THE FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH
28th December 2025
Lectionary Readings: Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14; Psalm 128:1-2, 3, 4-5.; Colossians 3:12-21
or 3:12-17; Mt 2:13-15, 19-23
Theme: Ideal model for all Christian families : “The Holy Family”
The Sagrada Familia a modern liturgical celebration (instituted by Pope Leo XIII in 1893, though devotion began earlier in the 17th century, universalized 1921) presenting them as a model for Christian families and beautifully embodying virtues such as love, faith, obedience, and humility within the fabric of everyday family life. It acknowledges the challenges families face, such as poverty, fear, and displacement; reminding us that God’s plan unfolds through our families and that true holiness is found in the rhythm of daily life. This message inspires us to embrace family unity and mutual support while keeping God at the center through prayer and service, transforming our homes into reflections of divine love.
The Feast of the Holy Family resonates with Cf. Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14 CSB p928, emphasizing the core family virtues of honoring parents, mutual respect, and the blessings of obedience. These principles lay the foundation for the ideal Christian family that Jesus exemplified, showing us that genuine family life mirrors God’s love through compassion, forgiveness, and prioritizing faith, even amidst life’s challenges. Sirach offers timeless wisdom on honoring parents, while the Gospel illustrates Jesus’ commitment to this practice, making family a sacred space for spiritual growth.
We look at Psalm 128 CSB p822 which beautifully highlights the Holy Family as a model for a blessed, God-fearing family, capturing the essence of the verse: “Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, who walks in his ways!” This Psalm illustrates the ideal of a fruitful household, where children are likened to “olive plants” gathered around the table. The Holy Family, despite facing significant challenges such as their flight to Egypt, demonstrated unwavering faith, mutual support, and a deep commitment to God’s will. They transformed their home into a domestic church, filled with God’s blessings through love and dedication.
In our second reading, Cf. Colossians 3:12-21 p1674, we find a complementary message that encourages the establishment of holy and loving Christian households. Paul’s teachings offer a practical guide to embodying virtues like compassion, kindness, humility, and forgiveness, qualities that were exemplified by Jesus, Mary, and Joseph in their sacred family life. This calling encourages us to elevate our ordinary homes into “domestic churches” centered on Christ’s love. While Colossians provides actionable steps for practicing love, forgiveness, and gentleness, the Holy Family serves as a profound example of how to live these virtues within our family relationships whether as wives, husbands, or children. This inspires us to cultivate environments of support and holiness in our own families.
For the Feast of the Holy Family, Cf. Matthew 2:13-15 and 19-23 CSB p1338 serves as foundational texts, narrating the Holy Family’s flight to Egypt and return to Nazareth. This Gospel passage illustrates their roles as models of faith, obedience, and mutual protection, highlighting Joseph’s decisive leadership, Mary’s quiet trust, and Jesus’s divine identity. As they fulfill Hebrew (Old) Testament prophecy and establish their humble beginnings in Galilee, they remind us that every family faces challenges.
Divine guidance and virtues are essential to overcoming adversity, making this scripture a perfect basis for the feast. Through angels, God leads Joseph to flee to Egypt, exemplifying His devotion to the family and fulfilling Cf. Hosea 11:1 CSB p1256, “Out of Egypt I called my son.” St. Joseph, as the Protector and Model, embodies immediate obedience to God’s directives fleeing, returning, and settling in Nazareth as a righteous, courageous, and trusting father who inspires all fathers.
The flight to Egypt and settlement in Nazareth affirm Jesus as the true Messiah, connecting His journey to Israel’s history. The Holy Family, despite their trials, radiates virtue; their experience as refugees serves as a poignant reminder that even holy families encounter hardships, teaching us that love, acceptance, and perseverance are the cornerstones of family life. The shift from Bethlehem to Nazareth transforms Jesus’s beginnings from the city of David to a life among Gentiles, aligning perfectly with His universal mission. This feast beautifully portrays the Holy Family’s early life, emphasizing their vibrant and active relationship and shared mission under God’s guidance. It offers powerful examples of obedience, protection, and trust for all families to embrace, affirming that family life, when lived in faith, is a profound expression of holiness. This passage reveals that holiness is not about avoiding suffering but responding to it with unwavering faith, making it relatable and inspiring for families today.
The Feast of the Holy Family is a wonderful celebration that highlights how we can grow in holiness through the examples of Mary, Joseph, and Jesus. These themes have their roots in the insights of the early Church Fathers, who taught us how the Incarnation brings sanctity to family life and helps us develop spiritually, just like the Holy Family did while living together in Nazareth.
While the feast itself is a relatively recent addition to the calendar, it beautifully reflects the wisdom of the early Church. It portrays Mary as a model of modesty, inspiring us in everyday life, much like St. Ambrose described her. Joseph is seen as a true father figure, echoing the teachings of St. Bernard of Clairvaux. Together, they connect the traditions of the past with our experiences today.
At its core, the Feast of the Holy Family invites us to embrace the rich tradition that sees the Incarnation as key to having a holy family life. Mary, Joseph, and Jesus embody Christian values that resonate with families throughout the ages. The feast also ties into the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church (CSDC), which shows how they are the ultimate example of the “domestic church.” This highlights the family as the essential foundation where we learn virtues like love, support, prayer, and service, mirroring God’s own community and encouraging us to shine as lights of faith and solidarity in our communities.
Furthermore, the feast emphasizes the Church’s social teachings, grounded in real family experiences. It reminds us of the important role parents play (as mentioned in CCC 2205) and our mission as families to share the Gospel. Plus, it connects beautifully to the Catechism of the Catholic Church by presenting Jesus, Mary, and Joseph as the ideal “domestic church” model. Through their example, we learn that family life can lead us to holiness through love, obedience, and service, reflecting God’s community. The teachings remind us how to cultivate everyday virtues like patience, communication, and forgiveness, even when times are tough, as highlighted in CCC 1657, CCC 357, and other related teachings on the family as the first school of faith.
The feast inspires all families to emulate Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, fostering homes filled with faith, love, and God’s grace while recognizing our shared human experiences as a pathway to holiness. These comforting words guide us on our faith journeys, reminding us that we are part of a larger story driven by divine love and wisdom.
Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! May this Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph serve as a source of inspiration, emphasizing love, faith, obedience, and the sanctity of family life as a “domestic church.” The Holy Family exemplifies how holiness can be realized in the everyday moments and challenges of life.
For Reflection and Discussion:
1. How can we see God’s presence and find moments of grace and goodness in the everyday, simple times of our family life? What are some ways our parish community can create a warm environment that supports healthy families and makes everyone feel like they belong, especially those from non-traditional family setups?
2. In the face of life’s challenges and uncertainties, how ready are you to embrace God’s guidance, just as St. Joseph did when an angel visited him in his dreams? Is your family a sanctuary for admitting faults and offering forgiveness, or does it sometimes feel like a courtroom filled with arguments and blame?
Bibliography: Donald Senior, ET Al; The Catholic Study Bible 3rd Edition 2010; The New American Bible, Saint Joseph Edition 2011;The Catholic Prayer Bible 1993; Brown R.E; An Introduction to the New Testament 1997 Gospel to Matthew p171-224;Hubertus R. Drobner “THE FATHERS OF THE CHURCH” St. Ambrose p3; St. Bernard of Clairvaux p3; Cathechism of the Catholic Church; Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church 2012;https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/homilies/1978/documents/hf_jp-ii
This week’s Sunday Liturgy Commentary was prepared by
Dunhill Malunar Timkang, Jerusalem – Israel, Bat Kol Secretary
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