Fullness in Family

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today, the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, challenge us to celebrate and commit to support our family.

Fullness and Family

The Reading from the Book of Sirach recalls Responsibilities to Parents.

* [3:1–16] Besides the virtues that must characterize our conduct toward God, special duties are enjoined, such as honor and respect toward parents, with corresponding blessings (vv. 1–9). By showing such respect especially to old and infirm parents (vv. 10–13), the sins of children are pardoned (vv. 14–15). Failure to honor father and mother is blasphemy and merits a curse from God (v. 16). Cf. Ex 20:12; Eph 6:2–3. (Sirach, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 128 offers thanksgiving for a fertile spouse and abundant children.

* [Psalm 128] A statement that the ever-reliable God will bless the reverent (Ps 128:1). God’s blessing is concrete: satisfaction and prosperity, a fertile spouse and abundant children (Ps 128:2–4). The perspective is that of the adult male, ordinarily the ruler and representative of the household to the community. The last verses extend the blessing to all the people for generations to come (Ps 128:5–6). (Psalms, PSALM 128 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Reading from the Letter to the Colossians exhorts us to Renunciation of Vice and support for The Christian Family.

* [3:5–17] In lieu of false asceticism and superstitious festivals, the apostle reminds the Colossians of the moral life that is to characterize their response to God through Christ. He urges their participation in the liturgical hymns and prayers that center upon God’s plan of salvation in Christ (Col 3:16). (Colossians, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Gospel of Matthew presents the Flight of the Holy Family to Egypt and their Return from Egypt.

* [2:13–23] Biblical and nonbiblical traditions about Moses are here applied to the child Jesus, though the dominant Old Testament type is not Moses but Israel (Mt 2:15).

* [2:13] Flee to Egypt: Egypt was a traditional place of refuge for those fleeing from danger in Palestine (see 1 Kgs 11:40; Jer 26:21), but the main reason why the child is to be taken to Egypt is that he may relive the Exodus experience of Israel.

* [2:15] The fulfillment citation is taken from Hos 11:1. Israel, God’s son, was called out of Egypt at the time of the Exodus; Jesus, the Son of God, will similarly be called out of that land in a new exodus. The father-son relationship between God and the nation is set in a higher key. Here the son is not a group adopted as “son of God,” but the child who, as conceived by the holy Spirit, stands in unique relation to God. He is son of David and of Abraham, of Mary and of Joseph, but, above all, of God.

* [2:18] Jer 31:15 portrays Rachel, wife of the patriarch Jacob, weeping for her children taken into exile at the time of the Assyrian invasion of the northern kingdom (722–21 B.C.). Bethlehem was traditionally identified with Ephrath, the place near which Rachel was buried (see Gn 35:19; 48:7), and the mourning of Rachel is here applied to her lost children of a later age. Ramah: about six miles north of Jerusalem. The lamentation of Rachel is so great as to be heard at a far distance.

* [2:20] For those who sought the child’s life are dead: Moses, who had fled from Egypt because the Pharaoh sought to kill him (see Ex 2:15), was told to return there, “for all the men who sought your life are dead” (Ex 4:19).

* [2:22] With the agreement of the emperor Augustus, Archelaus received half of his father’s kingdom, including Judea, after Herod’s death. He had the title “ethnarch” (i.e., “ruler of a nation”) and reigned from 4 B.C. to A.D. 6.

* [2:23] Nazareth…he shall be called a Nazorean: the tradition of Jesus’ residence in Nazareth was firmly established, and Matthew sees it as being in accordance with the foreannounced plan of God. The town of Nazareth is not mentioned in the Old Testament, and no such prophecy can be found there. The vague expression “through the prophets” may be due to Matthew’s seeing a connection between Nazareth and certain texts in which there are words with a remote similarity to the name of that town. Some such Old Testament texts are Is 11:1 where the Davidic king of the future is called “a bud” (nēser) that shall blossom from the roots of Jesse, and Jgs 13:5, 7 where Samson, the future deliverer of Israel from the Philistines, is called one who shall be consecrated (a nāzîr) to God. (Matthew, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB, n.d.)

Jay Carney recalls his family’s difficult road trip that cannot compare to the deprivations the Holy Family faced.

This Sunday’s gospel reminds us that Jesus, Mary, and Joseph were refugees fleeing the imminent threat of political violence. The Messiah may have been a descendant of King David, but the Holy Family was not part of the ruling class. They were not among the powerful, the wealthy, or the influencers. Rather, they were poor, working-class immigrants walking by the light of faith, following their dreams, and seeking to survive in a violent, dangerous world. Like so many of our brothers and sisters on the move today.

I pray this Sunday that our church and world can, in the words of Colossians, turn a face of “compassion, kindness, humility, and gentleness” to migrants and refugees who walk in the footsteps of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. And may we strive to “put on love” with our own families, with whom we are privileged to share life’s journey. (Carney, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes The holy family flees to Egypt, by John Chrysostom, 547-407 A.D.

"But why was the Christ child sent into Egypt? The text makes this clear: he was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, 'Out of Egypt have I called my son' (Hosea 11:1). From that point onward we see that the hope of salvation would be proclaimed to the whole world. Babylon and Egypt represent the whole world. Even when they were engulfed in ungodliness, God signified that he intended to correct and amend both Babylon and Egypt. God wanted humanity to expect his bounteous gifts the world over. So he called from Babylon the wise men and sent to Egypt the holy family.

"Besides what I have said, there is another lesson also to be learned, which tends powerfully toward true self-constraint in us. We are warned from the beginning to look out for temptations and plots. And we see this even when he came in swaddling clothes. Thus you see even at his birth a tyrant raging, a flight ensuing and a departure beyond the border. For it was because of no crime that his family was exiled into the land of Egypt.

"Similarly, you yourself need not be troubled if you are suffering countless dangers. Do not expect to be celebrated or crowned promptly for your troubles. Instead you may keep in mind the long-suffering example of the mother of the Child, bearing all things nobly, knowing that such a fugitive life is consistent with the ordering of spiritual things. You are sharing the kind of labor Mary herself shared. So did the magi. They both were willing to retire secretly in the humiliating role of fugitive." (excerpt from THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 8.2) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Colossians 3:12-21 asserts it is a matter of receiving the grace and mercy God offers so that we can love in ways that we can’t do on our own. It’s a matter of giving away what we’ve received.

Practically, this means treating our family members with the heartfelt compassion and patience that we have received from Christ. It means bearing with our fellow sinners because we know how much Jesus bears with us.

What a relief this is! We don’t have to pretend to be perfect. We could never do it on our own anyway. But we do have to receive from Jesus the forgiveness that can move us to extend the same mercy to our loved ones. And that will make for a holy family!

“Heavenly Father, thank you for your mercy that moves me to show mercy to my loved ones!” (Meditation on Colossians 3:12-21, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments that Sirach speaks about respect to be shown within families without resentment and frustration even when the elders begin to have failure. We need to keep trying and view it as a vocation rather than a task. The passage from Colossians presents the virtues we need in family life including compassion, gentleness, and patience. A true family requires supernatural virtues. The wife is presented subordinate to the husband in accord with the norms in the day of the author. It is not so much who is in charge but that we live an ordered life. The Holy Family escapes Herod by going to Egypt. During his reign family and thousands had been killed. They fled to Egypt where more Jews were living than in Israel. Joseph planned to return to Judea but he is warned of an evil governor and the family goes to Nazareth. Friar Jude reminds us of the differing account of the early residences of the Holy Family in Luke and Matthew after their Exile in Egypt.

Fr. Mike Schmitz continues to interpret the symbols within Revelation. He compares the story of Our Lady of Guadalupe to the woman in Revelation. Fr. Mike provides context to the letter to the Hebrews, a letter that makes the case for Jesus, explaining who he is and the beauty of what he did for us. Today’s readings are Revelation 12-14, Hebrews 1-4, and Proverbs 31:16-18.

Father Richard Rohr writes on what “being salt and light” means for Christians and all people of good will. Christ is the light that allows people to see things in their fullness. The precise and intended effect of such a light is to see Christ everywhere else. In fact, that is his definition of a true Christian. A mature Christian sees Christ in everything and everyone else. That is a definition that will never fail us, always demand more of us, and give us no reasons to fight, exclude, or reject anyone.

