The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Today the Church celebrates the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. The assigned readings are Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14; Colossians 3:12-21; and Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23. The Responsorial Psalm is Psalm 128 (128:1-5).

The second reading, to which Dr. D'Ambrosio refers in his reflection (see below), is as follows:

Brothers and sisters: Put on, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if one has a grievance against another; as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do. And over all these put on love, that is, the bond of perfection. And let the peace of Christ control your hearts, the peace into which you were also called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Wives, be subordinate to your husbands, as is proper in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and avoid any bitterness toward them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, so they may not become discouraged. (Colossians 3:12-21)

In a reflection on these readings, Dr. Marcellino D'Ambrosio wrote ". . .we have the obligation to honor and respect all human beings, since they are made in the image and likeness of God.  But the degree of honor we are bound to give to others is directly proportional to the burden of responsibility that they bear for our sakes.  No one has been given more responsibility for us than our parents, and so we must give them more honor and respect than anyone."

To read Dr. D'Ambrosio's complete reflection, please visit:

Dr. Marcellino D'Ambrosio: The Feast of the Holy Family: Piety . . . in the 21st Century?

In today's "Daily Ignatian Reflection" from the Magis Institute, Mr. Timothy Kieras, S.J., writes, "This feast always provides a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the family, our families, the holiness of a family, all by meditating on The Holy Family. In a family, there are parents and children. If we picture the Holy Family, we can find there a mother - not just any mother, but The Mother: the Virgin who is also the paragon of motherhood. And there is a son, who is also The Son - the Son of God, the Son of Man. We also find there a father, but this father is different. God the Father is present, but in the transcendent, hidden way that He must adopt so as to shield our mortal and weak eyes. St. Joseph, the foster-father, is also present. For this period of the life of our Lord, St. Joseph is the instrument of God the Father's providential care. But to do this, St. Joseph must be emptied of any selfishness, any attachment to his own legitimate, but purely individual good.

"Much could be said about St. Joseph, and the way that the Holy Family can shed light on how we should live our own lives. But one thing that is particularly striking about the story that is the Gospel for today, is that there was tremendous hardship for this family. To flee the murderous Herod, they moved to Egypt. To move today is never easy, since it involves such a great change, insecurity, and patience. But to move in the ancient world was something far more perilous. Just the travel alone would be very dangerous, but upon arrival, one would be a foreigner, perhaps someone very unwelcome, perhaps unable to communicate, in a harsher and more dangerous world. The sacrifice, we can imagine, St. Joseph agreed to make when agreeing to take the care of this strange, mysterious child, was very great indeed. It is a cause of joy to picture such generosity and willingness to obey the will of God, even in such difficulties.

"Our own response to God's will is no less important. Clearly, in the divine plan, St. Joseph had a special role to play, yet we must not therefore discount our own task, our own vocation. St. Joseph had to care for the Christ child, but we are called to become united to Christ in an interior union of love, and witness to Christ in the unique circumstances of our own lives. Let us pray for the grace to respond whole-heartedly to this great call from God."

For mare information about the Magis Institute (including the Daily Ignatian Reflections), please visit:

MAGIS Center for Catholic Spirituality