The Holy Family: Obedience, Protection, and Trust in God

Today we celebrate the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. As we do so, our Gospel invites us to consider Joseph’s protection of Jesus in the face of danger. Just as in the announcement of Jesus’ birth, an angel appears to Joseph in a dream, warning him of Herod’s plan to harm the child. Joseph responds with obedience, taking Jesus and Mary to Egypt and returning only after receiving word in another dream that it was safe to do so.

This feast is part of the Christmas season, so today’s Gospel should be viewed within the broader context of Jesus’ birth. The reading comes from the Gospel of Matthew and follows the story of the visit of the Magi. In Matthew’s account, Joseph is the primary figure in the infancy narrative. One of Matthew’s key themes is Jesus as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah, and the Holy Family’s flight to Egypt recalls the story of Moses in the Book of Exodus.

It should also be noted that today’s reading omits the verses describing Herod’s order to massacre the infant boys in and around Bethlehem, an event we commemorate on the Feast of the Holy Innocents on December 28. These events remind us of the difficult reality surrounding Jesus’ birth. While the visit of the Magi will be celebrated at Epiphany, our Christmas season is sobered by the recognition that not all received Christ’s birth with joy or obedience. Herod’s jealousy and malice stand in stark contrast to Joseph’s faithful obedience to the angel. The Holy Family’s escape to Egypt, and the massacre from which Jesus is spared, remind us that God’s salvation often unfolds through struggle, sacrifice, and trust.