A reading from the holy Gospel according to Saint Matthew (2:13–15, 19–23)
After the wise men had left, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said,
“Get up, take the child and his mother with you, and flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you, for Herod intends to search for the child and do away with him.”
So Joseph got up, took the child and his mother with him by night, and left for Egypt, where he stayed until Herod was dead. This was to fulfil what the Lord had spoken through the prophet: Out of Egypt I have called my son.
After Herod’s death, the angel of the Lord again appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said,
“Get up, take the child and his mother with you and go back to the land of Israel, for those who wanted to kill the child are dead.”
So Joseph got up, took the child and his mother with him, and went back to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus had succeeded his father Herod as ruler of Judaea, he was afraid to go there; and being warned in a dream, he withdrew to the region of Galilee and settled in a town called Nazareth. In this way the words spoken through the prophets were to be fulfilled: He will be called a Nazarene.
Trust in God
Today, as we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family, it is beautiful to see the communion that existed between Joseph and Mary, and between them and God. Faced with the signs that reached them through various mediations, both acted swiftly and in unity, following God’s plan with total trust.
Our marriage is called, one day, to be like this—to grow into an ever more perfect communion. What prevents us from reaching it? Our sin. Every time we allow ourselves to be led by our passions and attachments; every time I choose myself instead of God’s plan in the concrete realities of daily life, we move a little further apart—until everything breaks down.
But if we live believing that everything forms part of God’s plan, that each day is full of details and mediations to help us grow and move forward—opportunities such as choosing what my spouse likes instead of what I like, giving up going out for drinks with friends or for coffee with friends in order to be with my family, welcoming my spouse when he is tired or in a bad mood, cooking the meal, clearing the table… All these mediations, pleasant or unpleasant, unite me to Jesus, who comes to give Himself for us. Then our marriage soars towards Him, and we live a little piece of heaven on earth.
John Charles: Bea, I have to admit that I really don’t feel like going out for lunch with the group. Every day I feel more distant from them.
Bea: I know, Charles. I don’t really feel like talking about clothes and outfits either, but I think it’s good that we go. The Lord wants us to be in the world without belonging to the world.
John Charles: That’s true. We have to bring His light and His warmth to cold hearts, and our friends really need us to show them what the Lord has done in us.
Bea: Exactly. And besides, last time Adela was very interested in what had changed us so much and why we now seemed so well.
John Charles: Now that you mention it, more than one person said the same to me.
Bea: And what did you tell them?
John Charles: That the Lord was winning over our hearts and our marriage, and that I now see my wife as the help God gave me—and that helps me to love you more.
Bea: You’re so lovely! That’s why we have to go and be light in the midst of that darkness, even if we don’t feel like it.
John Charles: Yes. I don’t think Mary felt much like going to Egypt either, and she did it because she knew it was God’s will. He asks us to go out for lunch and we complain. So—no more complaints! But first, let’s go to the Eucharist, so that we go with hearts full of the Lord.
Mother,
Cover our families with your mantle, so that they may be joyful and radiant families, reflecting the light of the Lord.
Blessed and praised be the Lord for ever!
