The Holy Family

by Robert Hamerton-Kelly

"I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people.’"

-- Luke 2:10

What brings you great joy? The answer to that question changes as we go through life. When we are young a run on the beach, jumping in puddles, shouting with our friends brings great joy, or staying out late in places full of loud music and louder people. Then comes a time when seeing our children doing such things gives us joy, and not a little concern, and pride as they go to and through college and start their careers and families; or learning new facts, seeing new places, enjoying friends, whether we have children or not. Then comes the time when a quiet rest and a quiet life are good news, and peace of mind and heart a great joy. For myself ideas have always been a great joy, and beloved people, especially those with whom I can discuss ideas, and the good folk who take the time to write books that share the fruit of their work – they give me joy.

What gives us joy changes over the years to be sure, but let me suggest that the part of joy that changes is the surface, and that deeper down joy remains the same whatever our age or stage. We might describe it as being in a primary relationship with the source of life, a sense of self-worth, of success, of having the love and approval of others, of a mind at peace, of contentment and security. Those are the gifts of a primary relationship with God.  From childhood to old age the things that give us great joy are all anchored in the primary relationship and flow from there.

Our faith promises great joy to all of us who believe in Jesus Christ and worship him regularly and try to live lives of love and generosity, because that is the way to a primary relationship with God. Our faith is very pragmatic; it says, if you do this you will find great joy, we guarantee it. This is the good news; there really is a way to meet the deep need that keeps looking beyond all the satisfactions we offer it, and yearning for more. Material things, financial security, not even the privilege of a loving family around us meets that need. Financial security merely means we can now get on to the important things, and that can be a terrible threat, so we keep on piling up more and more security, because we do not want to face the fact that it cannot meet the need, we do not wish to face God. So don’t feel guilty if the model family held up before us by the media, the advertising industry and the church leaves you cold. I am not saying that the good news of great joy is your family, no matter how wonderful your relationships might be. We are indeed concerned here with a family, but it is not your family, it is God’s family; it is the Holy Family.

The good news of the angel that there is great joy available, points us to Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Everything we do here this evening intends to point to them and away from ourselves. If we can follow the direction of our worship, away from ourselves and towards the Christ, we shall experience the grace of God, which is the absolute in joy and the ultimate good news.

The angel said, “Behold I bring you good news of great joy which shall come to all the people.” And the shepherds said, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” They are the smartest shepherds in all of human history, celebrated in story and song. Why? Because they believed the good news, that today in Bethlehem is born to you a savior which is Christ the Lord, and they got themselves on over there! Surely we can be as smart as those shepherds! Try it!

“…and they went with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they saw it they made known the saying  which had been told them concerning this child; and all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen as it had been told them (Luke 2:16-20).” There’s the guarantee; go there and it will be as you have been told!

Amen.