Every Sunday, Bishop Edward Malesic writes a Scripture reflection for the faithful. Follow the bishop on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Click HERE for the readings.
On this first Sunday after Christmas, our attention is directed again to the Holy Family. We find that Jesus was born into a family in distress. Soon after the birth of Jesus, the Holy Family was forced to become refugees looking for a safe haven away from Herod and in a foreign land. Egypt became their place of temporary shelter. I wonder if they would have found a home with us?
In the Gospel today, we learn that the family of Jesus, the Holy Family, was a family in need. Pope Francis said, “Jesus wanted to belong to a family who experienced these hardships, so that no one would feel excluded from the loving closeness of God.” Jesus is especially close to any family that is in distress.
We should realize that Jesus wants to be in the center of family life, just as he was in the center of the life of the Holy Family. In my time as a pastor, I have experienced some beautiful examples of families who have Christ at the center, always present in their daily prayers and activities.
Our scriptures remind us that God provided for the Holy Family and will do the same for us. Baptism connects us to the Holy Family, as Jesus called us his brothers and sisters and gave his mother to us. Just as we came from natural parents, we were born-again into God’s Church — His family — at baptism. God will provide for us, though not always as we desire, but always as we need. We are his children, after all.
Finally, God reveals that the Holy Family moved together, not apart from each other. They supported and cared for each other, facing their problems together.
Today, we entrust our families and the family of the Church to the loving embrace of God. We ask God to help us put Jesus in the center of our lives. We ask God to provide for us — we know he will.
Jesus, Mary and Joseph pray for us and for those we love.
Merry Christmas and have a blessed week everyone.