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Christmas Season · Year A

The Holy Family of Jesus: Mary and Joseph

December 28, 2025

Rest on the Flight into Egypt, Luc-Olivier Merson
Rest on the Flight into Egypt, Luc-Olivier Merson, 1879Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Merson puts the Holy Family against the Sphinx at night, with the child asleep between its paws, lit by a light coming off him.Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt: the reading is the escape, and Merson painted the night they slept rough in it.Museum of Fine Arts, BostonOne of the oldest American museums, founded in 1870, with a collection that runs from Egyptian to contemporary and a famous Japanese holding.Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Roman Lectionary
GospelMatt. 2:13-15, 19-23Mt 2:13-15, 19-23
Second ReadingCol. 3:12-21Col 3:12-21 orCol. 3:12-17Col 3:12-17
First ReadingSir. 3:2-6, 12-14Sir 3:2-6, 12-14
Responsorial PsalmPs. 128:1-2, 3, 4-5Ps 128:1-2, 3, 4-5

Overview & Insights

“Out of Egypt I called my son.” (Matthew 2:15)

Two dreams frame the reading (vv. 13 and 19), the second and third of the four that direct Joseph, and both are obeyed without a word from him. The lectionary omits vv. 16-18, so the reason for the flight is stated while its cost is not read aloud. The narrative is built on Moses: a king kills infants, the child escapes, and the one who threatened him dies before the return, announced in the plural idiom of Exodus 4:19, “all the men who were seeking your life are dead”. The quotation of Hosea 11:1 at v. 15 takes a verse whose subject in Hosea is Israel itself, so the child is presented as travelling the people’s route in reverse. The last citation, “He shall be called a Nazarene” (v. 23), corresponds to no known text; Matthew writes “prophets” in the plural, and proposals range from the netser, the branch of Isaiah 11:1, to the nazir of Judges 13:5.

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Take it further: Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23

Commentary

The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, Year A Catholic Productions

Pitre on the flight into Egypt as fulfillment of Hosea's 'out of Egypt I called my son.'

The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, Cycle A Loyola Press Sunday Connection

Family-facing reflection on Joseph's obedience in fleeing to Egypt to protect the child Jesus.

Commentary on Matthew 2:13-23Commentary on Mt 2:13-23 Working Preacher

Exegesis of Joseph's dream-directed flight to Egypt and return, the Gospel for this Sunday.

Matthew 2 CommentaryMt 2 Commentary Precept Austin

Verse-by-verse commentary covering Herod's threat, the flight to Egypt, and the return to Nazareth.

Matthew 2 Commentary: Wise Men from the EastMt 2 Commentary: Wise Men from the East Enduring Word

Covers the angel's warning to Joseph, the flight to Egypt, and settling in Nazareth.

Background & Word Study

Matthew 2:13 InterlinearMt 2:13 Interlinear Bible Hub Interlinear

Greek word-by-word text of the angel's command to Joseph to flee into Egypt.

Matthew 1-13Mt 1-13 BibleProject

Overview video situating the infancy narrative, including the flight to Egypt, within Matthew's Gospel design.

The Church Fathers

Matthew 2Mt 2 Catena Bible

Patristic comments on Herod's slaughter of the innocents and the holy family's flight and return.

Sermons & Reflections

Matthew 2:13-15 NRSVueMt 2:13-15 NRSVue Sacred Space

Irish Jesuit scripture-prayer page on the angel's warning and the flight into Egypt.

The Feast of the Holy Family, Year A Young Catholics

Free reflection and resources built around this Sunday's Gospel of the flight into Egypt.

Worship & Prayers

The Holy Family (Year A) Sacred Space Living Space

Full Sunday liturgy reflection and prayer on all three readings, including the Matthew Gospel.

Podcast

Holy Family Values Bishop Barron's Sunday Sermons (Word on Fire)

Audio homily on the Holy Family feast and the family's flight to safety in Egypt.

Art & Music

The Flight into Egypt Web Gallery of Art (Elsheimer)

Classic painting of the holy family's night journey into Egypt, the Gospel's central scene.

Study Hub

The Holy Family (Cycle A) Agape Bible Study

Full study-hub page walking through all three readings for the Sunday, including the Matthew Gospel.

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