The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph - Year A - Family Life, The Holy Family & “O Come & Sing of Christmas”
Friends, this weekend we reflect on and honor the family life of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. The love that filled their home surpassed that of any other family, and it naturally overflowed into their extended family and the wider community. Although Scripture offers us only limited details about the Holy Family’s daily life, what it does reveal is that their life together was marked by profound love amid extraordinary hardship.
From the very beginning, the Holy Family faced serious trials. Mary’s pregnancy was their first great challenge. She conceived the Christ Child before she and Joseph lived together. While Mary understood the divine origin of her child, Joseph did not—until an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. One can easily imagine the confusion, judgment, and disapproval they faced from relatives and neighbors, since this revelation was not given to the broader community.
Jesus was born far from their home, in the small town of Bethlehem, not in a house, but in a cave where animals were kept. Humble shepherds were the first to visit Him, soon followed by the Magi from the East. Within a year or two, the family was forced to flee to Egypt to escape King Herod’s violent pursuit of the Child. There, they had to begin again—finding shelter, earning a living, and living as strangers in a foreign land.
After Herod’s death, Joseph received further guidance through dreams, instructing him to return to Israel and settle his family in the modest and unremarkable village of Nazareth. Though Nazareth was held in low regard, it was there that Jesus was raised, learning obedience, humility, and the dignity of hard work. What the world overlooked became sacred ground, the place where the Savior of the world was quietly prepared for His mission. Since Saint Joseph is not mentioned during Jesus’ public ministry, it is widely believed that Jesus and Mary endured the very human sorrow of Joseph’s death.
Despite these many hardships, the love within the Holy Family’s home overshadowed every trial. Their joy did not come from comfort or ease, but from their deep union with God and with one another. Their home was a sanctuary of prayer, mutual support, and faithful love. One can only imagine how beautiful it will be, one day in Heaven, if God reveals the hidden details of their earthly life—their conversations, daily work, moments of joy, prayer, sacrifice, and simple family life. These glimpses, known fully only to God and the angels, would surely inspire eternal gratitude and admiration.
Sometime this weekend, take a moment to reflect on the Holy Family. Ask God to grant you insight into their life together, and allow what you learn to inspire your own relationships with those closest to you. While none of us can fully match the charity that filled their home, we can strive to imitate it. Through prayer, sacrifice, patience, and a sincere commitment to love one another, we can allow God to deepen our charity and help our own families reflect, however imperfectly, the holiness and unity of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.
In honor of the ongoing Christmas season, we would like to share our latest video, “O Come and Sing of Christmas”, a powerful and imaginative Christmas medley arranged by Greg Gilpin, weaving together five beloved carols: Sing We Now of Christmas, O Come, O Come Emmanuel, God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen, We Three Kings, and O Come, All Ye Faithful.
Gilpin’s arrangement blends traditional melodies with rich modern harmonies and flowing transitions, celebrating the full story of Christ’s coming — from Advent anticipation to Christmas joy.
Video can be watched by clicking here or by clicking on the thumbnail below.
