Grace is defined as a gift of God’s favor, sometimes recognized as the good that emerges in spite of an unfortunate situation.  The Holy Family certainly faced their share of hardships, yet grace followed them closely.  For instance, Joseph had a dream that warned him to flee to Egypt to escape the violent wrath of King Herod.  That dream itself was a grace.  Still, they must have felt the fear any family would feel while taking a perilous journey far from their home.  

The Holy Family remained in Egypt until Herod’s death, then sought to return to Judea.  However, upon learning that Herod’s son was ruling there, they once again changed course and settled in Galilee. We can imagine the graces that sustained them as they migrated from place to place, for grace often shows up in the ordinary — in the ways we care for one another.

It is safe to assume that the members of the Holy Family were themselves agents of grace, extending help to others whenever possible.  Jesus grew up to teach what he had lived and known to be true: we are to be people of compassion who carry grace to one another.  We are called to welcome the stranger and to look out for those on the margins of society.  This is our shared work as members of the human family.

Every small act of kindness we offer becomes a channel through which more of God’s grace flows into the world.

“The gifts of grace increase as the struggles increase”  — St. Rose of Lima

Opportunity:  Find someone for whom you can be an agent of God’s grace today.

May you be inspired!    

NOTE: This reflection is part of an Advent Reflection Series initially published by Tau Center.  You can find the full series on  Still Point.