Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

12/28/2025 (Sunday) Today’s Gospel reading: Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23

13 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.”
14 Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt.
15 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.
19 When Herod had died, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared in a dream
to Joseph in Egypt
20 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.”
21 He rose, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel.
22 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.
23 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.

12/28/2025 (Sunday) Today’s Gospel reflection / homily / sermon: Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23

Family: God’s First Shelter in a Fragile World

The events surrounding the early years of Jesus reveal a powerful truth about family. Before miracles were performed or crowds gathered, God chose a family as the first place of protection, growth, and love. In a moment of danger and uncertainty, it was not wealth, status, or power that ensured safety; it was the courage, obedience, and unity of a family that trusted God.

Joseph, Mary, and the child Jesus faced sudden upheaval. Their peaceful life was interrupted by threat and fear, forcing them to leave everything familiar behind. Yet in this disruption, we see how family becomes a refuge. Joseph listens, decides, and acts, not for himself alone, but for those entrusted to him. Mary walks beside him in trust. Together, they protect life. Their story reminds us that family is not defined by comfort, but by commitment.

In today’s world, families still face unexpected challenges. Parents migrate to new places to give their children a better future. Families adjust after sudden illness, job loss, or crisis. Children grow up amid uncertainty and change. Like the Holy Family, many are forced to leave what is familiar, not because they want to, but because love demands sacrifice. These moments test family bonds but they can also strengthen them.

This Gospel passage teaches us that God often works through ordinary family decisions. There are no dramatic speeches, only quiet obedience. Joseph does not fully understand the future, yet he moves forward in trust. This speaks to parents today who make daily choices, often unseen and uncelebrated, to protect, guide, and nurture their children. Every late night, every difficult decision, every sacrifice made out of love becomes holy ground.

The return from exile is equally meaningful. After danger has passed, the family begins again in a different place. They do not return to what once was, but start anew where safety and growth are possible. Many families today know this reality: life does not always go back to how it was. Dreams change. Plans shift. Yet God’s presence is not limited to one place. A home is built not by walls, but by love, faith, and shared purpose.

The child Jesus grows not in isolation, but within the rhythm of family life. He learns, listens, and matures in a household shaped by trust in God. This reminds us that family is the first school of values. It is where children learn compassion, resilience, prayer, and forgiveness. What parents model at home like patience, integrity, and kindness, shapes hearts more deeply than words ever could.

Matthew’s account reminds us that God values family deeply. In times of danger, God protects family. In times of transition, God guides family. In times of uncertainty, God stays with family. The Holy Family’s journey assures us that no displacement, no fear, and no hardship is beyond God’s care.

Today, we are invited to strengthen our families, not by seeking perfection, but by choosing faithfulness. To listen to one another. To protect what is vulnerable. To walk together through fear and hope alike. Because when family is rooted in love and trust, it becomes a living sign that God still dwells among us, guiding, protecting, and bringing life even in the most fragile moments.

May we cherish our families as God’s precious gift, and may our homes become places where faith is lived, love is shared, and hope is always nurtured.

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