Joseph so that we, all human beings, may become members of the human family by living in common unity just as Jesus, Mary and Joseph lived in common unity.

By virtue of that unity, the family becomes the basic foundation and cell of the entire human community which will remain as such provided their members live in unity.

Community Vs. Society.
In the human community there is no room for "social classes" which is the basic foundation of our present societies.

The concept of society implies fragmentation, social classes; whereas the concept of human community implies common unity among all its members(1).

The family of Jesus shows us that humans are to live in universal community.

The relationships within the human community must follow the model of the relations within the family.
The Book of Sirach tells us that those who honor their mother and father also honor God. Subsequently, we may say that those who honor any human being also honor God. And just as anyone who mistreats mother or father is mistreating God, so is anyone who mistreats any human being.

Saint Paul in his Letter to the Colossians describes the nature of the relations between human beings whether in a family or in the human community at large. Says Paul "As God's chosen ones, holy and beloved [we must relate to one another with] heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience" (Colossians 3:12).

By relating in this manner we will be able to establish "the bond of perfection" among all human beings, thus we will be able to "let the peace of Christ control [our] hearts, the peace into which [we] were also called into one body" (Colossians 3:14-15).

"The bond of perfection" among the members of the human family is therefore the life of unity and peace in which we all are to live.
__________________________________________________________
Footnote:
(1) Jesus himself is "unity made flesh". The gospel tells us that upon seeing the child Jesus, Simeon said: "My eyes have seen your salvation which you prepared in the sight of all the peoples" (Luke 2:20-21) of all the peoples who are to live in unity, in universal community.