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Lifelong Catechesis

Forming Catholic identity across generations
September 18, 2024
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Christmas

During the Christmas season from December 24th until the Sunday after Epiphany, we reflect upon the mystery of love that is made visible in the birth and early childhood of Christ.

Sunday Readings and Backgrounds

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Feast of the Holy Family

Reading I : Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14

Show reverence for God by honoring your parents.

  • The Book of Sirach is among the group of writings known as Wisdom Books.
  • Today’s reading focuses on the duties of children toward their parents.
  • Children are to honor their parents as God had ordained through Moses at Mount Sinai.

Reading II : Colossians 3:12-21

Serve the Lord by loving one another.

  • The reading from Colossians reminds Christians of their duties toward one another, both in their immediate family and in the wider community.
  • Paul instructs family members to remain faithful to the demands of their life-situation.
  • In all relationships, forgiveness, love and a positive attitude should prevail.

Gospel : Luke 2:41-52

The boy Jesus stays behind in the Temple.

  • In today’s Gospel, the Holy Family is on a pilgrimage from their hometown of Nazareth in Galilee to Jerusalem in Judea.
  • It is the feast of Passover, one of the high feast days on which devout Jews came to the temple to celebrate.
  • Luke stresses in the story of Jesus in the temple that even Jesus’ parents only come to know Jesus’ divinity and his connection to his heavenly Father, through the gift of faith.