Sunday Reflections
Holy Family Year A
You have a role to play in your family
✠ A reading from the Holy Gospel according Matthew 2:13-15,19-23
After the wise men had left, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, ‘Get up, take the child and his mother with you, and escape into Egypt, and stay there until I tell you, because Herod intends to search for the child and do away with him.’ So Joseph got up and, taking the child and his mother with him, left that night for Egypt, where he stayed until Herod was dead. This was to fulfil what the Lord had spoken through the prophet:
I called my son out of Egypt.
After Herod’s death, the angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, ‘Get up, take the child and his mother with you and go back to the land of Israel, for those who wanted to kill the child are dead.’ So Joseph got up and, taking the child and his mother with him, went back to the land of Israel. But when he learnt that Archelaus had succeeded his father Herod as ruler of Judaea, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he left for the region of Galilee There, he settled in a town called Nazareth. In this way, the words spoken through the prophets were to be fulfilled:
‘He will be called a Nazarene.’
1. The family has its basic composants as a father, mother, and child. Each component has a basic role to play for the wellbeing of the whole. The three reading of today focused on the symbiotic relationship that should exist in a family. They highlight the role that each person must play to keep the family moving. The first reading (Ecclesiasticus 3:2-6,12-14) gave a number of practical advice to children regarding their duties towards their parents. They should do their best not to annoy their parents. They should love, honour, and respect them even when in their old age, their senses begin to weaken. This act is seen as a source of blessing that will eventually return to the children when they, in turn, become parents. It is seen as a source of longevity.
2. The gospel focuses on the role of fathers in the family using the experiences of Joseph as the father of the Holy Family. The father is presented as the protector and provider, one who takes the risk of travelling at night to a distant foreign land to save his family from the wicked and powerful Herod. He not only takes risks, he also leads the family in prayerful listening to God and intelligently interpreting and applying the messages he received through his prayer for the good of his family.
3. The second reading (Col 3:12-21) calls on wives to be obedient to their husbands, seeing them as their head, just as Christ is the head of the church. Husbands were equally reminded of their duty to love their wives. Parents were conjointly advised not to drive their children to frustration. While children were asked to honour their parents. The advice is clear and simple and leaves nobody aside.
4. Today’s readings are intentionally chosen to portray the family as a collaborative entity where nobody is lord, nobody is slave, and nobody is only to receive without giving. All must give and receive. All must contribute and make sacrifices. Our contemporary society is filled with families where fathers or mothers burn out their lives without support from other members of the family who live with entitlement mentality:”it is his duty to give and it is my right to receive. ”
5. For a family to live in harmony, everyone must play the role that is his or hers. Always have the disposition to take your own part of sacrifice and risk for the wellbeing of your family. Have Joseph as your model. We are celebrating Christmas, a season of joy and sharing. Have you played your role to your parents or your children? Have you shared love? Have you cared for them?
©Vita, 28/12/25.
Peace and prosperity upon your family
