The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Today the Church celebrates the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. The assigned readings are Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14; Colossians 3:12-21; and Luke 2:41-52. The Responsorial Psalm is Psalm 128 (Psalm 128:1-5). 

For one version of the Responsorial Psalm set to music, please visit:

YouTube: Responsorial Psalm - Psalm 128 "Blessing of the home of the just and the reverent"

The Gospel reading is as follows:

Each year Jesus' parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, and when he was twelve years old, they went up according to festival custom. After they had completed its days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. Thinking that he was in the caravan, they journeyed for a day and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances, but not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him.

After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions, and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, "Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety."

And he said to them,"Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?" But they did not understand what he said to them.

He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart. And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and favor before God and man.

Reflections on these readings:

Oblates of St. Francis de Sales: Sundays Salesian: Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph (December 27, 2015)

Oblates of St. Francis de Sales: Salesian Sunday Reflection: Holy Family (December 27, 2015)

Community in Mission: God’s Plan for Marriage and Family - A Homily for the Feast of the Holy Family (26 DEC 15)

Aleteia: Deacon Greg Kandra: "This Family Shares Our Burdens": Homily for Feast of the Holy Family (26 DEC 15)

Word on Fire: Hannah, Her Son, and the Holy Family (Feasts * Holy Family)

St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology: Our True Home: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Feast of the Holy Family (21 DEC 15)

The Dispatch: "Why were you looking for me?" (27 DEC 15)

Spirituality of the Readings: There He Sat (Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph C)

Let the Scriptures Speak: The Open Family (Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph C)

The Word Embodied: The Centrality of Christ (Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph C)

Historical Cultural Context: Jesus in the Temple (Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph C)

Thoughts from the Early Church: Commentary by Origen of Alexandria (Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph C)