The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

“out of Egypt I have called my son.”

How times change. Moses led the Chosen People out of Egypt where they were being persecuted. Now, for Joseph, Mary and Jesus, Egypt becomes a place of refuge. Providentially, The Holy Family would have been protected by the many Jews living in Egypt. Perhaps up to 40% of a city like Alexandria.

However, just a week after Christmas, we are reminded that the early life of Jesus was traumatic. God’s love can be – and for Jesus was – tough love. 

If, as it seems likely, Christ was born in the 35th year of Herod the Great’s reign and the king died in his 37th year of reign, Jesus, on his return from Egypt and  arrival in Nazareth would have been aged perhaps four.

Maybe that fact, in part, explains how Jesus developed into such a fine and strong character when, aged 30, he started his Public Life of teaching and healing.

I don’t know about you, but I know my early life –  under the Nazis and then, aged six, arriving as a Bloody Foreigner in England - shaped my character.

Like exercise tones muscles, adversity can strengthen character. I am grateful to my parents for being strict and tough with me; with my mother saying to me that when it rained, “As you are not made of sugar, you will not melt.”

Who knows what 2026 will bring into our lives? I trust in God and live with hope and thus expect it will enable us to grow and mature spiritually on each of our journeys to eternity.

I hope to be here to help you as you help me.