Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23

13 Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “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.” 14 Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, 15 and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, “Out of Egypt I have called my son.”

19 When Herod died, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, 20 “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.” 21 Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And after being warned in a dream, he went away to the district of Galilee. 23 There he made his home in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, “He will be called a Nazorean.”

Renewal in the New Year

Last Sunday, we were invited to evaluate our last year 2025 so that we could identify what was not "worthy of the vocation wherewith you are called, with all lowliness ad meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love" Ephesians 4:1-2.

What was required of us was not merely to state where we have succeeded in our witness and where we have fallen short, but to also aim our intentions to be more successful in the new year.

A new AD year starts with the day JESUS was given this name according to the angel's order to the Virgin Mary in Luke 1:31 and to St. Joseph in Matthew 1:21. With Jesus and in His Name, we start the new year where we are invited to create a roadmap of action that we are determined to adhere to. Let's start by getting more in line with the calling that befits God's trust in us.

What do we need to remember and to include in our plans for this year?

We are sons and daughters of God through Christ the Lord, John 1:12.

Thanks to our baptism, we "have put on/clothed ourselves with Christ," Galatians 3:27.

We are all one body in Christ. His people have received gifts from the Holy Spirit to share them with the whole body of Christ, 1 Cor 12:12-24.

Be conscious that we are temples of the Holy Spirit, 1 Cor. 3:16.

Strive not to "grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption," Ephesians 4:30.

He says to us, "I am the light of the world" in John 8:12.

"You are the salt of the earth....and the light of the world....let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven" Matthew 5:13-16.

We have one true Gospel, "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than that we have preached unto you, let him be accursed," Galatians 1:8-9. Our faith and its practices are rooted in the Gospel.

Jesus continues to pray to the Father for us saying, "They are not of the world....sanctify them" John 17:16-17. We live in the world, but we keep our Christian principles and values, distinguishing between what conforms to the Gospel and what society exposes us to. Such temptations contradict the Gospel and we must reject them out of respect for our Christian identity and dignity, and out of the trust that Jesus places in us.

Be careful with our thoughts and decisions. Listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit. Do not claim that whatever we do is inspired by Him, even if we are encouraged by spiritual counselors or find biblical verses to justify our acts. The evil spirit himself quoted biblical verses to tempt Jesus on the Mount of Temptations. How many mountains of temptation confront us in our days!

We are called to witness for God's love through Christ. Care for the needy ones with respect, proclaiming justice as the new name of peace. Forgive, as we pray in the Lord's prayer, and respect every human as the good Samaritan did. Without Christ, we can't do it, but with Him, nothing is impossible!

“Don’t be afraid" and "I am with you," says the Lord to us today.

Wishing you a blessed New Year, and may it be a year of renewing our Faith, Hope and Charity!