The Holy Family: a model of faith
Listening the Spirit
Come, Holy Spirit,
light of those who seek and strength of those who trust.
As You guided the Holy Family on uncertain paths,
teach us to listen in silence,
to recognize Your voice in moments of fear and doubt,
and to welcome God’s will within the reality of our lives.
Like Saint Joseph, give us hearts open to Your guidance,
the courage to rise and go,
and the love to care faithfully for those entrusted to us. Amen.
Listening the Word: Mt 2,13-15.19-23
When the magi had departed, behold,
the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said,
“Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt,
and stay there until I tell you.
Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him.”
Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night
and departed for Egypt.
He stayed there until the death of Herod,
that what the Lord had said through the prophet might be fulfilled,
Out of Egypt I called my son.
When Herod had died, behold,
the angel of the Lord appeared in a dream
to Joseph in Egypt and said,
“Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel,
for those who sought the child’s life are dead.”
He rose, took the child and his mother,
and went to the land of Israel.
But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea
in place of his father Herod,
he was afraid to go back there.
And because he had been warned in a dream,
he departed for the region of Galilee.
He went and dwelt in a town called Nazareth,
so that what had been spoken through the prophets
might be fulfilled,
He shall be called a Nazorean.
Reflection
We are still in the Christmas season, a time that reminds us that Christmas is a time for love. After celebrating the birth of our Savior, we now celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family—Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.
We Christians are invited to look at the example of the Holy Family, knowing that despite the problems they faced, they kept a strong faith in God throughout their earthly lives. Mary accepted the call to be the mother of the Son of God, Jesus Christ. Joseph faithfully protected the Virgin Mary and helped raise Jesus. Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. He was always obedient to his earthly parents.
Dear brothers and sisters, let us have strong faith so that God’s will may be fulfilled in our lives. Sometimes we may be tempted to think that God is not with us when we face difficulties. But no—God is always with us. Whenever we are facing difficulties that seem unbearable, let us allow the love of God to illuminate ourselves and our families. If the Holy Family, poor and simple as they were, could overcome the challenges of life, our families too can overcome any challenges by putting our faith in God who is with us.
The first reading from the book of Sirach reminds us that whoever honors and reveres their parents “atones for sins, is gladdened by children, and will live a long life.” Let us try our best to honor, revere, and care for our parents. Though they are not perfect, they have given us so much. We sons and daughters, let us follow the example of Jesus who, being God, humbled himself and obeyed Mary and Joseph. Let us ask Jesus to give us these qualities: compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and the ability to forgive one another, so that we may better revere and honor our parents, following the example of Jesus.
To conclude, let us entrust our families to the protection and guidance of the Holy Family—Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. Amen
Reflection Questions
- How does the faith, obedience, and trust of the Holy Family challenge the way I live my faith within my own family, especially in times of difficulty?
- In what concrete ways can I grow in honoring, respecting, and caring for my parents or family members, following the example of Jesus in the Holy Family?
