1812301. 30th DECEMBER The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph.

30th DECEMBER
The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Luke 2:41-52

After three days they found him in the temple... And when they saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been looking for you anxiously." And he said to them, "How is it that you sought me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?" And they did not understand the saying which he spoke to them. And he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart.

Jesus planned our Redemption from all eternity. To bring about the forgiveness of our sins and make us children of God, He charted a course of action. Jesus wanted to come into the world without being noticed, without a house, without money, without a cradle, without possessions... but not without a family, a Holy Family. He didn't want us to be left without that Holy Family either and now Mary is our Mother, Joseph our father, Jesus our Brother and we... the privileged members of the Family of Nazareth.

Today's Gospel tells us about a painful experience for Mary and Joseph: the loss of Jesus. Families exist so that joys and sorrows can be shared, so that my joy can also be others' joy and my sufferings would never only be mine. Today the family is the main target of the enemy, because he knows, as St John Paul II said that "as the family goes, so goes the nation and so goes the whole world in which we live." So we have a battle to fight.

How can I change the world? 

What can I do for my community, my city, my country, for peace in the world? 

The answer is simple: love your family; love each of the members of your family, as they are, taking the bitter with the sweet. Family love is powerful. Family unity is a hammer blow on the devil's head! An army of families in which its members love each other, who share joys and sorrows, who pray together, who place God at the centre and holiness as the common goal. That army can change the world. Families are under attack but in this violent battle that we fight, family is also the weapon! Let us pray today for all the families of the world, especially for those that are suffering most. 

Mary, Queen of the Family, St Joseph, my father and lord, I entrust to you, all the families of the world so that you may protect them, defend them, comfort them, fill them with supernatural love and bless them with unity.

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