The 27th of December, 2020, Sunday is this year’s celebration day for the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. The Holy Bible verses for the mass readings for this day came from the Liturgical Calendar of the Year 2021.
Reading 1: SIR 3:2-6, 12-14 or GN 15:1-6; 21:1-3
The first reading from The Wisdom of Jesus the Son of Sirach or Ecclesiasticus.
For the Lord honors the father over the children, and has confirmed the judgment of the mother over her sons.
He who honors his father will make atonement for sins.
He who gives glory to his mother is as one who lays up treasure.
Whoever honors his father will have joy in his own children. He will be heard in the day of his prayer.
He who gives glory to his father will have length of days. He who listens to the Lord will bring rest to his mother.
My son, help your father in his old age, and don’t grieve him as long as he lives.
If he fails in understanding, have patience with him. Don’t dishonor him in your full strength.
For the kindness to your father will not be forgotten. Instead of sins it will be added to build you up.
or first reading from the Book of Genesis.
After these things Yahweh’s word came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Don’t be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”
Abram said, “Lord Yahweh, what will you give me, since I go childless, and he who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?”
Abram said, “Behold, you have given no children to me: and, behold, one born in my house is my heir.”
Behold, Yahweh’s word came to him, saying, “This man will not be your heir, but he who will come out of your own body will be your heir.”
Yahweh brought him outside, and said, “Look now toward the sky, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” He said to Abram, “So your offspring will be.”
He believed in Yahweh, who credited it to him for righteousness.
Yahweh visited Sarah as he had said, and Yahweh did to Sarah as he had spoken.
Sarah conceived, and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.
Abraham called his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore to him, Isaac.
Responsorial Psalm: PS 128:1-2, 3, 4-5 or PS 105:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9
Response: Blessed is everyone who fears Yahweh, who walks in his ways.
Blessed is everyone who fears Yahweh, who walks in his ways.
For you will eat the labor of your hands. You will be happy, and it will be well with you.
R: Blessed is everyone who fears Yahweh, who walks in his ways.
Your wife will be as a fruitful vine in the innermost parts of your house, your children like olive shoots around your table.
R: Blessed is everyone who fears Yahweh, who walks in his ways.
Behold, this is how the man who fears Yahweh is blessed.
May Yahweh bless you out of Zion, and may you see the good of Jerusalem all the days of your life.
R: Blessed is everyone who fears Yahweh, who walks in his ways.
or
R: He is Yahweh, our God. He has remembered his covenant forever.
Give thanks to Yahweh! Call on his name! Make his doings known among the peoples.
Sing to him, sing praises to him! Tell of all his marvelous works.
R: He is Yahweh, our God. He has remembered his covenant forever.
Glory in his holy name. Let the heart of those who seek Yahweh rejoice.
Seek Yahweh and his strength. Seek his face forever more.
R: He is Yahweh, our God. He has remembered his covenant forever.
Remember his marvelous works that he has done: his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth, you offspring of Abraham, his servant, you children of Jacob, his chosen ones.
R: He is Yahweh, our God. He has remembered his covenant forever.
He has remembered his covenant forever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations, the covenant which he made with Abraham, his oath to Isaac.
R: He is Yahweh, our God. He has remembered his covenant forever.
Reading 2: COL 3:12-21 or COL 3:12-17 or HEB 11:8, 11-12, 17-19
The second reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Colossians.
Put on therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, humility, and perseverance; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, if any man has a complaint against any; even as Christ forgave you, so you also do.
Above all these things, walk in love, which is the bond of perfection.
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body, and be thankful.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your heart to the Lord.
Whatever you do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Wives, be in subjection to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
Husbands, love your wives, and don’t be bitter against them.
Children, obey your parents in all things, for this pleases the Lord.
Fathers, don’t provoke your children, so that they won’t be discouraged.
or second reading from The Letter to the Hebrews.
By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out to the place which he was to receive for an inheritance. He went out, not knowing where he went.
By faith even Sarah herself received power to conceive, and she bore a child when she was past age, since she counted him faithful who had promised.
Therefore as many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as innumerable as the sand which is by the sea shore, were fathered by one man, and him as good as dead.
By faith, Abraham, being tested, offered up Isaac. Yes, he who had gladly received the promises was offering up his only born son, to whom it was said, “Your offspring will be accounted as from Isaac,” concluding that God is able to raise up even from the dead. Figuratively speaking, he also did receive him back from the dead.
Gospel of the Day: LK 2:22-40 or LK 2:22, 39-40
From the gospel scripture according to Luke.
When the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were fulfilled, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”), and to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.”
Behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him.
It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
He came in the Spirit into the temple. When the parents brought in the child, Jesus, that they might do concerning him according to the custom of the law, then he received him into his arms and blessed God, and said, “Now you are releasing your servant, Master, according to your word, in peace; for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared before the face of all peoples; a light for revelation to the nations, and the glory of your people Israel.”
Joseph and his mother were marveling at the things which were spoken concerning him.
Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary, his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which is spoken against.
Yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
There was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher (she was of a great age, having lived with a husband seven years from her virginity, and she had been a widow for about eighty-four years), who didn’t depart from the temple, worshiping with fastings and petitions night and day.
Coming up at that very hour, she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of him to all those who were looking for redemption in Jerusalem.
When they had accomplished all things that were according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth.
The child was growing, and was becoming strong in spirit, being filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.