Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint 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.

Family comes first

1) Joseph. In him we see the figure of the husband, of that person who dreams of taking care of the family, his wife and children. Joseph is the figure of the man who is in charge of protecting the family and following the course set out by God. Today, as a father of a family, ask St. Joseph to help you to discover the pace to walk with your family, where to go and what your goal as a family is. Pray for your work and ask him how to take care of those who are in your care. May St. Joseph watch over your life.

2) Mary. She is the figure of the mother par excellence, that mother who is in the heart and soul of each one in the family. Mary represents the mother who, just by looking at her children or husband, knows if they are well or not. In Mary we see that mother who often has to become an octopus to reach out to everyone and everything. We see that wife and mother who, at times, has to mediate in certain situations and at other times, has to be firm because she sees that everything is weakening. I’m also thinking of those mothers and wives who strive day after day for the dignity of their families.

3) Jesus. I am thinking of those children who have to shoulder their family. I’m thinking of those children who take care of their parents from heaven because, though we may find it hard and illogical, there are children who part before their parents. That pain is unbearable, because years go by, and though we search for a way to understand, only faith will help us through. And now, those children who are in heaven are ‘Jesus’ who accompany their parents and siblings. Today, be that son or daughter who can also give life to your parents with a simple smile, a kind word or big hug, or if they have already parted, a prayer and with a flower in their memory.

God bless you in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. And always remember Heaven is our goal.