Reflection on The Holy Family, by Lucas Southerton

What immediately strikes me about this image is the radiant joy of the newly expanded family. Mary and Joseph experience the awe and delight of their togetherness with the Holy Infant, overwhelming the sting of having been travelers in need denied room at the inn.

Artist Lucas Southerton adorns this beautiful piece with texts from the Advent and Christmas season liturgies, writing: “I want the reader to hear not only the Christmas story, but the entire story of salvation history.”

And, indeed, as we anticipate the joy of Jesus’ birth in our contemplation of this image, we are also reminded by Jesus’ pierced sacred heart of his great sacrifice. It radiates out to all of us: to the stranger, the sinner, the immigrant, the poor. May we, too, transform our Advent wonder and Christmas joy into service of our community.