Daily Meditation for January 4, 2022

There is no liturgical commemoration of the Flight into Egypt, but soon after the coming of the three Wise Men, the Holy Family had to uproot themselves from their homeland—thus becoming refugees. The plan of Herod to search for and to kill the newborn babe made the flight into Egypt necessary. Mary and Joseph must have felt great fear: their baby son was at risk and they had to protect him. Fear is a catalyst; it can cause us to envision all sorts of dire things happening to us and thereby can bring on great mental anguish. Being human means having to face fears. We have those fears common to all: these may include a disabling accident, a job loss, chronic illness. Fear is strong and often disabling, but our faith tells us that God will be with us through any trials. We can face them with that trust.

By Carol Berg, OSB