Excuse Me, Thank You, Sorry

With today's Gospel about the Holy Family's flight to Egypt, Pope Francis spoke off the cuff:

"Let us remember the three key words to live well in the family: 'Excuse me, thank you, sorry.' When we do not want to be intrusive in our family, we say 'Excuse me!' When we are not selfish . . .  we say 'Thank you!' When we make a mistake, we say 'Sorry!' Therefore, let us say together, 'Excuse me, thank you, sorry.' (Which the crowd did.)

"I would also like to encourage families to become aware of the importance they have in the Church and in society. Preaching the Gospel, in fact, is done first inside the family, and then in the different spheres of everyday life. With fervor, let us invoke the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of Jesus and our Mother, and Saint Joseph, her husband. Let us ask them to enlighten, comfort, and guide every family in the world, so that they can fulfill with dignity and serenity the mission God has entrusted them."

Pope Francis also pointed the link the link the Holy Family has to many people today: 

 "Joseph, Mary and Jesus experience the tragic fate of refugees, full of fear, uncertainty, and discomfort (cf Matthew2,13-15, 19-23 ). Unfortunately, in this day and age, millions of families can identify with this sad reality. Nearly every day, television and newspapers provide news about refugees fleeing hunger, war, and other serious dangers - in search of security and a decent life for themselves and their families."

"In distant lands, even when they find work, refugees and immigrants do not always receive real welcome, or find respect and appreciation for the values ​​ they carry. Their legitimate expectations clash with complex situations and problems that at times seem insurmountable. Thus, as we look to the Holy Family of Nazareth when it was forced to seek refuge, let us think about the tragedy of those migrants and refugees who are victims of rejection and exploitation."

"Let us also think about those who are exiled inside families," he added, "the elderly, for example, who are sometimes treated as a cumbersome presence. Many times I think a sign to know how a family is doing is to see how children and the elderly are treated."

"Jesus wanted to belong to a family that experienced these difficulties because no one is excluded from God's loving closeness. The flight into Egypt because of Herod's threats shows us that God is where man is in danger, where man suffers, where he escapes, where he experiences rejection and neglect. But he is also where man dreams, hopes to return to his homeland in freedom, plans and chooses for his life and dignity and that of his family."