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Gospel Reading for December 28, 2025 – Matthew 2: 13-15, 19-23
GREEDY
When the magi had departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him.” Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt. He stayed there until the death of Herod, that what the Lord had said through the prophet might be fulfilled, Out of Egypt I called my son.
When Herod had died, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child’s life are dead.” He rose, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go back there. And because he had been warned in a dream, he departed for the region of Galilee. He went and dwelt in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, He shall be called a Nazorean.
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Indeed, children badly need the protection of their parents. The Holy Family had to travel about 500 to 700 kms. to hide the baby Jesus from Herod, who was out to kill him upon learning that the child who was born was the one who will be king of the Jews (Matthew 2: 1-2). One can imagine the great difficulty the Holy Family had to go through, given the means of transportation during those times.
Because of the greed for power, Herod was badly disturbed to know that the child born will be the king of the Jews topple him some day, who by all means, he should eliminate. So, he ordered the slaying of male infants (holy innocents) two (2) years and below (Matthew 2: 16-18).
This is what happens when we become GREEDY for power and wealth – we will eliminate anyone who stands in our way of getting what we want. We just have to get/acquire them, whatever it takes. The worst part is that they will never be content with what they get and they will just be wanting for more, to the detriment of their victims.
On this Feast of the Holy Family, we pray that parents realize that they are called to mold/shape the character of their children according to the person of Christ!
