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The Christophers: The Trials and Joys of the Holy Family


Fr. Ed Dougherty, M.M.,

The Christophers’ Board of Directors


The story of the Nativity reminds us that God can bring good out of trials. For the Holy Family, the events surrounding the birth of Jesus proved to be enormously difficult. Nevertheless, these challenges ultimately brought about great joy—and this combination of trials and joy came to define their existence. They also define the existence of all who choose to follow in Christ’s footsteps.

One can only imagine the mix of emotions that must have beset Mary and Joseph when they sheltered in a stable waiting for Mary to give birth and then fled Herod’s Massacre of the Innocents – anticipation, worry, joy, fear, panic, relief. These emotions and the trials they endured made Mary and Joseph resourceful, a character trait they certainly imparted to Jesus, contributing to the fortitude He demonstrated in the most challenging moments of His life.

For the Holy Family, the joy of the Nativity and their relief in finding safety in Egypt infused their struggle with a sense of purpose by highlighting the peaceful way of life they sought together. We see this hunger for peace in all Christ taught to His disciples. In their joys and trials, the Holy Family learned to rely most fervently on one another, beginning with Jesus in the manger relying upon Mary and Joseph for protection at His most vulnerable.

Saint Josemaria Escriva said, “Every time Christmas comes around, I love to look at representations of the child Jesus. Statues and pictures that show a God who lowered Himself remind me that God is calling us. The Almighty wants us to know that He is defenseless, and He needs men’s help. From the cradle at Bethlehem, Christ tells you and me that He needs us. He urges us to live a Christian life to the full – a life of self-sacrifice, work, and joy.”

The vulnerability God the Father allowed His Divine Son to experience as an infant foreshadowed the vulnerability Jesus ultimately felt called to submit to in laying His life down for us all. It was that vulnerability amid the tumult of His birth that taught the Holy Family their most important lesson, which was the necessity of relying on God and one another to survive the trials of life.

This is an important reason why the Nativity brings such peace to our hearts. Because it shows us this way of mercy, where we rely on one another in a loving relationship with God to lead us to safety and happiness. This is the profound message of Christmas: that God has sent us a Savior willing to be vulnerable enough to join us in everything from trial to joy.

It is this astounding gift that gives rise to Christmas joy. G.K. Chesterton once gave an insightful explanation of the miracle at the heart of Christmas joy when he wrote, “Christmas is built upon a beautiful and intentional paradox; that the birth of the homeless should be celebrated in every home.”

The trials surrounding the Nativity bring this beautiful paradox into focus, and the contemplation of this paradox can open our hearts—even the hardest of hearts—because it reminds each one of us that Christ came personally for us. At our weakest and most vulnerable moments, Christ is closest to us, wanting to join us and lift our hearts to God. So, let us take joy in the Nativity even amid our trials because God has sent us a Savior who meets us where we are and leads us to salvation. 

 

For free copies of the Christopher News Note FINDING YOUR WAY BACK TO GOD, write: The Christophers, 264 West 40th Street, Room 603, New York, NY 10018; or e-mail: mail@christophers.org

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