Angelus: the Holy Family, model of availability to God's will

Last updated: Thu 31 Mar 2022 PM

On this day of the Holy Family, Pope Francis returned to the "total availability to God's will" of the family of Nazareth. Before reciting the prayer of the Angelus in St. Peter's Square on this last Sunday of 2019, the Supreme Pontiff emphasized Mary's "docility" to the Holy Spirit and Joseph's "obedience".

The family of Nazareth is placed in the sphere of holiness, which is both "God's gift" and "free and responsible adherence" to his plan. Pope Francis insisted on Sunday, 29 December, on the full availability to God of the Holy Family, which is a model among models.

Mary, the handmaid of the Lord

"How can we not be surprised at Mary's docility to the action of the Holy Spirit who asks her to become the Mother of the Messiah," asks Francis. In fact, Mary understood that God was calling her to a particular mission. So she did not hesitate to proclaim herself "his servant". Thus, "Jesus will exalt her greatness not so much for her role as a mother, but for her obedience to God," explained the Bishop of Rome. If ever Mary does not fully understand all these events which involve her, then "she meditates in silence, reflects and adores the divine initiative". "Her presence at the foot of the Cross consecrates this total availability," the Pope said.

Joseph's obedience

Joseph, for his part, "does not speak, but acts in obedience". At the delicate moment when he wants to secretly send Mary away because she is pregnant, his choice aims at not obstructing God's plan and at leaving Mary free to adhere to the divine will.

This Sunday's Gospel passage (cf. Mt 2:13-15.19-23) recalls three times this obedience of the just Joseph, referring to the flight to Egypt and the return to the land of Israel. Under the guidance of God, represented by the angel, Joseph also leads his family away from the threats of King Herod.

The Family, God's Plan

In this way, the Pope continued, the Holy Family is in solidarity with all the families of the world who are forced into exile, with all those who are forced to abandon their own land because of repression, violence and war. Jesus, the third person of the Family, is the very will of the Father, his continual response, a clear "yes".

"The Family of Nazareth represents a response in chorus to the Father's will: the three components of this unique family help each other to discover and realize God's plan.

And the Successor of Peter to call for the Holy Family to be a model for our families, so that parents and children may support each other in adhering to the Gospel, the foundation of the holiness of the family. "We must resume communication in the family", urged Francis, referring to those young people who today remain with their eyes glued to their screens during family meals.

"Let us entrust to Mary "Queen of the Family" all the families of the world, especially those which suffer or are in distress, and invoke her maternal protection over them," he concluded.

Source: Vatican News