An Ecumenical Ministry in the Parish of St Patrick's Catholic Church In San Diego USA

米国サンディエゴの聖パトリックカトリック教会教区におけるエキュメニカル宣教

Thursday, December 19, 2019

The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph with Pastor Carlos


The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Today the Church celebrates the Holy Family. Mary and Joseph had little idea of the challenges that lay ahead of them when they accepted God’s call to welcome as parents God incarnate. We know how difficult the birth was, not finding a proper place when the time for Mary came to give birth.

Finding a place for Mary to give birth was not the only difficult task they faced. Soon after the birth of Jesus, as we hear in today’s Gospel, Joseph is told by an angel in a dream, “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” (Mt 2:13). And so, “Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt” (Mt 2:14). Listening to the angel, Joseph leads Jesus and Mary on their first great journey together as a family.

Later on they would journey to Jerusalem each year. Meanwhile, the glory of God lay hidden in the vulnerable child Jesus. Mary and Joseph moved forward guided sometimes by angels, and most often by deep faith and their common sense. They knew that our loving God had loved them first, and somehow was now present to them in a child, needy and vulnerable like all newborns.

As we celebrate the holy family today, I am grateful to the Knights of Columbus for promoting the practice of having each family consecrate themselves to the Holy Family. We have many families in the parish. Let us continue to reach out and welcome any new families you see at Mass. As new families continue to move to our neighborhood, we have a wonderful opportunity to welcome them so they experience the love of God through the Sacraments, and through the genuine love of neighbor.

God bless, Fr. Carlos, OSA

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