Sunday Readings | Recent Articles | OT Glossary | NT Glossary | Articles Index | Blogs Index | Site Map | About Us


Lectionary Readings for Sunday in the Octave of Christmas, Holy Family Year A

Readings, Responsorial Psalm and Gospel

Reading I, Sir 3, 2-6. 12-14

A Reading from the Book of Sirach
He who fears the Lord honors his parents.

The Lord sets a father in honor over his children; a mother's
authority he confirms over her sons. He who honors his father
atones for sins; he stores up riches who reveres his mother.
He who honors his father is gladdened by children, and when
he prays he is heard. He who reveres his father will live a
long life; he obeys the Lord who brings comfort to his mother.

My son, take care of your father when he is old; grieve him
not as long as he lives. Even if his mind fail, be considerate
with him; revile him not in the fullness of your strength. For
kindness to a father will not be forgotten, it will serve as
a sin offering - it will take lasting root.

The Word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm, Ps 128, 1-2. 3. 4-5. R. v. 1

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

1. Happy are you who fear the Lord,
who walk in his ways!
For you shall eat the fruit of your handiwork;
happy shall you be, and favored. R.

2. Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine
in the recesses of your home;
Your children like olive plants
around your table. R.

3. Behold, thus is the man blessed
who fears the Lord.
The Lord bless you from Zion:
may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
all the days of your life. R.

Reading II, Col 3, 12-21

The Beginning of the Letter of Paul to the Colossians
Concerning the Christian life in the world.

Because you are God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe
yourselves with heartfelt mercy, with kindness, humility,
meekness, and patience. Bear with one another; forgive
whatever grievances you have against one another. Forgive
as the Lord has forgiven you. Over all these virtues put
on love, which binds the rest together and makes them
perfect. Christ's peace must reign in your hearts, since
as members of the one body you have been called to that
peace. Dedicate yourselves to thankfulness. Let the word
of Christ, rich as it is, dwell in you. In wisdom made
perfect, instruct and admonish one another. Sing gratefully
to God from your hearts in psalms, hymns, and inspired
songs. Whatever you do, whether in speech or in action, do
it in the name of the Lord Jesus. Give thanks to God the
Father through him.

You who are wives, be submissive to your husbands. This
is your duty in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives. Avoid
any bitterness toward them. You children, obey your parents
in everything as the acceptable way in the Lord. And fathers,
do not nag your children lest they lose heart.

The Word of the Lord.

Gospel, Mt 2, 13-15. 19-23

Alleluia Col 3, 15. 16
R. Alleluia. May the peace of Christ rule in your
hearts; and the fullness of his message live within you.
R. Alleluia.


A Reading from the Holy Gospel According to Matthew
Take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt.

After the astrologers had left, the angel of the Lord
suddenly appeared in a dream to Joseph with the command:
"Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt.
Stay there until I tell you otherwise. Herod is searching
for the child to destroy him." Joseph got up and took the
child and his mother and left that night for Egypt. He
stayed there until the death of Herod, to fulfill what
the Lord had said through the prophet:

"Out of Egypt I have called my son."

But after Herod's death, the angel of the Lord appeared
in a dream to Joseph in Egypt with the command: "Get up,
take the child and his mother, and set out for the land
of Israel. Those who had designs on the life of the child
are dead." He got up, took the child and his mother, and
returned to the land of Israel. He heard, however, that
Archelaus had succeeded his father Herod as king of Judea,
and he was afraid to go back there. Instead, because of
a warning received in a dream, Joseph went to the region
of Galilee. There he settled in a town called Nazareth.
In this way what was said through the prophets was
fulfilled:

"He shall be called a Nazorean."

The Gospel of the Lord.


If you wish to use contents
and resources from this website,
kindly link to us at:

Catholic Internet Mission:
Proclaiming the Gospel Online -
Catholic articles and blogs,
Free internet information,
and Web site services
http://www.pcentral-online.net