The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph 2025
This Feast-day is all about Nazareth!
An integral part of any family is its home. Nazareth was the Home of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph.
It was at Nazareth that Mary received the message from Gabriel that she was to be the mother of Jesus. It was at Nazareth that it was revealed to Joseph in a dream that he was to be the father of Jesus. It was in another dream that Joseph was guided by an angel to flee from the cruel Herod and then in turn through the revelation in another dream that he was told to return to Nazareth.
Mary was the mother of the home, the Mother of Nazareth. At Nazareth she grew up, learned of her call to be Mother of God. From Nazareth she would journey into the hill country to minister to those in need. To Nazareth she would return after the trauma of losing her son in Jerusalem.
Pope Paul Vl described the home of Nazareth as the school where we begin to understand the life of Jesus, the school of the Gospel. “The first lesson we learn here is to look, to listen, to meditate and penetrate the meaning – at once so deep and so mysterious – of this very simple, very beautiful manifestation of the Son of God”.
Here we learn the lessons of Silence. Silence which teaches us recollection which brings us in touch with the presence of God. Here we learn the lessons of family and true family values, which are the basis of upright and holy society. Here we learn the lessons of Work ethic, cooperating with the wonder of all of God’s creation.
Today we pray that we may all learn of and receive the gift of Silence.
We pray that all those who work may be blessed in their work and be appreciated by those for whom they work. We pray for families everywhere and in a special way for families who are in exile because of war and persecution and poverty.
Mary, Mother of Jesus and our Mother, Pray for us. Joseph, protector and guide of the Church, watch over us. Jesus, our Lord and brother be close to us.