Feast of the Holy Family – Bulletin Greeting – December 28, 2025

Bulletin Greeting – December 28, 2025

Feast of the Holy Family

As we continue to celebrate the joy of Christmas, the Church invites us today to turn our gaze toward the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. In the quiet simplicity of their home in Nazareth, we encounter not an idealized or effortless family life, but a family that learned to trust God amid uncertainty, sacrifice, and love. The Feast of the Holy Family reminds us that holiness is most often lived out in ordinary places — around the table, in daily work, and in faithful love for one another.

The first reading from the Book of Sirach speaks directly to family life, calling children to honor their parents and reminding us that such love and respect are pleasing to God. These words are not merely social advice; they reveal that family relationships are sacred. Through patience, forgiveness, and mutual care, the family becomes a place where God’s mercy is first learned and practiced.

St. Paul, in his Letter to the Colossians, deepens this vision. He exhorts families to “put on heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” These virtues are not abstract ideals but daily choices. Paul’s words remind us that Christian family life is rooted in Christ Himself. When Christ is at the center of the home, love becomes more than emotion — it becomes a commitment shaped by sacrifice and grace.

The Gospel from Matthew presents the Holy Family not in peaceful stillness, but on the move. Joseph is warned in a dream, and without hesitation he rises in the night, takes Mary and the child, and flees to Egypt. Here we see a family marked by obedience and trust. Joseph’s quiet faith protects the Savior of the world, while Mary remains steadfast in her trust in God’s plan. Even amid danger and displacement, the Holy Family remains united, anchored in God’s will.

On this feast, we are invited to reflect on our own families — whether by blood, marriage, or the bonds we form within the Church. No family is perfect, yet every family is called to holiness. May the Holy Family inspire us to place Christ at the center of our homes, to grow in patience and forgiveness, and to trust God even when the path ahead is unclear. Through their intercession, may our families become places of faith, love, and peace.