If we pay attention to the text, we’ll see that John’s Gospel offers a very evolutionary notion of the Christ message. Note the active verb that is used here: “The true light that enlightens every person was coming (erxomenon) into the world” (John 1:9). In other words, we’re not talking about a one-time Big Bang in nature or a one-time incarnation in Jesus, but an ongoing, progressive movement continuing in the ever-unfolding creation. Incarnation did not just happen two thousand years ago. It has been working throughout the entire arc of time and will continue. This is expressed in the common phrase the “second coming of Christ,” which was unfortunately read as a threat (“Wait till your dad gets home!”), whereas it should more accurately be spoken of as the “forever coming of Christ,” which is anything but a threat. In fact, it is the ongoing promise of eternal resurrection. (Rohr, n.d.)

We invoke the help of the Spirit as we commit to honour our family connections with care, compassion, and commitment. 

References

Carney, J. (n.d.). Daily Reflection. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved December 28, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-december-28-2025 

Colossians, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 28, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/colossians/3?12 

Matthew, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 28, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/2?13 

Meditation on Colossians 3:12-21. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved December 28, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/2025/12/28/1460730/ 

Psalms, PSALM 128 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 28, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/128?1 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved December 28, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/that-by-which-we-see/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). An Angel of the Lord Appeared to Joseph in a Dream. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved December 28, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/ 

Sirach, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 28, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/sirach/3?2 

Betrothed and Healed

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to maintain our faith in the healing and transforming power of our relationship with Christ.

Transformation Time

The reading from the Prophet Hosea connects the Lord and Israel His Spouse.

* [2:21–22] Betroth…with: the betrothal was the legal moment before cohabitation when the dowry was paid to the father of the bride. In this remarriage the Lord gives the bride price to Israel herself “forever.” Justice…judgment: refer to equity and fairness of conduct. The next two terms, “loyalty” (hesed), the steadfast love between the covenant partners, and “compassion,” maternal love (cf. 1:6; 2:3, 25) are characteristic of Hosea. You shall know: not an abstract but a practical knowledge which means acknowledgment of God’s will and obedience to his law (4:1; 5:4; 6:3, 6). (Hosea, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 145 praises the Greatness and the Goodness of God

* [Psalm 145] A hymn in acrostic form; every verse begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Acrostic poems usually do not develop ideas but consist rather of loosely connected statements. The singer invites all to praise God (Ps 145:1–3, 21). The “works of God” make God present and invite human praise (Ps 145:4–7); they climax in a confession (Ps 145:8–9). God’s mighty acts show forth divine kingship (Ps 145:10–20), a major theme in the literature of early Judaism and in Christianity. (Psalms, PSALM 145 | USCCB, n.d.)

In the Gospel of Matthew, a girl is restored to life and a woman is healed.

* [9:18–34] In this third group of miracles, the first (Mt 9:18–26) is clearly dependent on Mark (Mk 5:21–43). Though it tells of two miracles, the cure of the woman had already been included within the story of the raising of the official’s daughter, so that the two were probably regarded as a single unit. The other miracles seem to have been derived from Mark and Q, respectively, though there Matthew’s own editing is much more evident.

* [9:18] Official: literally, “ruler.” Mark calls him “one of the synagogue officials” (Mk 5:22). My daughter has just died: Matthew heightens the Marcan “my daughter is at the point of death” (Mk 5:23).

* [9:20] Tassel: possibly “fringe.” The Mosaic law prescribed that tassels be worn on the corners of one’s garment as a reminder to keep the commandments (see Nm 15:37–39; Dt 22:12).

* [9:24] Sleeping: sleep is a biblical metaphor for death (see Ps 87:6 LXX; Dn 12:2; 1 Thes 5:10). Jesus’ statement is not a denial of the child’s real death, but an assurance that she will be roused from her sleep of death. (Matthew, CHAPTER 9 | USCCB, n.d.)

