Sunday, December 30, 2007

Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

And after they were departed, behold an angel of the Lord appeared in sleep to Joseph, saying: Arise, and take the child and his mother, and fly into Egypt: and be there until I shall tell thee. For it will come to pass that Herod will seek the child to destroy him. Who arose, and took the child and his mother by night, and retired into Egypt: and he was there until the death of Herod: That it might be fulfilled which the Lord spoke by the prophet, saying: Out of Egypt have I called my son.

But when Herod was dead, behold an angel of the Lord appeared in sleep to Joseph in Egypt, Saying: Arise, and take the child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel. For they are dead that sought the life of the child. Who arose, and took the child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. But hearing that Archelaus reigned in Judea in the room of Herod his father, he was afraid to go thither: and being warned in sleep retired into the quarters of Galilee. And coming he dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was said by prophets: That he shall be called a Nazarene.
Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23 (Douay-Rheims Bible)

Prayer

Dear Father you are a divine inspiration to Joseph to speak to him through dreams. Joseph showed that he was a faithful servant and trusted in your will. You chose him to safeguard your Son and His mother Mary. Out of this we have glimpsed what a true family is like. Where the head of the family protects those in their care under divine guidance. It all comes together beautifully doesn't it dear Father when we do your will. How often in our own lives we have disregarded an angels prompting or the Holy Spirits in the direction of our own lives and the lives of our family. You are the strength that holds a family together in times of trouble, in times of loss and in times of sorrow. The children in families look to the father figure for guidance and love, for comfort and for hugs. You show us love dear Father in how you cared for the well being of your Son even though He died for us, you gave us much much more in the way of a fatherly love. It is up to the fathers today to show their sons your love for them to nurture that love in their own lives. I pray that as we end this year and with the new one on the horizon that families will come to respect each other and show their love to each other but most of all that they come to you for all their needs. May they hug each other each day and bring healing to the wounded families in the world. Amen

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