Fr. Jorge Miró shares with Exaudi readers his commentary on the Gospel of Sunday, December 28, 2025, entitled, “He takes the Child and his Mother and flees to Egypt.”

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Today we celebrate the feast of the Holy Family.  God chose to be born and grow up in a human family.

Marriage and family are not a human invention resulting from particular cultural and historical situations, nor a social convention, an empty rite, or the mere external sign of a commitment.

God has a plan for marriage and family, as Jesus tells us:  In the beginning, the Creator created them male and female, and said, “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh”; “What God has joined together, let no one separate.”  The sacrament of marriage is a gift for the sanctification and salvation of the spouses.

Pope Leo reminds us that marriage is not   an ideal, but the model of true love between man and woman:  total, faithful, and fruitful love.  This love, by making them “one flesh,” empowers them to give life, in the image of God.

The Christian family is called to be a true domestic church in which Jesus Christ is the cornerstone upon which the house is built: Let  the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing praises to God with thanksgiving from your hearts… whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of Jesus.

A domestic church that lives, celebrates, and proclaims the faith:  that Jesus Christ lives and is the Lord of the family. And therefore, a family that prays together, both the spouses and the entire family.

It is called to be a community of life and love.  A community where one lives with a love like Christ’s.  Saint Paul reminded us:  clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with one another and forgive one another if anyone has a grievance against someone else. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

A community where everyone is loved for who they are, not for their worth or what they contribute.  A community that strives to live in truth and respect; in forgiveness and mercy, always seeking the good of others, especially the least among us, the weakest.

 A community that accompanies  wounded people in their   suffering and helps them to heal and grow.

As our Bishops remind us, we need families who, as the domestic Church, are living witnesses of Christ’s love for his bride, the Church, manifesting in their daily lives the grace that enables them to respond to God’s call and reflect his unique and devoted love.

 Present your family to the Lord and ask Him for the gift of the Holy Spirit, so that He may renew it and grant you communion.

Pray also for all families, especially those who are suffering and going through difficulties.

Come, Holy Spirit, come upon our families! (cf. Lk 11:13).