Kent Beausoleil, S.J. comments that the Lord is always with us, in and through his life with us, as well as through our sisters and brothers.  Present to us even when we feel like bruised reeds, where we experience oppression and discrimination, or when we sit imprisoned in some of life’s darkness.  Jesus the Christ is alive, in our hearts, in others, in the Spirit that lives on, healing our bruises, liberating us to new life, offering us freedom and a new way of being and behaving.

Jesus loves all of us no matter what we're going through offering love, healing, and new life just like he did in our Gospel for the official whose daughter had died and Jesus raised her back to life, or to the woman suffering from hemorrhages for 12 years healed her not just in body, but in mind and spirit as well restoring her to being one with her community. 

As we look outward seeking the face of God’s gaze this day we stand once again amazed at God’s gaze staring lovingly back at us.  Baptized into this life with God we find in that place the truth that we are indeed holy, we are indeed temples of God, we are indeed, each one of us, sacred churches of truth and love, treasured. (Beausoleil, 2024)

Don Schwager quotes “Daughter, your faith has made you well,” by John Chrysostom (347-407 AD)

"So what did Messiah do? He did not let her go unnoticed but led her into the center of attention and made her visible. He had many reasons for doing this. Some might imagine that 'he did this merely for love of glory - otherwise why would he not allow her to remain concealed?' But what are they proposing who might say this? That he should keep her silent, that he should ignore her need, and thereby pass up miracles too numerous to mention, all because he is in love with glory? What an unholy thought, inspired by the most unholy one of all."

"What then is his intention in bringing her forward? First, Jesus puts an end to her fear. He does not want her to remain trapped in dread. He gives no cause for her conscience to be harmed, as if she had stolen the gift. Second, he corrects her assumption that she has no right to be seen. Third, he makes her faith an exhibit to all. He encourages the others to emulate her faith. Fourth, his subduing the fountains of her hemorrhage was another sign of his knowledge of all things. And finally, do you remember the ruler of the synagogue? He was at the point of despair, of utter ruin. Jesus is indirectly admonishing him by what he says to the woman." (excerpt from the THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 31.2) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Hosea 2:16-18, 21-22 comments that today’s reading is an invitation for us to grapple with the reality that we are all, in some way or other, like Gomer and the people she represents. We all too often struggle with letting other “loves” come between us and our love and worship of the Lord. Our hearts are so easily divided! But God wants our whole heart, one that mirrors his own faithfulness to us.

It’s sometimes difficult to conceive how the Lord’s love for each one of us could be so steadfast and passionate. We might even find ourselves doubting it at times. If that happens, remember the marriage of Hosea and Gomer. God pursues us even when we have turned away from him. He seeks out the lost; he is faithful to the unfaithful. May we always have the grace and humility to return to him!

“Lord, I praise you for your never-ending love for me!” (Meditation on Hosea 2:16-18, 21-22, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler notes the analogy in Hosea between Gomer, Hosea’s unfaithful wife and Israel being unfaithful to God and worshipping “Baal”. In Matthew’s version of the healing described in Mark, Jesus knows who touched him as he declares the woman saved through both physical and spiritual healing. Friar Jude reminds us the young girl is reanimated and will eventually die again. 

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, names transformation as the fruit of an authentic spiritual path. The transformed mind lets us see how we process reality. It allows us to step back from our own personal processor so we can be more honest about what is really happening.

Authentic God experience always leads toward service, toward the depths, the margins, toward people suffering or considered outsiders. Little by little we allow our politics, economics, classism, sexism, racism, homophobia, and all superiority games to lose their former rationale. Our motivation foundationally changes from security, status, and control to generosity, humility, and cooperation. [1] (Rohr, n.d.)

We are grateful for the spiritual and physical healing that we experience in our relationship with Christ.

References

Beausoleil, K. (2024, July 8). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved July 8, 2024, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/070824.html 

Hosea, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved July 8, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/hosea/2?16 

Matthew, CHAPTER 9 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved July 8, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/9?18 

Meditation on Hosea 2:16-18, 21-22. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved July 8, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/07/08/1018768/ 

Psalms, PSALM 145 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved July 8, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/145?2 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. Authentic Experience and Transformation. Retrieved July 8, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/authentic-experience-and-transformation/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Take Heart, Your Faith Has Made You Well. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved July 8, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=jul8