December 28, 2025
Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23
St. Joseph is often depicted as an elderly man who saved Mary from Herod’s soldiers. In fact, Joseph was undoubtedly a young man who had been betrothed to Mary but when he found that Mary was pregnant, he proposed that he would divorce her quietly. However, one night, Joseph had a vivid dream in which an angel told him that Herod’s men were being sent to kill the babies two years old and younger for fear that one of them would grow up and take over his reign. The angel told him he was to leave immediately and go to Egypt. Joseph quickly told Mary that they had to leave Israel that very night and go to Egypt. They were not to return to Israel until after Herod died. Not knowing the language, not knowing the cities, and not knowing exactly where to go, Joseph put his trust in God and brought the family to Egypt, following travelers to keep them on the right road and escaping the soldiers. Joseph was eager to care for Mary and Jesus. They stayed in Egypt for several years until Herod died. Then Joseph had another dream and this one was to tell Joseph to bring Mary and Jesus back to Israel.
Sometimes it is good to read the stories in the gospel and try to put ourselves into the story. How would we participate in a story such as the one Joseph and Mary faced right after Jesus was born? Think of what Joseph went through after telling Mary that he would arrange a quiet divorce. Mary was silent regarding the fact that she knew her child was her Lord and God. She had the faith to know that God would take care of her and she waited faithfully for the Lord. Joseph responded to God’s messages about going to Egypt and then going back to Israel now that Herod had died. He still had some concerns about Archelaus, Herod’s son, so he chose to find a home for them in Nazareth, a small, insignificant village. During the years of Jesus’ youth, Joseph cared for Mary and Jesus as a loving father. While we do not have much information regarding the years of Jesus’ youth, we do know that Joseph died when Jesus was a young man. It is believed that Joseph died with Jesus and Mary at his side.
Often we take St. Joseph for granted. He came to know that Mary is the Mother of God. He offered himself to God and recognized Mary’s part in the salvation of souls. He cared for Jesus as a loving father. While we know very little of the life of Jesus as He was growing into manhood, we do know that Jesus and Mary relied on Joseph for his support and love.. Perhaps we could take some time to reflect on Joseph’s fatherhood. It is not hard to imagine what it must have been like for him to be present during the years of Jesus’ growing into manhood. And yet, we know that Joseph was very close to God. Joseph was open to God as he responded to God’s message to leave Israel and then later, to return to Israel when he decided to go to Nazareth.
On the feast of the Holy Family, we have the chance to reflect on the life of Jesus as a youth with Joseph at his side. Joseph knows what it is like to be a father as he mentored Jesus throughout his youth. Let us take some time to imagine a visit with Mary, Joseph, and Jesus. Sometimes we forget that Jesus went through the stages of growth as expected of growing boys, Yet, we know that Jesus is God who took on human nature for our sake. Jesus grew, as Joseph instructed him as a young boy, how to be a carpenter. Jesus grew from a boy to a man. His years with Jesus and Mary were years of support for Jesus as he grew into manhood. Let us pray today to St. Joseph for families we know or families who need Joseph’s help and support. He will respond to those in need and help them to find peace.
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.
The Gospel of the Lord
Meet Sister Roseanne Murphy, SNDdeN
