PROTECTING THE FAMILY - 12/30/22 (Feast of The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph)

Matthew 2:13–15

Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there till I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” And he rose and took the child and his mother by night, and departed to Egypt,  and remained there until the death of Herod.

For the full readings, click here: 

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/123022.cfm

Blessed Feast of The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph! Their family is what we can definitely call as the perfect family. Jesus Christ is God the Son, and He is our Savior who died on the cross for our salvation. The Blessed Virgin Mary is the holiest person created by God, and she's chosen to be the instrument of the Incarnation of Jesus and His birth. St. Joseph is the second holiest creature after the Blessed Virgin Mary, and he's tasked to be the head of the Holy Family. Even though our own family structures may be full of imperfections, the Holy Family is still a model for us in our path towards perfection, our path towards growing closer to God. In the gospel reading, St. Joseph was told by an angel in a dream to take his family and go to Egypt in order to protect the Holy Family from Herod who desired to kill Jesus. This also symbolizes the mission that God gives to the family, especially to the parents. The parents have the duty to protect their children from wrong beliefs that will endanger the souls of their family because such beliefs are contrary to the teachings of Jesus and the Catholic Church. This is why it's important that children may be guided in the Catholic faith starting from an early age. And, when parents do this, it should be done with love. Parents should fill their children with love in order to prepare them to accept the love and mercy of God for them and be persevering in living out the Catholic faith as they grow up. This will protect our family from temptations of the devil which seeks to destroy this holy institution through false ideologies. 

When we also reflect on the Holy Family, we can appreciate how God uses them in His plan of salvation for us. As we know, Jesus offers Himself on the cross for us to have eternal life. The Blessed Virgin Mary submitted herself completely to God's will, and she brought forth the salvation of the world by bringing to us Jesus Christ. St. Joseph was given an extraordinary role of "saving" our Savior when He was just a child as St. Joseph, with the Holy Family, flee from Herod, which was instrumental for Jesus to grow and be prepared for His ministry. In the same way, we are all called by God to participate in the conversion and salvation of sinners, especially our own family members. If we see that some of our family members are no longer walking in the way of Christ, let's not lose hope. Rather, let's persevere in praying for their conversion. And, may we also choose to bear the faults of one another by being patient with them. Our gentleness can help others to see that our love for them is genuine, and this is also an example of a sacrifice which can be helpful for their conversion because our sacrifices are united to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. As we prepare for New Year, let's ponder on how we can love our family members and bring one another closer to our Lord. May we imitate the virtues of the Holy Family for us to have the hope of joy and peace in the eternal home of God. 

Amen +

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, be with us always until the hour of our death. Amen. +

May the Lord + bless us, protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life. Amen. +  

Reflection by: Dominic

The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph—Feast:

https://mycatholic.life/saints/saints-of-the-liturgical-year/the-holy-family-of-jesus-mary-and-joseph--feast/

Examination of Conscience and Guide to Sacrament of Confession:

https://mycatholic.life/catholic-prayers/examination-of-conscience/

Ultimate Catholic Parents Guide:

https://youtube.com/watch?v=Ls6IcexZAls

Summary and Defense of Catholic Teachings:

https://www.catholic.com/tract/pillar-of-fire-pillar-of-truth