Greeting (see the Gospel)

Our eyes are seeing the saving love
which the Lord has prepared for all to see,
a light to enlighten the nations
and the glory of his people.
This light is Jesus our Lord.
May the Lord Jesus be always with you.
R/ And also with you.

Introduction by the Celebrant

A. For Holy Families Today

On this Feast of the Holy Family we think of all the Christian families. Are there holy families outside the one of Nazareth? Yes, there are, each in its own unique way, if the members, parents and children, love and respect one another and let God nourish and deepen their affection; yes, if food and joy and cares are shared; yes, if clashes are resolved in a way that lets people grow together in forgiveness and understanding; yes, there are holy families where the door is open in hospitality and where the Lord himself is welcomed in people who are poor and suffering. It is the Lord himself who welcomes us here today.

B. A Family Where Children Can Grow Up

In today's celebration of the Holy Family our Christian families are given a model. In many ways the Holy Family of Nazareth was unique and impossible to imitate. Today's scriptures stress one way in which all our families can follow them: seeking God's will and obeying it and finding joy and happiness in it even when that will demands sacrifices. Jesus is shown as someone who, from the child he was at Christmas, grew up to full maturity and who would carry out God's will to the very end. Like him, may we grow to maturity in our faith and our love.

Penitential Act

Let us ask the Lord to forgive us
for the times we have hurt one another
in our families and communities.
(PAUSE)
Lord Jesus, let your servants see
the peace of your forgiveness:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.

Jesus Christ, you are the light of all the nations
and the salvation of the whole world:
Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, you are the glory of your people,
the sign of God's mercy:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.

Have mercy on us, Lord,
reconcile us with you and with one another.
Live in our homes and communities
and lead us to everlasting life. R/ Amen.

Opening Prayer

Let us pray
that God may bless our families
(PAUSE)
God our Father,
you let Mary and Joseph
provide the warmth of a home
to your own Son, Jesus Christ.
Let Jesus become the heart and center
of all our Christian families.
May we all grow up in him
and become closer to one another
in patience and love.
With the Holy Family of Nazareth,
may we seek your will in all we do.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord. R/ Amen.

Liturgy of the Word

First Reading Introduction: A Son as the Sign of the Covenant
      As a sign that God would keep his covenant with Abraham, God promises him a son in his old age. Abraham believed and was given a son.

First Reading: Genesis 15:1-6; 21:1-3

God sets a father in honor over his children;
a mother's authority he confirms over her sons.
Whoever honors his father atones for sins,
and preserves himself from them.
When he prays, he is heard;
he stores up riches who reveres his mother.
Whoever honors his father is gladdened by children,
and, when he prays, is heard.
Whoever reveres his father will live a long life;
he who obeys his father brings comfort to his mother.

My son, take care of your father when he is old;
grieve him not as long as he lives.
Even if his mind fail, be considerate of him;
revile him not all the days of his life;
kindness to a father will not be forgotten,
firmly planted against the debt of your sins
-a house raised in justice to you.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 105:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9

R./ The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.

Give thanks to the LORD, invoke his name;
make known among the nations his deeds.
Sing to him, sing his praise,
proclaim all his wondrous deeds.
R./ The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.

Glory in his holy name;
rejoice, O hearts that seek the LORD!
Look to the LORD in his strength;
constantly seek his face.
R./ The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.

You descendants of Abraham, his servants,
sons of Jacob, his chosen ones!
He, the LORD, is our God;
throughout the earth his judgments prevail.
R./ The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.

He remembers forever his covenant
which he made binding for a thousand generations
which he entered into with Abraham
and by his oath to Isaac.
R./ The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.

Second Reading Introduction: The Faith of Abraham, Sarah and Isaac
       Abraham, with his household, is to all of us a model of faith in God and his promises.

Second Reading: Hebrews 11:8, 11-12, 17-19

Brothers and sisters:
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place
that he was to receive as an inheritance;
he went out, not knowing where he was to go.
By faith he received power to generate,
even though he was past the normal age
-and Sarah herself was sterile-
for he thought that the one who had made the promise was trustworthy.
So it was that there came forth from one man,
himself as good as dead,
descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky
and as countless as the sands on the seashore.

By faith Abraham, when put to the test, offered up Isaac,
and he who had received the promises was ready to offer
his only son,
of whom it was said,
"Through Isaac descendants shall bear your name."
He reasoned that God was able to raise even from the dead,
and he received Isaac back as a symbol.

Gospel Introduction: A Light to Enlighten the Nations
       Mary and Joseph are told that the child Jesus is not theirs to keep for themselves. They must give him to all as the Savior of everyone and accept the difficulties of this mission.

Gospel Reading: Luke 2:22-40

When the days were completed for their purification
according to the law of Moses,
They took him up to Jerusalem
to present him to the Lord,
just as it is written in the law of the Lord,
Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord,
and to offer the sacrifice of
a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons,
in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord.

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon.
This man was righteous and devout,
awaiting the consolation of Israel,
and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit
that he should not see death
before he had seen the Christ of the Lord.
He came in the Spirit into the temple;
and when the parents brought in the child Jesus
to perform the custom of the law in regard to him,
He took him into his arms and blessed God, saying:
"Now, Master, you may let your servant go
in peace, according to your word,
for my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you prepared in sight of all the peoples,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and glory for your people Israel."
The child's father and mother were amazed at what was said about him;
and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother,
"Behold, this child is destined
for the fall and rise of many in Israel,
and to be a sign that will be contradicted
- and you yourself a sword will pierce -
so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."
There was also a prophetess, Anna,
the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher.
She was advanced in years,
having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage,
and then as a widow until she was eighty-four.
She never left the temple,
but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer.
And coming forward at that very time,
she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child
to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.

When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions
of the law of the Lord,
they returned to Galilee,
to their own town of Nazareth.
The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom;
and the favor of God was upon him.

Commentary

Joseph and the Blessed Mother took the child Jesus up to Jerusalem where they offered the traditional thanksgiving sacrifice. They expressed profound gratitude to the God who had blessed them so abundantly, all the while holding in their arms the very God to whom their prayers were addressed.
The Word becomes flesh and dwells among us so that we might in turn abide with Him for all eternity. Our God does not keep His distance from us but becomes our brother, all so that we might experience what it means to be esteemed members of the family of God.