It is 31st December 2017, the last day of the year on which we all need to thank God for having brought us this far with all its strength and weakness; successes and failures; blessings and burdens; learnings and teachings; friends and unwanted people; faith and love. It is a day of self-introspection and willingness to learn from where we could have done better. It is day of looking back with gratitude. It is the day for our personal and intentional recollection of our lives to re-look at the hardest, surprised, thankful, disappointing, over-stretched, learning moments of our lives. The challenges we faced, the failures we encountered, the opportunities we lost, the hyper-critical and self-defeating behaviours we still hold on, the filthy and the petty politics that are spiritually quoted and played for our self-glory, the lethargy we allowed to set in our spiritual lives all need to be brought in front of the presence of God for forgiveness. We celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Family is the supreme gift of God to all humanity. God’s roadmap for happiness, peace and joy. Families that are founded in faith, faithfulness, obedienc to the Word of God, love of God, consistent connection through prayer and spiritual lives are so blessed daily. Families that are unfaithful, irregular and disrespectful in communication, willful and arrogantly selfish and sinful behaviours displayed kill our beautiful families which is the design of God for humanity. Satan is splitting our families with all kinds of addictions, secretive and selective display of affection and love. Our families are so vulnerable and fragile today than ever before exposed to media, cyber war and social wrangling. Since they are so exposed in every direction, we need to protect the families with God. When a family refuses to offer the space that belongs to God by its choices and life style, then the invasion and encroachment of the evil is inevitable. The readings are from Genesis 15:1-6, 21:1-3; the second reading is from Hebrews 11:8, 11-12, 17-19; and the Gospel from Luke 2:22-40. The first reading invites us to put our trust in God even when our reasons have no supporting evidence to believe what God proposes in our lives. God not only rewards us for trusting but also multiplies the blessings for the family that we belong as God did to Abram. The second reading offers us the story of Abraham and Sarah who responded the call of God even through his willingness to sacrifice Isaac. The responsorial Psalm assures, “The Lord remembers his covenant forever.” (Ps.105:7,8). The Gospel describes the presentation of Jesus as the exemplar of Mary and Joseph’s faith in God. The lessons that are so profoundly offered by the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph help us to contemplate God in every moment of the family as we have the communion of love, simplicity, sacred space without being violated or intimidated by word or deed. The hidden austerity and pain of the family also need to be enfolded with the sacredness of the family. May God bless all our families and protect all those who are constantly abused by the members of families. May the fabric of our families be woven in the love of God always.