MODELLING OUR FAMILIES TO THE FAMILY OF NAZARETH!

There is certainly no human person without a family! Every human being is born, raised and accompanied by relatives in a family.

It may not necessarily have to be a biological relations.It spans from mere relations at work, in school, in Church, secular societies etc…that has a clearly set-out purpose, goals and mission.

Sometimes one hears some people say: “Adamfo) bi sene nua”
(Which friends are more than siblings).It may be true all the time or not true at all.They say so because some friends are very supportive and make them feel loved and belonged.

However, as modernity take over our world, it is unfortunate a lot of our families are gradually breaking apart. When was the last time as a family you all enjoyed one meal from one earthenware? People do not have time to even eat with their families blaming it on tight work schedule, not to talk about holding periodic or annual family meetings together, doing morning devotions and Bible Sharing together.
How can such a family which has no time for itself grow when it has no direction, no conscious formation of the conscience and character of its members?

Most often, we quickly blame some corrupt politicians, thinking they learnt corruption overnight! It started from the family when some were selfish and always cheated the younger ones anytime they had to share the meat equally after eating.Every future in the world begins from the family. Children learn to be loving, honest, serviceable and diligent when they followed their parents and grandparents to farm and shared their meals and talents with other friends.

Sociologists say, the family is the basic unit of life and is the basis and foundation for human formation and all the other agents of human formation.

Unfortunately, these days, the social media among others seems to gradually replace the family.
Children and even elders spend most of their time on the social media and with friends more than with the family at home, all because of our jobs and neglect of full responsibility as parents.

A good number of families has no peace and happiness conducive enough to train children. Some fathers go to the extent of wanting to sleep with their own kids and maltreating them as well.A lot of innocent mothers are being abused and emotionally and physically tortured all because they want to be in a family.

Where is the place of Jesus: the Prince of Peace in the family? Where is our moral values and our respect for the human dignity of our family? Let’s not forget the family is the Domestic Church, parents impact their children with the Christian faith and learn the basic teachings of the Church and the basic prayers for life.

Some supportive fathers too have been left unsupported by their wives and left to bear all the heavy financial burdens of the family, making them sleepless and developing all kinds of heart-related illness.
It’s unfortunate how some men too are really suffering and dying quietly in their homes!.

It’s not that the family of Nazareth had no conflict. Humanly speaking, they might have had their own challenges but was one that communication was paramount, openness to dialogue and reconciliation was present. Let’s make the building of our homes our priority, making huge investment into that for God wills that we model our human families to that of Nazareth.

Mother Teresa says; “The family that prays together, lives together.

As the year gradually gets to an end, fathers,call an end of year family meeting to pray together, share your successes and failures by way of evaluation and strategizing for the upcoming year, laying down clear goals and practical methods to journey together as a family of Nazareth here on earth where peace, love, respect, joy, unity and reconciliation reigns.

We may not have a perfect family but let’s do our best and make our homes one that Christ truly reigns and perfects all our human fragility and inconsistencies.
It’s sad a lot of our families are so divided and fragmented.Let’s mend them as the Prince of Peace is in our midst.

God richly bless you all.

Happy Holy Family Day!

Rev.Fr Albert Kyei Danso
Chaplain,
Holy Family Ghanaian Catholic Community Church, Italy