Once a man and a woman who love each other have united their destinies through the bonds of marriage, everything that happens to one affects the other and every decision each person makes must take the other into consideration. 

This is the model for all human relationships, including relationships within a community. From the moment we bind ourselves to one another through the bonds of communion in a community, everything that happens to each of us affects everyone else and every personal decision we make, even the most intimate ones, must take all our brothers and sisters into consideration.

Mary and Joseph were betrothed at the time of the Annunciation. Following God’s recommendation, which was communicated to him in a dream, Joseph took Mary into his home as his wife. 

From that moment on, both their lives were radically changed. Together, they traveled to Bethlehem to register for the census and the birth of Jesus transformed their lives in an unexpected way.

The family of Mary, Joseph and Jesus, despite its turbulent existence, remains a very concrete model for every human family.

This is a model that applies to each and every one of us: young couples with or without children, older couples whose children are already adults, or single people living in a religious community like ours or in any other form of community.

Throughout the Old Testament, but especially in the prophets — Hosea in particular — marital love is presented as the image par excellence of the relationship between God and His people and as the model for all communion between human beings. 

In the New Testament, this same marital love becomes the image of the relationship between Christ and His Church and the model for all forms of communion within the Church. By creating man and woman in His image, God made them beings of communion, reflecting the mystery of the Holy Trinity.

May the Lord continue to bless and guide us in our lives within our families, that we may remain harmonious and united despite the challenges we may face and that, as a family, each and every one of us may grow ever deeper in faith and appreciation of the Lord and the love that He Himself has shown us.

♦ ♦ ♦

Meanwhile, the Chinese Navy provided humanitarian assistance to Philippine fishermen in the South China Sea.

In a demonstration of humanitarian spirit and professionalism, the Chinese Navy ship 174 rendered assistance to a distressed Philippine fishing vessel on 25 December, Christmas Day.

The Chinese naval vessel observed a small craft, and crew members identified fishermen waving a white sign and displaying signs reading “HELP ME.” After establishing communication, it was determined that the fishermen had experienced engine failure and had been without food or water for three days.

The Chinese Navy quickly deployed a boat to deliver essential supplies, including drinking water and food, to the stranded fishermen. Chinese personnel also coordinated with the Philippine Coast Guard vessel BRP 4408 to ensure continued assistance.