Homily for the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph

The transition from a childhood faith to an adult faith can be smooth for some, while it can be painfully difficult for others. This difficulty arises because our childhood faith must die before our adult faith can emerge.

In his book The Restless Believers, John Kirvan poignantly describes how the death of childhood faith can impact a young person. He quotes a high school student who states, "I don't know what's gone wrong, but I just don't believe like I used to. When I was in grade school and for the first couple of years of high school, I was very religious, and now I just don't seem to care."

The passing of childhood faith can leave young people feeling heartbroken and even guilty. This is unfortunate because they are simply navigating an essential stage in their faith development, transitioning from a childhood faith to an adult faith.

Adult Christians must remember that the journey toward adult faith is ongoing; it lasts a lifetime. This is why even adults sometimes experience darkness and struggle in their faith.

Today's Gospel reading reflects this theme. It describes Jesus' transition from religious childhood to religious adulthood, suggesting that this change was challenging for Jesus and His parents. The challenge arose not from any wrongdoing on their part but because they were all profoundly human.

Just as other people experience the loss of childhood and the emergence of adulthood, so did Jesus. Scripture tells us that Jesus was like us in all respects except for sin. Likewise, Mary and Joseph had to adapt to the loss of the child Jesus and the arrival of the adult Jesus, much like parents today cope when their children receive a driver's license, head off to college or the military, or get married. This aspect of family life is something we all experience, just like the Holy Family did.

The final paragraph of today's Gospel passage provides valuable insight. It conveys an important lesson as we celebrate this feast of the Holy Family. It states that Jesus returned to Nazareth with His parents and was obedient to them, while Mary cherished all that happened in the Temple in her heart.

In essence, both Jesus and His parents navigated the transition from childhood to adulthood with harmony and understanding. For Jesus, this meant showing obedience despite his desire for independence. For Mary and Joseph, it required patience and seeking guidance during this critical phase of their son's life. This is the lesson, message, and grace we pray for in today's liturgy as we honor the Holy Family and our own families.