Claretian Communications Foundation, Inc.
FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH
Psalter: Proper / (White)
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 84: 2-3, 5-6, 9-10: Blessed are they who dwell in your house, O Lord.
1st Reading: 1 Samuel 1: 20-22, 24-28 (or Sirach 3: 2-6, 12-14)
And she became pregnant. She gave birth to a son and called him Samuel because she said: “I have asked Yahweh to give him to me.” Once more Elkanah went to the temple with his family to offer his yearly sacrifice and to pay his vow to Yahweh. Hannah would not go along but she said to her husband, “I will bring the child there as soon as he is weaned. He shall be presented to Yahweh and stay there forever.”
When the child was weaned, Hannah took him with her along with a three-year-old bull, a measure of flour and a flask of wine, and she brought him to Yahweh’s house at Shiloh. The child was still young.
After they had slain the bull, they brought the child to Eli. Hannah exclaimed: “Oh, my lord, look! I am the woman who was standing here in your presence, praying to Yahweh. I asked for this child and Yahweh granted me the favor I begged of him. I think Yahweh is now asking for this child. As long as he lives, he belongs to Yahweh.” And they worshiped Yahweh there.
2nd Reading: 1 Joh 3: 1-2, 21-24 (or Colossians 3: 12-21)
See what singular love the Father has for us: we are called children of God, and we really are. This is why the world does not know us, because it did not know him.
Beloved, we are God’s children, and what we shall be has not, yet, been shown. Yet, when he appears in his glory, we know, that we shall be like him, for, then, we shall see him as he is.
When our conscience does not condemn us, dear friends, we may have complete confidence in God. Then, whatever we ask, we shall receive, since we keep his commands and do what pleases him.
His command is, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and that, we love one another, as he has commanded us.
Whoever keeps his commands remains in God and God in him. It is by the Spirit God has given us, that we know he lives in us.
Gospel: Luke 2: 41-52
Every year, the parents of Jesus went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover, as was customary. And when Jesus was twelve years old, he went up with them, according to the custom of this feast.
After the festival was over, they returned, but the boy Jesus remained in Jerusalem; and his parents did not know it. They assumed that he was in their group of travelers, and, after walking the whole day, they looked for him among their relatives and friends.
As they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem, searching for him; and, on the third day, they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking questions. And all the people were amazed at his understanding and his answers.
His parents were very surprised when they saw him; and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I were very worried while searching for you.” Then he said to them, “Why were you looking for me?
Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand this answer. Jesus went down with them, returning to Nazareth, and he continued to be obedient to them. As for his mother, she kept all these things in her heart.
And Jesus increased in wisdom and age, and in divine and human favor.
LECTIO DIVINA:
Read: Jesus’ parents customarily went up to Jerusalem for the Passover. When Jesus was twelve years old, he went up with them. After the feast, Mary and Joseph returned but the boy Jesus remained in Jerusalem. Jesus’ parents did not know it. They looked for him among their relatives and friends but they did not find him. They returned to Jerusalem.
On the third day, they found him in the temple. Mary asked why he did such a thing, and that she and Joseph were worried while searching for him. Jesus asked them why they were looking for him, explaining that he must be in his Father’s house.
Jesus went down with them to Nazareth and remained obedient to them. Mary kept all such things in her heart. Jesus increased in wisdom and in age.
Reflect: Today is the Feast of the Holy Family. We are on Sunday within Christmas Octave.
Today’s Gospel passage narrates a familiar story. When we pray the joyful mystery of the holy rosary, the fifth is the loss, and finding, of the child Jesus in the Temple. Jerusalem is an important place in the Gospel of Luke. Mary and Joseph lost and found Jesus there, indicating that it is also in Jerusalem where Jesus would be killed, and it is there where he would rise again.
We may reflect of the fact that the place of our struggles could also be a place of our growth.
Likewise, our family could be our place of struggles and our place of growth.
Pray: Let us pray for our family, and for all the families.
Act: Today, let us spend some quality time with our family.
CLARETIAN COMMUNICATIONS FOUNDATION, INC.
8 Mayumi Street, U.P. Village, Diliman, 1101 Quezon City, Philippines
Tel.: (02) 8921-3984 • Fax: (02) 8921-6205, 8927-7429
Bookstore: (02) 8924-6835
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.claretianpublications.ph
