Replies

The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph - Feast - Year A

Commentary of the day
Pope Francis
Encyclical « Lumen fidei / The Light of faith », §52-53 (trans. © Libreria Editrice Vaticana)

Faith and the journey of the family

Faith and the family: In Abraham’s journey towards the future city (Heb 11,10), the Letter to the Hebrews mentions the blessing which was passed on from fathers to sons (Heb 11:20-21). The first setting in which faith enlightens the human city is the family. I think first and foremost of the stable union of man and woman in marriage. This union is born of their love, as a sign and presence of God’s own love... Grounded in this love, a man and a woman can promise each other mutual love in a gesture which engages their entire lives and mirrors many features of faith. Promising love for ever is possible when we perceive a plan bigger than our own ideas and undertakings, a plan which sustains us and enables us to surrender our future entirely to the one we love. Faith also helps us to grasp in all its depth and richness the begetting of children, as a sign of the love of the Creator who entrusts us with the mystery of a new person. So it was that Sarah, by faith, became a mother, for she trusted in God’s fidelity to his promise (Heb 11:11).
In the family, faith accompanies every age of life, beginning with childhood: children learn to trust in the love of their parents. This is why it is so important that within their families parents encourage shared expressions of faith which can help children gradually to mature in their own faith. Young people in particular, who are going through a period in their lives which is so complex, rich and important for their faith, ought to feel the constant closeness and support of their families and the Church in their journey of faith.

The Work of God

Year A Matthew 2:13-15 19-23

13 And after the wise men had left, behold an angel of the Lord appeared in sleep to Joseph, saying: Arise, and take the child and his mother, and fly into Egypt: and be there until I tell you. For it will come to pass that Herod will seek the child to destroy him.
14 Joseph arose, and took the child and his mother by night, and retired into Egypt: and he was there until the death of Herod:
15 That what the Lord spoke by the prophet might be fulfilled, saying: Out of Egypt have I called my son.
19 But when Herod was dead, behold an angel of the Lord appeared in his sleep to Joseph in Egypt,
20 Saying: Arise, and take the child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel. For those who sought the life of the child are dead.
21 Joseph arose, and took the child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.
22 But hearing that Archelaus reigned in Judea in place of Herod his father, he was afraid to go near: and being warned in sleep retired into the quarters of Galilee.
23 And after that he dwelt in a city called Nazareth: so that what was said by prophets might be fulfilled: That he shall be called a Nazarene.

Inspiration of the Holy Spirit - From the Sacred Heart of Jesus I was persecuted even before I was born; but in that world of rejection of God three wise men came to pay homage to the holy newborn child and His family. They came from pagan countries but respected the Holy Scriptures and were inspired by the Holy Spirit to take part in this extraordinary event by praising God. The angels rejoiced at my birth and came down to earth singing canticles of praise and glory to the Most High, they communicated this good news to the humble shepherds who also came to pay homage to their newborn Savior.

This joy was not to be lived long by the Holy Family, an angel warned Joseph my foster father to escape to Egypt. Those who attempted to kill me could not carry out their wicked designs because of the divine intervention of the angels warning Joseph and advising him what to do.

As a man I was very happy to be part of a family. Families are very dear to me because they are sacred temples of life. I manifest the gift of life in families and I bless men and women in the Sacrament of marriage to stay together and to help one another in the struggles of daily living.

I regret deeply to see the state of families in the present times. Men and women are no longer interested in forming families to procreate children. Most of them are only attracted by the irresponsible enjoyment of sex and avoid the gift of life that I want them to accept. I feel myself once more threatened as in the times of Herod. Those men and women who reject new life in the womb are indeed rejecting me because I am Life.

He who rejects my word rejects me, he who rejects me rejects my Heavenly Father who sent me, he who rejects God is in real trouble and needs to re-think his life before it’s too late.
Life is very precious to me because it comes from me; it is a continuation of myself in another human being. Those who destroy life deserve their lives to be destroyed.

I will honor those who honor the gift of life.

Author: Joseph of Jesus and Mary