The Feast of the Holy Family, Jesus, Mary and Joseph | Friday 30 December 2022

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Today is Friday the 30th of December, the feast of the Holy Family, Jesus, Mary and Joseph.

One Hope Project sings a version of ‘Silent Night’. As you listen on this feast day, bring to mind the Holy Family now…how do you picture them?

Silent night, holy night

All is calm, all is bright

Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child

Holy infant so tender and mild

Sleep in heavenly peace

Sleep in heavenly peace

Silent night, holy night

Shepherds quake at the sight

Glories stream from Heaven afar

Heavenly hosts sing hallelujah

Christ the Saviour is born

Christ the Saviour is born

Silent night, holy night!

Son of God love's pure light.

Radiant beams from Thy holy face

With the dawn of redeeming grace,

Jesus Lord, at Thy birth

Jesus Lord, at Thy birth

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Matthew.

Matthew 2:13-15,19-23

Now after the wise men had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, ‘Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.’ Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfil what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, ‘Out of Egypt I have called my son.’

When Herod died, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, ‘Get up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the child’s life are dead.’ Then Joseph got up, 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 there. And after being warned in a dream, he went away to the district of Galilee. There he made his home in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, ‘He will be called a Nazorean.’

In the early days of parenthood - a new reality begins to emerge. Perhaps this is something you have experienced for yourself?

There is a realisation that even if you have planned with military precision how this child will fit into your life - you have already been thwarted. For these first years, Mary and Joseph did not have even this – they have responded to the signs of angels and prophecies of strangers. Were the gifts and worship of the Magi meant to strengthen them? Will they be enough to sustain them in the journey ahead? What are your feelings about these events?

Have you noticed that Joseph never speaks in any of the gospels? He listens. He acts. The word ‘obey’ comes from the Latin ‘obedire’, which means ‘to listen’. The family respond with trust in the Lord.

As you listen to the reading again, imagine your response. You may know persons with family responsibility who never know ‘what’s round the corner’.

In a time of prayer, take time to listen to the Lord who watches over you and guides your ways.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.