The home of Nazareth teaches us silence. Pope Saint Paul VI, in his visit to the home of the holy family said:

“Nazareth is a kind of school where we may begin to discover what Christ’s life was like and even to understand His Gospel … In the first place it teaches us silence. Oh! If only esteem for silence, a wonderful and indispensable spiritual atmosphere, could be reborn within us! Whereas we are deafened by the din, the noise and discordant voices in the frenetic, turbulent life of our time. O silence of Nazareth! Teach us to be steadfast in good thoughts, attentive to our inner life, ready to hear God’s hidden inspiration clearly and the exhortations of true teachers.”

When a family puts Christ at the center of all its activity, there is interior silence. In the silence, we hear the gentle voice of God. We become aware of God’s loving presence amid hectic schedules. We notice this even with children playing, big dinners, and various festivities.

No family is perfect. Yet in the midst of our imperfection, we are infused with the holy presence of God. We are all students of this school of divine love. Every family is called to welcome Christ, Mary, and Joseph to help navigate us on the journey to eternal life.

Let us ponder the gift of our salvation, which came to us through a family—a holy family. As we consider this mystery, we listen to While Shepherds Watched Their Flock by Night by Craig Courtney.