Daily Readings - Fri Dec 30 2022
Sirach
2Sons, listen to the judgment of your father, and act accordingly, so that you may be saved3For God has honored the father in the sons, and, when seeking the judgment of the mother, he has confirmed it in the children4He who loves God will plead with him on behalf of sins, and will keep himself away from sin, and will be heeded in the prayers of his days5And, like one who stores up treasure, so also is he who honors his mother6He who honors his father will find happiness in his own children, and he will be heeded in the day of his prayer12Do not boast in the disgrace of your father; for his shame is not your glory13For the glory of a man is from the honor of his father, and a father without honor is a discredit to the son14Son, support your father in his old age, and do not grieve him in his life
Matthew
13And after they had gone away, behold, an Angel of the Lord appeared in sleep to Joseph, saying: "Rise up, and take the boy and his mother, and flee into Egypt. And remain there until I tell you. For it will happen that Herod will seek the boy to destroy him.14And getting up, he took the boy and his mother by night, and withdrew into Egypt15And he remained there, until the death of Herod, in order to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: "Out of Egypt, I called my son.19Then, when Herod had passed away, behold, an Angel of the Lord appeared in sleep to Joseph in Egypt20saying: "Rise up, and take the boy and his mother, and go into the land of Israel. For those who were seeking the life of the boy have passed away.21And rising up, he took the boy and his mother, and he went into the land of Israel22Then, hearing that Archelaus reigned in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned in sleep, he withdrew into parts of Galilee23And arriving, he lived in a city which is called Nazareth, in order to fulfill what was spoken through the prophets: "For he shall be called a Nazarene.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of family, trust, and God’s providence. In the first reading from Sirach, we are reminded of the importance of honoring our parents and caring for them, especially in their old age. This is not only a moral obligation but also a way of living out our faith. The passage emphasizes that the glory of a man comes from the honor of his father, and that supporting our parents is a way of storing up treasure in heaven. This teaching is deeply rooted in the Jewish tradition and serves as a foundation for understanding the value of family in our lives.
In the Gospel, we hear the story of Joseph, who exemplifies trust in God’s plan. When an angel appears to him in a dream, instructing him to flee to Egypt to save the child Jesus from Herod’s persecution, Joseph acts without hesitation. Later, when it is safe to return, he again follows God’s guidance, settling in Nazareth. This narrative shows us that faith is not passive but active—it requires us to listen to God’s voice and act courageously, even when the path is uncertain. Joseph’s obedience and trust in God’s providence become a model for us as we navigate our own challenges.
These readings remind us that our relationships with others, especially within our families, are opportunities to live out our faith. Just as Joseph trusted God’s plan for his family, we too can place our trust in God’s providence, even when life seems unpredictable. Let us honor our parents and care for one another, not just out of duty, but as a way of expressing our love for God. May we, like Joseph, be attentive to God’s voice and courageous in following His will, knowing that He is always with us, guiding us home.