Reflection for Friday December 30, Feast of The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph: Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23

Gospel: Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23

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.

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Reflection:

What are your plans this coming 2023? Is the welfare of your family first in that plan? 

We read in the gospel how Saint Joseph’s flawlessly executed his plan to protect the welfare of his family. When Joseph was told in his dream by an angel of God to bring his family to Egypt he did so without any question. Why? Because Joseph knew that it was for the welfare of his family.   

After the death of King Herod, Joseph dreamt of an angel telling him to bring Mary and the baby Jesus to Israel and he did so again for the welfare of his family. Eventually Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus settled in the town of Nazareth to fulfill the prophecy of the prophets.  

It was always family first for Joseph, everything else comes a far second. Many fathers and even mothers treat their family as second priority next only to their friends. But majority of our friends come and go very few friends stay with us until the end of our lives. It’s always our family who will be with us no matter what.      

Like Saint Joseph who prioritized his family we must also put first the welfare of our family this coming 2023 and beyond. Is your family always your priority? – Marino J. Dasmarinas