FAMILY
The family is primarily understood as the basic, domestic or smallest unit of life. Accordingly, Lumen Gentium (one of the documents of Vatican two council) in number 11 accentuates the Family as a domestic Church. This suffices to say that the Family is as pivotal in the society as it is in the Church, being the base from which life stems into the society and the church. Several teachings of the church on family portray the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, as the paradigm which every family should emulate, owing to the virtues which characterised their lives and actions. These virtues enabled them actively participate in the mission of salvation and kept them living in communion with the will of the father.
The Foundation of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph
The scripture states that Mary was betrothed to Joseph. However, before they could settle down as husband and wife and build a family together, Joseph discovered that Mary was already pregnant . This is a taboo in the land as it is highly unacceptable for an unmarried woman to be found with a child. Joseph, being aware of this tradition and knowing full well that the situation may lead to her being stoned to death, decided to secretly devoice Mary as a just man and not put her to shame . As he contemplated this in his mind, he fell asleep and was visited by the angel of the lord in his dream. The angel told him not to divorce her but take her as his wife because the child in her womb came to be through the power of the Holy Spirit. When he woke up, he gave up his initial plan of divorcing Mary and he took her as his wife. “Joseph was so overwhelmed when he thought he would end his betrothal to Mary, but when the angel of the Lord came to him in his dream, he was filled with awe to realize that Mary would be his wife and he would be the guardian of the messiah” . Joseph obediently and fervently took care of Mary and the unborn child. After the birth of the child who is Jesus, he took him as his own legitimate son and provided all he needed as a child. Even when there was a threat against the life of Jesus, he protected him by taking him and his mother Mary to Egypt for refuge. Later on, at the angel’s command, they returned to the city of Nazareth where they ‘lived a hidden and exemplary virtues.
In line with the theme FAMILY which we are considering in this week 172 of #HiveOpenmic, I am bringing to you a song with the title HOLY FAMILY.
LYRICS
Holy family,
make our family like yours
Make our family like yours
Unto the Lord (2x)
THANKS SO MUCH FOR RELATING WITH MY ENTRY. CHEERS
▶️ 3Speak