As we continue to celebrate Christmas, we celebrate today the Feast of the Holy Family.

Jesus, Mary and Joseph were the Holy Family. Although the word "family" can have different meanings for all of us, nevertheless, the tragedy of September 11 has taught us to value our family.

The prophet in the first reading tells us to hold our family in great esteem. The Gospel tells us that family life is not easy by relating the moving of the Holy Family to Egypt so that Jesus would not be harmed. St. Paul tells us in the second reading that we need to live family life by being thankful and forgiving.

Being part of a family means that we need other people to be who we are. Being a member of the family of the church through baptism means that we need one another to reach God.

We need to apply family living principles to our living in the Church. We need to hold everyone in esteem. We need to understand that living in the Church is never easy. We need to live Church life in a spirit of being thankful and forgiving.