A "Domestic Church"  are often seen as fundamental communities built on faith and love,

acting as nurturing spaces for spiritual growth, mutual support, and moral formation.

 

 ＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊      

Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14

For the Lord established

That children should respect their father;

he confirmed the right of the mother over her children.

Whoever honors his father atones for his sins; he who gives glory to his mother prepares a treasure for himself.

 

Whoever honors his father will receive joy from his own children and will be heard when he prays.

Whoever glorifies his father will have a long life. Whoever obeys the Lord gives comfort to his mother.

My child, take care of your father in his old age, do not cause him sorrow as long as he lives.

Even if he has lost his mind, have patience; do not be disrespectful to him while you are in full health.

For kindness done to one's father will never be forgotten, it will serve as reparation for your sins.

 

Ps 128:1-2, 3, 4-5 

Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways.

 

＊＊＊ 2nd Reading ＊＊＊

Colossians 3:12-21 (or 3:12-17)

Clothe yourselves, then, as is fitting for God's chosen people, holy and beloved of him.

Put on compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience to bear with one another,

and forgive, whenever there is any occasion to do so. As the Lord has forgiven you,

forgive one another. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

May the peace of Christ overflow in your hearts; for this end you were called to be one body. And be thankful.

 

Let the word of God dwell in you in all its richness. Teach and admonish one another with words of wisdom.

With thankful hearts, sing to God psalms, hymns and spontaneous praise.

And whatever you do or say, do it in the Name of Jesus the Lord, giving thanks to God, the Father, through him.

Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as you should do in the Lord. Husbands,

love your wives and do not get angry with them. Children, obey your parents in everything,

because that pleases the Lord. Parents, do not be too demanding of your children, lest they become discouraged.

 

＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊      

Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23

After the wise men had left, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph and said,

"Get up, take the child and his mother and flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you,

for Herod will soon be looking for the child in order to kill him."

 

Joseph got up, took the child and his mother, and left that night for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod.

In this way, what the Lord had said through the prophet was fulfilled: I called my son out of Egypt.

After Herod's death, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph and said,

"Get up, take the child and his mother, and go back to the land of Israel, because those who tried to kill the child are dead."

 

So Joseph got up, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel.

But when Joseph heard that Archilaus had succeeded his father Herod as king of Judea, he was afraid to go there.

Joseph was given further instructions in a dream, and went to the region of Galilee.

There he settled, in a town called Nazareth. In this way,

what was said by the prophets was fulfilled: He shall be called a Nazarene.

 

Lectio Divina

Gospel Reflection ：

"Families should be communities of faith and love."

 Read: Sirach counsels loving respect in a family. Saint Paul encourages us to act with compassion and forgiveness.

Saint Joseph is directed by the angel to lead his family to safety.

 

Reflect: When we look at a beautiful manger scene, there's little to remind us of the danger that the Holy Family had to face.

Herod wants to kill the child Jesus, and so they must escape to Egypt.

This means that they were refugees, like so many people around the world today, with no home and few possessions.

The danger they faced is as real for so many today, as families flee from violence, persecution and death.

But in all the danger, the Gospel teaches us that the Father's plan is still in place. The angel said to Joseph,

 

"Get up!" It's a phrase found throughout the Bible to indicate a vocation.

Our families should be communities of faith and love where we can hear God's call.

We are all called to seek to do God's will, as loving parents who care for their children,

or as children who are keen to learn, to grow and to discover what God is calling them to be.

 

Pray: Pray for your family, and pray for all families who are displaced or in danger.

 

Act: Celebrate this feast with a family gathering.