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| "Jesus Found In The Temple" --by James Tissot |
FIRST
READING: Tobit
12: 1, 5 - 15, 20
1
Tobit then called his son Tobias and said to him, "My son, see
to the wages of the man who went with you; and he must also be given
more."
5
So he called the angel and said to him, "Take half of all that
you two have brought back."
6
Then the angel called the two of them privately and said to them:
"Praise God and give thanks to him; exalt him and give thanks to
him in the presence of all the living for what he has done for you.
It is good to praise God and to exalt his name, worthily declaring
the works of God. Do not be slow to give him thanks.
7
It is good to guard the secret of a king, but gloriously to reveal
the works of God. Do good, and evil will not overtake you.
8
Prayer is good when accompanied by fasting, almsgiving, and
righteousness. A little with righteousness is better than much with
wrongdoing. It is better to give alms than to treasure up gold.
9
For almsgiving delivers from death, and it will purge away every sin.
Those who perform deeds of charity and of righteousness will have
fulness of life;
10
but those who commit sin are the enemies of their own lives.
11
"I will not conceal anything from you. I have said, `It is good
to guard the secret of a king, but gloriously to reveal the works of
God.'
12
And so, when you and your daughter-in-law Sarah prayed, I brought a
reminder of your prayer before the Holy One; and when you buried the
dead, I was likewise present with you.
13
When you did not hesitate to rise and leave your dinner in order to
go and lay out the dead, your good deed was not hidden from me, but I
was with you.
14
So now God sent me to heal you and your daughter-in-law Sarah.
15
I am Raphael, one of the seven holy angels who present the prayers of
the saints and enter into the presence of the glory of the Holy One."
20
And now give thanks to God, for I am ascending to him who sent me.
Write in a book everything that has happened."
PSALM:
Tobit 13:
2, 6 - 8
2
For he afflicts, and he shows mercy; he leads down to Hades, and
brings up again, and there is no one who can escape his hand.
6
If you turn to him with all your heart and with all your soul, to do
what is true before him, then he will turn to you and will not hide
his face from you. But see what he will do with you; give thanks to
him with your full voice. Praise the Lord of righteousness, and exalt
the King of the ages. I give him thanks in the land of my captivity,
and I show his power and majesty to a nation of sinners. Turn back,
you sinners, and do right before him; who knows if he will accept you
and have mercy on you?
7
I exalt my God; my soul exalts the King of heaven, and will rejoice
in his majesty.
8
Let all men speak, and give him thanks in Jerusalem.
GOSPEL:
Luke 2:
41 - 51
41
Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the
Passover.
42
And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom;
43
and when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus
stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it,
44
but supposing him to be in the company they went a day's journey, and
they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintances;
45
and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking
him.
46
After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the
teachers, listening to them and asking them questions;
47
and all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his
answers.
48
And when they saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to
him, "Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I
have been looking for you anxiously."
49
And he said to them, "How is it that you sought me? Did you not
know that I must be in my Father's house?"
50
And they did not understand the saying which he spoke to them.
51
And he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to
them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart.
