THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY
AND JOSEPH (C)
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Call it a
clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call
it a family. Whatever you call it,
whoever you are, you need one.
Jane Howard, "Families"
ENTRANCE ANTIPHON
The shepherds went in haste, and found
Mary and Joseph and the infant lying in
a manger
1ST READING (Eccle 3: 2-6 12-14)
The Lord honours the father in his
children, and upholds the rights of a
mother over her sons. Whoever respects
his father is atoning for his sins, he who
honours his mother is like someone
amassing a fortune. Whoever respects his
father will be happy with children of his
own, he shall be heard on the day when he
prays. Long life comes to him who honours
his father, he who sets his mother at ease
is showing obedience to the Lord. My son,
support your father in his old age, do not
grieve him during his life. Even if his
mind should fail, show him sympathy, do
not despise him in your health and
strength; for kindness to a father shall not
be forgotten but will serve as reparation for
your sins.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM: (Ps 127)
.Response: O Blessed are those who fear
the Lord and walk in his ways!
1 O blessed are those who fear the Lord
And walk in his ways!
By the labour of your hands you shall
eat. You will be happy and prosper.
2
Your wife like a fruitful vine
In the heart of your house
Your children like shoots of the olive,
Around your table.
3
Indeed thus shall be blessed
The man who fears the Lord.
May the Lord bless you from Zion
All the days of your life!
2nd READING (Colossians 3: 12-21)
You are God's chosen race, his saints;
he loves you and you should be
clothed in sincere compassion, in
kindness and humility, gentleness and
patience. Bear with one another;
forgive each other as soon as a
quarrel begins. The Lord has forgiven
you; now you must do the same. Over
all these clothes, to keep them
together and complete them, put on
love. And may the peace of Christ
reign in your hearts, because it is for
this that you were called together as
parts of one body. Always be
thankful. Let the message of Christ,
in all its richness, find a home with
you. Teach each other, and advise
each other, in all wisdom. With
gratitude in your hearts sing psalms
and hymns and inspired songs to
God; and never say or do anything
except in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God the Father
through him. Wives, give way to your
husbands, as you should in the Lord.
Husbands, love your wives and treat
them with gentleness. Children, be
obedient to your parents always,
because that is what will please the
Lord. Parents, never drive your
children to resentment or you will
make them feel frustrated.
His mother stored up all these things in her
heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom, in
stature, and in favour with God and men.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Alleluia, Alleluia! May the peace of
Christ reign in your hearts; let the
message of Christ find a home with you.
Alleluia!
When we hear stories about the Holy
Family we are struck by the normality
of Jesus' upbringing. Mary and Joseph
behave like any parents of today.
Secondly we are struck by the love and
tenderness that surrounds Jesus in his
early years. The fact that he was born
in a stable and grew up with no great
wealth doesn't seem to matter. What
matters is that Jesus grew up knowing
that Mary and Joseph loved and cared
for him.
THE GOSPEL (Luke 2: 41-52 )
Every year the parents of Jesus used to go
to Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover.
When he was twelve years old, they went
up for the feast as usual. When they were
on their way home after the feast, the boy
Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem without
his parents knowing it. They assumed he
was with the caravan, and it was only after
a day's journey that they went to look for
him
among
their
relations
and
acquaintances. When they failed to find
him they went back to Jerusalem looking
for him everywhere.
Three days later, they found him in the
Temple, sitting among the doctors,
listening to them, and asking them
questions; and all those who heard him
were astounded at his intelligence and his
replies. They were overcome when they
saw him, and his mother said to him, 'My
child, why have you done this to us? See
how worried your father and I have been,
looking for you.' 'Why were you looking
for me?' he replied. 'Did you not know that
I must be busy with my Father's affairs?'
But they did not understand what he meant.
He then went down with them and came to
Nazareth and lived under their authority.
COMMUNION ANTIPHON
Our God has appeared on the earth, and
lived among us.
Growing Pains
Jesus would have been brought up in a
Jewish tradition, and he would not have
been expected to challenge this
tradition. What is interesting for us to
learn is, that by the tender age of
twelve Jesus was developing a sense
of who he really was. When Jesus
causes his parents much distress by
becoming separated from them to stay
in the temple listening to the teachers,
he tells Mary and Joseph, "Why were
you looking for me? Did you not know
that I must be busy with my Father's
affairs?" Mary and Joseph don't quite
understand what he means, but we are
told, "Mary stored all these things in
her heart." She had faith in her son,
and she allowed him to become the
individual she always knew he was.
It's not easy to let go and allow your
child to be his or her own person,
especially if you see them making all
sorts of mistakes. Today's gospel is a
lesson in parenting. Surround your
children with love and caring. Pass
down all the good Christian traditions
you yourself have learned, then have
faith and allow your child to be the
person they need to be.
Mary the Holy Mother of
God 1st January
The first day of the year is the day the
Church sets aside for honouring Mary.
Mary represents true discipleship. Mary
exhibits a life of hearing, seeing, and
telling of God’s marvellous deeds.
Mary inspires us to consider deeply the
significance of events in our own lives.
If Mary had made a new year’s
resolution in that stable all those years
ago, it probably would have been to
make herself an instrument for God’s
will. As for our own resolutions, we
could live another year of frustration
and disappointment, or we could
resolve to make Mary our model, and
look harder for God’s direction in our
lives.
Every year we make and break the
same old resolutions, but that’s no
reason not to try again. This year invite
the Holy Spirit into your plans. Why
have our resolutions failed in the past?
Do we need to ask the Holy Spirit for
discernment in what we plan to do?
Do we need to ask the Holy Spirit for
willpower, courage, or persistence?
This year make God part of your new
direction.
2013
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Most Holy Name of Jesus
New Year Resolutions
Gabriel revealed the name to Mary.
“You shall call His name Jesus.” And to
Joseph the angel not only revealed the
name but explained it’s meaning “You
shall call His name Jesus, for He shall
save His people from their sins.” So on
this day we are reminded that Jesus’
very name tells us of the greatest gift
we are ever to receive ….. ‘salvation’!
3rd January
The name of Jesus means ‘saviour’.
‘We read in the Bible how the Angel
ANNIVERSARIES
Please pray for all those who
have died recently. Please also
remember
those
whose
anniversaries occur at this time:
Alfred Connell, Michael Allen,
Edward
McPhilips,
David
Collins, James Eames, Kate
Avery, Christopher Kerwick,
Michael Daly, Winifred Hendy,
Minnie May, Paula Conroy and
Laval Ah-Choy.
SICK LIST
Please pray for Eileen Taylor,
Geoffrey Hope, Phyllis Snuggs,
Ruth Edwards, May Frost, Fr
Harry Reynolds, Claire White,
Brian Goldsbury, Joanne Ware,
Sheila Burt, Peggy Devine,
Sarah Butler, Joshua Mills,
Tanisha Chester, Jane Hand,
Dennis Cebunka, Victoria Kane,
Katherine Deasey, Eileen &
Oona Treacey, Karen Roche, Jo
Page, Brenda Sharp, Eileen
McNulty,
Teresa
&
Eric
Williamson, John Collins, Julien
Clarke, Anastasia O’Connell,
Peter & Patricia Collins, Frank
Whelan, Trent & Mary Hobbs,
Elliott Cable, Kim Boulton, Baby
Ellis, Mary Moody, Evangelos
Sarros, Kay & Ron Chester,
Deacon John Newman, Ann
Lichfield, Margaret O’Donoghue,
Hugh Burton, Bishop Pat Lynch,
Brian Gotting and Pat Massey.