Today we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family: Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. At first glance, it may seem that this family is set on a pedestal so high that it bears little resemblance to our own. After all, this is the Son of God, conceived by the Holy Spirit, raised by a woman without sin and a man described in the Gospels simply as “a just man.” What could their family life possibly have in common with ours? And yet, when we look more closely, what we encounter is not an idealised or sheltered household, but a family that knew uncertainty, disruption, and fear – very much like families today. In the Gospel, we find Mary and Joseph searching anxiously for Jesus. Any parent can immediately recognise the emotion: that sinking feeling of panic when a child is lost, even briefly. For three days they search, worried and distressed, until they finally find him in the Temple. This is not a scene of serene perfection; it is a moment of tension, misunderstanding, and even gentle reproach. Mary speaks with the voice of every parent: “Your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety.” The Holy Family, then, was not spared the ordinary trials of family life. They had to learn to communicate, to listen, and to trust one another. Mary and Joseph do not fully understand Jesus’ response, but they do something very important: they keep going. They return home together. They allow the mystery to remain, and they continue the journey as a family. St Luke tells us that Jesus “went down with them and was obedient to them.” This simple line is profound. The Son of God chose to grow in wisdom and maturity within the shelter of a human family. He learned through daily life – through work, prayer, meals, and relationships. God did not save the world from a distance; he entered fully into family life, with all its beauty and fragility. This feast, therefore, is not about presenting an impossible ideal. It is about reminding us that holiness is forged in ordinary places: in kitchens and workshops, in moments of forgiveness and patience, in showing up for one another even when things are difficult. Many families today carry heavy burdens. There are families marked by illness, bereavement, separation, financial strain, or unspoken tensions. There are parents doing their best and wondering if it is enough. There are children and young people trying to find their way in a confusing world. The Holy Family speaks quietly but powerfully into all of this. They tell us that God is present not only when family life is harmonious, but also when it is strained and uncertain. Joseph teaches us faithfulness and quiet courage. Mary teaches us how to hold what we do not understand and to trust God’s work over time. And Jesus teaches us that love begins at home, in obedience, respect, and growth. As we honour the Holy Family today, we pray not for perfect families, but for faithful ones: families that keep choosing love, forgiveness, and perseverance. We pray for homes where people are listened to, where mistakes are met with mercy, and where God is given room to work. May the Holy Family of Nazareth bless our own families – whatever shape they take – and remind us that God is very much at home in the ordinary, messy, and sacred reality of family life.