Feast of the Holy Family
Gospel: Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23
Holy Family of Nazareth：outstanding model for Christian family life

Today, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Holy Family. The Gospel of Matthew recounts that after the Magi left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. He was instructed to take the child Jesus and His mother Mary to Egypt to escape Herod, and later, after Herod’s death, to return to Israel and settle in Nazareth.
In this narrative, we witness the obedience of Saint Joseph. Upon receiving divine instruction in a dream, he did not hesitate but acted promptly, fleeing to Egypt with the child and His mother. When in Egypt he received another instruction in a dream, he immediately returned to the land of Israel. Throughout these events, he never spoke a word, setting a profound example of silent obedience for us.

Today, we often face various challenges and try to solve them by ourselves, refusing God’s intervention. Let us, therefore, imitate Saint Joseph in generously submitting to God’s holy will.

We also contemplate the silence of the Blessed Virgin Mary. She never uttered a word but consistently cooperated with Joseph to protect the infant Jesus, thereby setting an example for us.

Today, when the world challenges our faith, we may be tempted to compromise or even abandon it for worldly benefits or prestige. Let us then imitate the Blessed Virgin Mary in preserving our faith with courage and determination.

Furthermore, we behold the vulnerability of Christ. Our Lord Jesus Christ did not come into this world as a powerful king, but as a helpless infant in need of protection, revealing to us a God who desires to be intimately involved with humanity. He is not the stern God of the Pharisees, nor one concerned primarily with sacrifices as sometimes perceived. Rather, He is a gentle God, familiar with and compassionate toward our weaknesses.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ! The Holy Family of Nazareth, characterized by meekness and gentleness, stands as the perfect model for Christian family life. Let us, therefore, strive to emulate them and work towards building a more fraternal human family.

©Totus Tuus 2025
Cum Approbatione Ecclesiastica 2025