This week's theme: Joseph flees to Egypt with his family

From the desk of Ms. Kathleen Cook, Director of Religious Education
Praying that God walks each day with you, and that you and your family have a new year rich with the blessings of love, joy, hope, good health, and laughter!

Love and Blessings,
              Mrs. Cindy Perea and Ms. Kathleen Cook
 
Theme: Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23 In a dream, God tells Joseph to flee to Egypt to protect Jesus from King Herod.

Summary: Today’s gospel presents us with Joseph having an experience, yet again, of God coming to him in a dream. You will recall that it was in a dream that God told Joseph to take Mary into his home and now he is instructed to protect Mary and Jesus by fleeing into Egypt. Joseph remains open to all of God’s commands even though they come in a dream-like fashion. Each person in a family has a dream for their life and for their family. Clearly the primary figure in this passage is Joseph and although he does not say a word, his actions speak loudly of his trust in God.

Scripture: When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up," he said, "take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him." Matthew 2:13 
 
After Jesus was born, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem and asked where they could find the child who had been born to be the king of the Jews. "We have seen his star in the sky and want to worship him" they said. When Herod heard about this, he told the men that when they found the child, they should come back and tell him where the child was so that he could worship him too. The truth is, Herod didn't really want to worship Jesus, he wanted to kill him. Why? Perhaps his heart was too small! Herod was so selfish that he was afraid Jesus would become more popular than he was and perhaps even take over his kingdom.

Well, Herod's plan to kill Jesus didn't work. After the wise men found Jesus and gave him gifts, an angel told them about Herod's plan and they went back home without telling Herod where they had found Jesus. An angel also appeared to Joseph and warned him of Herod's plan and told him to take Mary and the baby Jesus to Egypt where they would be safe.

Dear Father, we thank you for the joy that Jesus brings. Help us to share that joy with everyone we meet. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.  www.sermons4kids.com
Key Words in Today’s Readings: www.livingwithchrist.us

First Reading: Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14
Like the Holy Family of Mary, Joseph, and Jesus, our family is a gift from God. We take care of this gift and treasure it when we share our lives, listen to one another, and pray together.

Second Reading: Colossians 3:12-21
Someone who is holy is set apart for God’s service. All of us Christians are chosen by God and made holy at the time of our Baptism, when we are anointed with oil and united with Jesus.

Giving thanks to God is a task for all Christians. Thankfulness is a virtue, best expressed when we show compassion for others and try to be of assistance to those who are suffering. In Greek, the word for giving thanks is eucharist.
Gospel: Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23

The Magi were scholars who came from the East. They were likely dedicated to studying the stars. They told Herod they were following an unusually bright star and they thought it must be a sign of the birth of a king.

Herod the Great was the king of Judea and a friend of the Romans. He was known for being cruel and for not loving God. His son Herod Antipas was the ma who was in Jerusalem on the day that Jesus was crucified.

My Promise to Jesus: Lord, I pray that you will watch over my family. I love those close to me, and I will tell them so.
Reflect: If a word or phrase from the Gospel captures your heart, sit quietly for several minutes, repeating it to yourself and asking God to show you how it applies to your life. What could you do to make your family more “holy” or to seek God’s help with your family problems?    www.smp.org
 
Suggested book that compliments today’s Gospel:
http://scu.edu/character/build-plant-grow/
A Father’s Love
Written by Lorhainne Eckhart
ISBN: 13:978-1475150520

Pray that you will grow in love with each passing day for all those who are in your life. Show your love by saying thanks in as many ways that you can and as often as possible. Pray also that God will strengthen your ability to show your love in acts of kindness and concern for others.

Family Discussion: In the midst of the Christmas season, it is quite appropriate that our liturgy asks us to pause to consider the Holy Family. In today's Gospel, we hear about how Joseph protected Jesus from danger by relocating the family to Egypt in obedience to God. Following the model of the Holy Family, we might use this feast to recall the responsibility that each family member has to contribute to the good of the family and recommit ourselves to one another.
Gather together as a family to work on a common project. You might prepare a meal together, prepare a special dessert, or perhaps do a craft together. When you finish, talk about how each family member contributed to the common project. Remind one another that each member of the family contributes to the good of the whole family. Recall that Jesus was also part of a family and that this Sunday we celebrate the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. Read together today's Gospel, Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23. Pray together that your family will continue to protect and care for one another as Mary and Joseph protected and cared for Jesus.   www.loyolapress.com