Introduction to the Liturgy of the Day

Introduction to the Liturgy of the Word

Reflections

• The words Ben Sira and Saint Paul use sound too good to be possible: honor, reverence, consideration, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience. Yes, these are ideals and sometimes we fall short. Therefore, Paul writes that we must bear with one another and forgive one another, as the Lord has forgiven us again and again. Try as we might, we can become inconsiderate, impatient, or unkind to a family member. Or they may to us. Forgiveness restores our relationships, no matter who’s at fault or more to blame. Our love for each other can make forgiveness easier and more desirable, leading to reconciliation more easily. Further, having the peace of Christ in our hearts can give us the serenity we need to accept or request forgiveness without rancor or recriminations.

• By recalling the words of Hosea—“Out of Egypt I called my son” (Matthew 2:15)—Matthew connects the Holy Family’s departure from Egypt with the Israel ites’ flight from Egypt centuries before. In both cases, God leads those in danger to safety. God’s care over us is a constant, whether in Moses’ time, Jesus’s time, or our own era. This does not mean that nothing bad will ever happen. Some of the Chosen People did not survive the years in the desert. Many innocent babies died at Herod’s hands. But God is there with us always, guiding us, ensuring that our path to salvation is clear.
   
• Think of it: the Holy Family (with Jesus still in his mother’s womb) are required to leave their home in Nazareth, in Galilee, to travel to Bethlehem, in Judea, at the orders of the Roman emperor. Then, soon after Jesus was born they need to f lee to Egypt in the middle of the night due to the murderous intent of the Judean king. Joseph, Mary and their newborn baby become refugees in a foreign land, owning nothing but the clothes on their back; with no job or money; living among people with a different culture, religion, ethnicity, and language; reliant on God and their new neighbors for food, shelter, and mercy. This is not something they or anyone else would ever choose. But circumstances and political authorities left them no choice. As an adult, Jesus would tell his disciples that those who welcome the stranger will inherit the kingdom of heaven. He knows of what he speaks. When he was an infant, he and his family were the strangers in need of welcome. These are the conditions that God chose to be born into. May God be with us in this reality today.
  
  Question of the Week
  As this tumultuous year comes to an end, what can I do for those who are strang ers in a strange land?

• from Pastoral Patterns
  
  

LISTEN HERE to the Audio Recordings of the Readings of Sunday, December 28, 2025

SELECT HERE for the Readings of Sunday, December 28, 2025

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