"At the core of the family is faith"
Flight Into Egypt, Merson, 1879 - public domain
The Faith of Joseph
Through the seasons of Advent and Christmas we focus much on Jesus and Mary. It was through Mary's fiat that Jesus came into the world, fulfilling God's plan to save us from the ravages of sin and death. But the feast of the Holy Family serves to remind us that Mary and Jesus were, with Joseph, part of a family.
Consider the faith of Joseph. In a dream he is told by an angel to rise and take the child and his mother into Egypt, to escape Herod's wrath. We are told in the Gospel according to Matthew that Joseph rose “while it was still night,” and took his family into Egypt. The faith of Joseph is so strong that he does not question the vision, he simply trusts in God. For her part, Mary is so secure in the fact that God has given her Joseph as her husband and protector, that she does not question Joseph's insistence that they leave immediately.
The Gospels are silent at this point until Herod's death allows the Holy Family to return. And so the flight into Egypt and the time the Holy Family spends there, has become the realm of the artists and storytellers.
In 1879 French academic artist, Luc Olivier Merson, completed a remarkable painting, “Rest on the Flight into Egypt.” It depicts Joseph, exhausted, sleeping on the ground before a small campfire. Nearby, Mary and Jesus sleep comfortably in the arms of an Egyptian sphinx. The only light in the scene comes from the Holy Child himself.
It is a picture of serene calmness. Mary and Joseph are fleeing for their lives but at this moment they are at peace. Mary rests secure in the knowledge that Joseph has positioned himself to protect her and the child from any threat, and Joseph has seen to the relative safety of his wife and son before lighting a fire and allowing himself to rest. Mary and Joseph's faith in each other is as evident and strong as is their faith in God.
Faith begins with family. It is in the family that we learn about God and we learn about ourselves. In the family we learn about our gifts and talents, who we are called to be, and how to use our gifts responsibly.
Family virtues are different from other kinds of virtues and the Church teaches that there is something special to learn from the “Holy Family.” Purity, patience, faith, noble suffering, hope and obedience are all there in the life of the family of Our Lord.
A Parable of Shortsightedness
Clovis Chappell was a minister in Tennessee in the first part of the 20th century. He used to tell this story. There were two paddle-boats that left Memphis at the same time to head down river to New Orleans. They travelled side by side most of the way but soon the crew of each boat began to taunt each other about their slowness of pace.
As the jibes grew more intense it was perhaps inevitable that the result would be a race to New Orleans. It was not long before one of the boats began to fall behind due to lack of fuel. These were steam powered boats that relied on burning fuel to heat the boiler which provided the steam. The boat had enough fuel for the trip but not enough for the race. One enterprising sailor took some of the ship's cargo and tossed it into the furnace. As the flames roared to life the rest of the crew, seeing how easily the cargo burned joined in and the soon the boat overtook its competitor and won the race. In the process they had destroyed all the cargo they were hired to transport.
In the 1920s biologists JBS Haldane and Julian Huxley made predictions about the future of reproductive technology. Huxley's brother, Aldous, wrote a satirical novel about the predictions, Brave New World, published in 1932. In the book, couples order a baby as you might order dinner in a restaurant, from eye and hair color to the likelihood of the child being born with various behavioral and mental disorders.
We live in an age where reality is approaching the realm of science fiction. Couples are closer than ever to “designer babies,” allowing them to choose genetic traits such as hair and eye color. Along with this we can expect the practice of aborting babies who do not meet the couples expectations. The state of Tennessee recently banned abortions due to gender or race, how long before the we are faced with abortions due to hair or eye color?
Children are a precious cargo entrusted to us by God. Our job is to have faith that our children are given to us for a reason and it is up to us to see them safely to their destination. But when the plan takes priority over people, people often suffer. There is no telling the incalculable loss to society over aborted children, what they may have achieved or contributed to the general welfare. The same can be said for those who see children as an inconvenience to their lifestyles or careers. How much cargo do we sacrifice in order to win a race with no competitors?
At the core of the family is faith, from the faith of Abraham and Sarah to the faith of Joseph and Mary. God entered into their lives with a miraculous gift. All children are a gift from God. And as we are all someone’s children, we are all gifts from God and ultimately, we belong to Him. God acts upon our families and we must remain open to Him and ready to do His will, in faith.
Pax Vobiscum
The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph
The Lion of Judah © Lawrence Klimecki
Pontifex University is an online university offering a Master’s Degree in Sacred Arts. For more information visit the website at www.pontifex.university
Lawrence Klimecki, MSA, is a deacon in the Diocese of Sacramento. He is a public speaker, writer, and artist, reflecting on the intersection of art and faith and the spiritual “hero’s journey” that is part of every person’s life. He maintains a blog at www.DeaconLawrence.org and can be reached at Lawrence@deaconlawrence.com
Lawrence draws on ancient Christian tradition to create new contemporary visions of sacred art. For more information on original art, prints and commissions, Please visit www.DeaconLawrence.org
Purchase fine art prints of Deacon Lawrence’s work here.
