Vocation Meditation -
Feast of the Holy Family, 2009

After the wise men had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.”

Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, ‘Out of Egypt I have called my son.’

In this account we can perceive two decisive moments for the Holy Family: first, in Bethlehem, when King Herod wants to kill the Child because he sees him as a rival to the throne, and in Egypt, when the danger has passed, the Holy Family can return to Nazareth from their exile. First of all, we observe ‘God's fatherly care’- the divine solicitude of the Father for the Incarnate Son - and, almost as a reflection of it, Joseph's human concern. Beside him, we perceive Mary's silent, anxious presence. In her heart she is meditating on God's concern and Joseph's prompt obedience. We call this solicitude of God - Divine Providence - while human concern could be defined as human providence. It is in virtue of this providence that those who are parents endeavour to avoid every kind of evil and to provide their children and family with every possible good.

Let us look to the Holy Family of Nazareth as an example for all Christian and human families. It radiates genuine love and charity, not only creating an eloquent example for all families, but also offering the guarantee that such love can be achieved in every family unit. (John Paul II, Feast of the Holy Family 1996)

May the mystery of God’s love, made incarnate in the Child Jesus and reflected in the home of Mary and Joseph in Nazareth, dwell in your hearts and in your families throughout the coming year. (Benedict XVI, Feast of Holy Family 2007)

Vocation Challenge:
“Joseph got up, took the Child and His Mother...”
How does obedience to the signs of God in my life shape my vocation?

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Dear God,
You chose Joseph to take leadership during and after the birth of Jesus. You chose Mary so that through her the Saviour would be born. Because of their ‘Yes’, Jesus found a home in their hearts and in their household in Nazareth. Like them, keep me obedient, humble and courageous in seeking Your Will amidst the joys and sorrows of every day. Amen.

For the full Gospel reading for this Sunday, visit the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops site.

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