Good morning, dear brothers and sisters in Christ. Today, as we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family, we are invited to reflect on the meaning of family in our lives and the divine example set before us. The Holy Family—Jesus, Mary, and Joseph—embodies love, trust, and unity. In their lives, we see how faith can guide our relationships, offering a model for our own families.
As we read in the Gospel, the Holy Family faced challenges and uncertainties, from the flight into Egypt to their humble life in Nazareth. Yet through prayer and obedience to God’s will, they remained united. This teaches us that even when faced with difficulties, a strong family built on faith can overcome trials together.
In our modern world, family life can often be strained by busyness, distractions, and misunderstandings. It’s essential that we consciously cultivate an atmosphere of love and respect within our families. Let us prioritize time together, communicate openly, and support one another just as Mary, Joseph, and Jesus did.
As we reflect on the past year, let us also look forward to the new one. May we strive to bring the love of the Holy Family into our homes, fostering not just love among family members but also reaching outwards to our wider community, embodying Christ’s compassion and mercy.
This week, we encourage each of you to express gratitude to your family members, to reconcile any differences, and to pray together. In doing so, we’ll strengthen our bonds, reflecting the love God desires for us. May the Holy Family inspire us to create a loving environment where faith flourishes. Amen.
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you
And with your spirit.
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke 2:41-52
Glory to you, O Lord
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. His mother stored up all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom, in stature, and in favour with God and men.
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.