Jesus, Mary, and Joseph — The Perfect Pattern
Beloved, on this holy feast we behold the Holy Family—
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph—
not fashioned by the spirit of the age,
but formed by the will of God.
Here is perfection in obedience.
Here is submission without shame,
chastity without loss,
and perfect love without the work of the flesh.
Joseph stood as head of the house,
a just man, silent and faithful,
bearing the burden of provision and protection.
Mary, full of grace, kept the home,
treasured all things in her heart,
and called her husband lord,
not by compulsion,
but by holiness.
And Jesus—
though Lord of heaven and earth—
was subject unto them,
growing in wisdom and stature,
and in favour with God and man.
This is the family God blesseth.
Now behold the modern family,
and weep.
For authority is despised,
obedience is mocked,
chastity is scorned,
and continence is called foolishness.
The father is weakened,
the mother is displaced,
the children are unruled,
and the home is abandoned.
Marriage, which God joined until death do part,
is treated as a contract of convenience.
The marriage bed, which ought to be undefiled,
is turned into a place
for sterile selfish pleasure, (natural or artificial),
and not for solely for the fruit of children.
Pleasure is sought,
yet the fruit thereof is intentionally avoided.
The act is taken,
and the end rejected.
Woe unto such a generation.
For the Holy Family is the Icon.
Joseph knew perfect continence.
Mary knew perfect purity.
And from that holy order
came forth the Saviour of the world.
But the modern family cries,
“All is equal,”
and calls obedience bondage,
submission injustice,
and order tyranny.
Yet where there is no headship,
confusion reigneth;
where there is no obedience,
love waxeth cold.
The Holy Family teaches us this truth:
perfect chastity is higher,
and perfect continence is best;
but if the marriage bed be used,
let it be used rightly—
not for lust,
but solely for the fruit of children,
raised in the fear of God.
Joseph did not seek himself.
Mary did not assert herself.
Jesus did not exalt Himself.
Each embraced the place appointed by God,
and thereby brought salvation into the world.
O modern man, return to Joseph.
O modern woman, return to Mary.
O children, return to Christ in obedience.
For except the Lord build the house,
they labour in vain that build it.
Except the family be ordered after heaven,
it shall collapse upon the earth.
Choose ye this day which family ye will imitate:
the Holy Family, perfected by obedience and chastity,
or the modern family, fractured by pride and pleasure.
Amen.