Feast of the Holy Family (Ages 6-9): Participating in the Plan of God
- thebetterpart
- Dec 27, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: Jan 1
In the Gospel reading this Sunday, we hear Joseph take his family away from their home country of Israel when it is no longer safe for them to stay. They travel to Egypt, a country far away from the forces that want to harm Jesus. The little family stays there until it is safe for them to return to Israel, and settle in Nazareth, a safe town away from danger, where Jesus can grow up in safety. Clearly, God wants Jesus safe. Clearly, this is the plan. We can listen carefully for how that plan comes about.
Notice Joseph's dreams. Each time, when the angel speaks, how does Joseph respond?
In the first dream, the angel says:
“'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.'”
How does Joseph respond?
“Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod.”
In the second dream, the angel says:
“'Get up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the child’s life are dead.'”
How does Joseph respond?
“Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel.”
Each time, the angel lets Joseph know what God wants. Each time, Joseph listens and obeys God’s will completely. Does Joseph do anything other than what God wants? Can we say, then, that Joseph participates in God's Plan, that he helps God’s Plan for Jesus? He is extremely important! God needs him! We do not like to imagine what could have happened if Joseph did not listen to God.
Notice also the time of day they travel from Bethlehem. We have to remember that this takes place before electricity. There are no street lamps to light the way. It would be very dangerous. Does anyone watch over them? So many years before Jesus was even born, God promised,
"the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light." (Isaiah 9:2)
Mary and Joseph carry this light with them, to Egypt and back again to Israel. Of course God’s loving protection surrounds them. But would we say that God does this alone? We know Joseph listens and obeys. We know he participates in God's plan. But only Joseph? We have to consider the many people who help God with this plan, who help provide that loving protection—those people who did not have an angel telling them what to do:
People who help Joseph find the road to Egypt.
People who make sure they are safe on that road, not attacked by bandits.
People who help them find food and shelter along the way.
People who let them into the foreign country of Egypt.
People who give Joseph work in Egypt so that he can feed his family.
People who make room for this family on the run from danger.
People who welcome the strange family into their lives.
When Jesus is just a little child, so many people participate in the Plan of God, helping to protect this light so that one day, it can become the Risen Light to spread to all people.
And we must also consider, who participates in the Plan of God today? Who carries and protects the Risen Light of Jesus now? And how do they do it?
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