FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY

Liturgy Alive

The liturgical calendar of the year

Description

Sunday December 26

FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY

In the House of the Father

Busy with the Father’s Affairs

Greeting (See the Second Reading)

We are already the children of God;

we need not be afraid in his presence.

May the Lord Jesus be always with you. R/ And also with you.

Introduction by the Celebrant

In the House of the Father

It may come as a real surprise to us to hear Jesus ask Mary and Joseph: “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I had to be where my Father is?” Even Joseph and Mary had still to learn and to grow in their faith. Like the Holy Family, our families and each of us have also to grow in the faith. Perhaps it is through painful trials like the one of Mary and Joseph that our faith may become mature. We too are asked: Did you not know…?

Busy with the Father’s Affairs

It is perhaps hard for us to imagine that Jesus, God’s own Son, was really human, that he grew up not only physically but matured as a person and discovered little by little who he was. Of course, the whole Holy Family sought to do the will of God but we see Jesus affirm today that he has become aware that he is especially close to the Father and that God’s loving will is all that matters. Isn’t that all that matters for us, too, and should also we not grow closer to God? Let Jesus here in this Eucharist help us to become mature in God’s love.

Penitential Act

Are we still willing to grow in our faith?

Let us examine ourselves before the Lord.

(PAUSE)

Lord Jesus, you accepted to live

under the authority of Mary and Joseph:

Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.

Jesus Christ, your mother pondered in her heart

the events happening in her life:

Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, with Mary and Joseph

you sought above everything

the will of the Father in heaven:

Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.

Lord, forgive us our sins

and our lack of understanding.

Make us mature in our faith and love.

Lead us to everlasting life. R/ Amen.

Opening Prayer

Let us pray

that the Lord Jesus may grow up in us

(PAUSE)

God our Father,

we give you all thanks and praise

that you chose for your Son a human family.

Through the prayers and example

of Mary and Joseph,

may we too learn

to make room for Jesus in our life,

that he may grow up in us day after day

and make us more like him.

We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord. R/ Amen.

Reading 1: Sir 3:2-6, 12-14

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: Ps 84:2-3, 5-6, 9-10

R: Blessed are they who dwell in your house, O Lord.

How lovely your dwelling,

O LORD of hosts!

My soul yearns and pines

for the courts of the LORD.

My heart and flesh cry out

for the living God.

R: Blessed are they who dwell in your house, O Lord.

Blessed are those who dwell in your house!

They never cease to praise you.

Blessed the man who finds refuge in you,

in their hearts are pilgrim roads.

R: Blessed are they who dwell in your house, O Lord.

LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer;

listen, God of Jacob.

God, watch over our shield;

look upon the face of your anointed.

R: Blessed are they who dwell in your house, O Lord.

Reading 2: Col 3:12-21

Brothers and sisters:

Put on, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved,

heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience,

bearing with one another and forgiving one another,

if one has a grievance against another;

as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do.

And over all these put on love,

that is, the bond of perfection.

And let the peace of Christ control your hearts,

the peace into which you were also called in one body.

And be thankful.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly,

as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another,

singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs

with gratitude in your hearts to God.

And whatever you do, in word or in deed,

do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus,

giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Wives, be subordinate to your husbands,

as is proper in the Lord.

Husbands, love your wives,

and avoid any bitterness toward them.

Children, obey your parents in everything,

for this is pleasing to the Lord.

Fathers, do not provoke your children,

so they may not become discouraged.

Alleluia Col 3:15a, 16a

Alleluia, alleluia.

Let the peace of Christ control your hearts;

let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.

Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel: Lk 2:41-52

Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year

at the Feast of the Passover.

And when he was twelve years old,

they went up according to custom.

And when the feast was ended, as they were returning,

the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem.

His parents did not know it,

but supposing him to be in the group

they went a day’s journey,

but then they began to search for him

among their relatives and acquaintances,

and when they did not find him,

they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him.

After three days they found him in the temple,

sitting among the teachers,

listening to them and asking them questions.

And all who heard him were amazed

at his understanding and his answers.

And when his parents saw him, they were astonished.

And his mother said to him,

“Son, why have you treated us so?

Behold, your father and I

have been searching for you in great distress.”

And he said to them,

“Why were you looking for me?

Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”

And they did not understand the saying

that he spoke to them.

And he went down with them and came to Nazareth

and was submissive to them.

And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.

And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature

and in favor with God and man.

Intercessions

With the Holy Family of Nazareth we trust in the Lord, who knows all our needs, and we ask him to bless all our human families. Let us say: