The 26th of December, 2021, 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 Year 2022.
Reading 1: SIR 3:2-6, 12-14 or 1 SM 1:20-22, 24-28
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 Samuel.
When the time had come, Hannah conceived, and bore a son; and she named him Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked him of Yahweh.”
The man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer to Yahweh the yearly sacrifice and his vow.
But Hannah didn’t go up, for she said to her husband, “Not until the child is weaned; then I will bring him, that he may appear before Yahweh, and stay there forever.”
When she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bulls, and one ephah of meal, and a container of wine, and brought him to Yahweh’s house in Shiloh. The child was young.
They killed the bull, and brought the child to Eli.
She said, “Oh, my lord, as your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood by you here, praying to Yahweh.
I prayed for this child, and Yahweh has given me my petition which I asked of him.
Therefore I have also given him to Yahweh. As long as he lives he is given to Yahweh.” He worshiped Yahweh there.
Responsorial Psalm: PS 128:1-2, 3, 4-5 or PS 84:1-2, 4-5, 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: Blessed are those who dwell in your house.
How lovely are your dwellings, Yahweh of Armies!
My soul longs, and even faints for the courts of Yahweh. My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.
R: Blessed are those who dwell in your house.
Blessed are those who dwell in your house. They are always praising you.
Blessed are those whose strength is in you, who have set their hearts on a pilgrimage.
R: Blessed are those who dwell in your house.
Yahweh, God of Armies, hear my prayer. Listen, God of Jacob.
Behold, God our shield, look at the face of your anointed.
R: Blessed are those who dwell in your house.
Reading 2: COL 3:12-21 or COL 3:12-17 or 1 JN 3:1-2, 21-24
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 of John.
See how great a love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God! For this cause the world doesn’t know us, because it didn’t know him.
Beloved, now we are children of God. It is not yet revealed what we will be; but we know that when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him just as he is.
Beloved, if our hearts don’t condemn us, we have boldness toward God; so whatever we ask, we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do the things that are pleasing in his sight.
This is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, even as he commanded.
He who keeps his commandments remains in him, and he in him. By this we know that he remains in us, by the Spirit which he gave us.
Gospel of the Day: LK 2:41-52
From the gospel scripture according to Luke.
His parents went every year to Jerusalem at the feast of the Passover.
When he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast; and when they had fulfilled the days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. Joseph and his mother didn’t know it, but supposing him to be in the company, they went a day’s journey; and they looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances.
When they didn’t find him, they returned to Jerusalem, looking for him.
After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the middle of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions.
All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.
When they saw him, they were astonished; and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us this way? Behold, your father and I were anxiously looking for you.”
He said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?”
They didn’t understand the saying which he spoke to them.
And he went down with them and came to Nazareth. He was subject to them, and his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.
And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
