Families are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways

Today, on the Feast of the Holy Family, the Church lifts up before us not a perfect family, but a faithful one. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph did not live a life free from struggle. They faced uncertainty, danger, displacement, and fear. Yet, they walked in the ways of the Lord. And that is why today’s Psalm can proclaim with confidence: “Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways.” In the Scriptures, to “fear the Lord” does not mean to be afraid of God. It means to trust God deeply, to reverence God enough to shape our daily decisions around His will. A family that fears the Lord is one that listens, obeys, forgives, and perseveres—even when life is hard. The Gospel gives us a powerful image of family life under pressure. Joseph is warned in a dream to flee to Egypt. In the middle of the night, without protest or delay, he takes Mary and the child and becomes a refugee for the sake of love. The Holy Family knows what it means to be uprooted, uncertain, and vulnerable. Yet, in every step, Joseph listens to God, Mary trusts, and Jesus is carried by their obedience. This is what it means to walk in the Lord’s ways: not knowing all the answers but taking the next faithful step. The first reading from Sirach reminds us that family life is built on honor, respect, and care—especially across generations. Honoring parents, caring for the elderly, and showing patience in weakness are not optional virtues; they are sacred acts that build a “house raised in justice.” In a world that often values productivity over presence, Sirach calls us back to reverence, gratitude, and compassion within the family. Saint Paul, in the Letter to the Colossians, brings this vision into everyday practice. He tells families to “put on” compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. These are not just personal virtues; they are family virtues. Forgiveness, gratitude, and love are what hold families together. Paul does not describe dominance or control, but mutual care—husbands who love, children who obey, parents who do not discourage, and above all, love as “the bond of perfection.” The Holy Family teaches us that holiness in family life is not found in extraordinary events, but in ordinary faithfulness—listening to God, protecting one another, forgiving daily, and trusting God in uncertain times. Families are holy not because they are flawless, but because they strive, again and again, to walk in the Lord’s ways. Today, we pray for all families: those united and those broken, those joyful and those struggling, those present here and those far away. May the Holy Family remind us that any home can become a place of blessing when God is trusted, love is practiced, and faith is lived one day at a time. Blessed indeed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways.