60 / 85
Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary & Joseph
Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14 or Genesis 15:1-6; 21:1-3
Psalm 105:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9
Colossians 3:12-21 or 3:12-17 or Hebrews 11:8, 11-12, 17-19
Luke 2:22, 39-40
Reflection
The Church devotes today to our parish patron, the
Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. This feast is
observed three days after Christmas because it of-
fers insight into the purpose of the Incarnation that
we celebrate during this season.
Today’s first reading opens with the second verse
from the third chapter of Sirach.We do not listen to
the verse with indifference because it appears to
state the “obvious.” Nor do we dismiss the verse be-
cause it, in some way, does not conform to our ideas
of the roles of parents and children. If we make
these lapses in understanding, we overlook the
teaching of the remainder of the reading.
The balance of the reading emphasizes the service
that the child should devote to parents.With this
focus, we understand why the Church chose this
reading for the feast of the Holy Family. If the In-
carnateWord could humble Himself to become the
human son of Mary and Joseph, are we no less
called to serve our heavenly Father as the child is called to do in the first read-
ing? The responsorial psalm affirms the teaching of the reading.
The second reading exhorts us to perform with love the service to which the
first reading calls us. Noteworthy is the command to put on “heartfelt compas-
sion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience,” perhaps the most succinct
guidance for the conduct of our family relations. In turn, the command de-
scribes the wondrous dynamic of the life of the Holy Family itself portrayed in
the Gospel.
We marvel at the description of Mary and Joseph in the Gospel. The couple just
want to honor their ancient tradition and present the Infant Jesus in the Temple.