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Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - "Do you know why the Family of Nazareth is a model? Because it is a family that converses, that listens, that talks".
This is what Pope Francis said this morning at St. Peter's Square for the Angelus on the feast of the Holy Family. Commenting on today's Gospel passage, which tells of when Jesus, at the age of twelve, at the end of the annual pilgrimage to Jerusalem, went missing from Mary and Joseph, who found Him afterwards in the Temple conversing with the teachers, the Pontiff noted how this episode appears as "an almost commonplace experience of a family that alternates between calm moments and dramatic ones. It appears to be the story of a family crisis, a crisis of our times, of a difficult teenager and two parents who are unable to understand him".
But then "why is the Family of Nazareth a model?" the Bishop of Rome asked. "Because it is a family that converses, that listens, that talks. Dialogue is an important element for a family! A family that does not communicate cannot be a happy family".
When Mary and Joseph find Jesus - the Gospel of Luke tells us - Mary asks him: "Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety". And Jesus replies, "Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?"
"It is good when a mother does not start with a rebuke, but with a question", the Pope underlined in his brief catechesis, before the recitation of the Angelus. "Mary", the Pontiff continued, "does not accuse and does not judge, but tries to understand how to accept this Son who is so different by listening". Despite this, the Gospel says that Mary and Joseph "did not understand what He said to them", showing, the Pope explained, "that in the family it is more important to listen than to understand. Listening is giving importance to the other, recognizing his or her right to exist and think autonomously. Children need this. Think carefully, parents: listen to your children, who need this!".
"Mealtimes are a special moment for dialogue in the family", the Pope continued. "It is good to stay together around the table and to speak. This can solve many problems, and above all unite the generations: children who speak with their parents, grandchildren who speak with their grandparents… Never remain closed in on yourself or, even worse, with your head turned to your mobile phone. This will not do, never, never this. Talk, listen to each other, this is the dialogue that is good for you and that makes you grow! What we can learn from the Holy Family today is mutual listening", the Pontiff concluded.
After the blessing, the Bishop of Rome reaffirmed: " The family is the cell of society, it is a precious treasure to support and protect!". Then the appeal for peace: Let us also pray for the families who are suffering because of wars: in tormented Ukraine, Palestine, Israel, Myanmar, Sudan, North Kivu: let us pray for all these families caught up in war".
Finally, his thoughts turned to "the many families in South Korea who are mourning today following the dramatic air accident. I join in prayer for the survivors and for the departed". (F.B.) (Agenzia Fides, 29/12/2024)
