Gospel Reflection Dec 28 – Fr. T. A. Carter
Sunday, December 28
Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph
Matthew 2: 13-15, 19-23
Gospel:
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.
Gospel Reflection:
In this weekend’s Gospel, the Holy Family isn’t presented as idealized or sheltered from hardship. Instead, we encounter them in the midst of danger, displacement, and fear. Warned in a dream, Joseph rises in the night and leads Mary and the child Jesus into Egypt, becoming refugees in a foreign land. This flight reminds us that from the very beginning, the Son of God entered fully into the vulnerability of human family life, sharing in its uncertainties and struggles as well as its joys and triumphs.
At the center of this story stands Saint Joseph, a man of action who speaks no words in the Gospels, yet listens attentively to the voice of God. Each time he’s warned, he responds immediately, placing the safety of his family above his own comfort or plans. Joseph’s obedience reflects the wisdom praised in the first reading: honoring one’s responsibilities with humility, reverence, and care. St. Joseph’s fatherhood is lived not through power, but through faithful service and quiet courage.
The second reading from Colossians deepens this vision by describing the virtues that allow family life to flourish: compassion, patience, forgiveness, and above all, love. These are not abstract ideals but daily choices, especially when family life is strained by misunderstanding, fatigue, or fear. The Holy Family lived these virtues in exile, trusting that God’s peace would guide them even when the path ahead was unclear.
On this Feast of the Holy Family, we’re invited to look honestly at our own families—imperfect, fragile, and deeply loved by God. When our homes become places where Christ’s word is heard, forgiveness is practiced, and God’s love binds us together, they too become holy ground. Like St. Joseph, may we listen for God’s voice; like the Blessed Mother, may we trust in God’s promises; and like our Lord Jesus, may we grow in wisdom, faith, and love within the families God has given us. Amen.
Father T. A. Carter