The
Seventh Day in the Octave of Christmas
 |
| "Holy Family" -- by Juan Simón Gutiérrez |
FIRST
READING: Sirach
3:2-7, 12-14
2
Children, hear the judgment of your father, and so do that you may be
saved.
3
For God hath made the father honourable to the children: and seeking
the judgment of the mothers, hath confirmed it upon the children.
4
He that loveth God, shall obtain pardon for his sins by prayer, and
shall refrain himself from them, and shall be heard in the prayer of
days.
5
And he that honoureth his mother is as one that layeth up a treasure.
6
He that honoureth his father shall have joy in his own children, and
in the day of his prayer he shall be heard.
7
He that honoureth his father shall enjoy a long life: and he that
obeyeth the father, shall be a comfort to his mother.
12
Glory not in the dishonour of thy father: for his shame is no glory
to thee.
13
For the glory of a man is from the honour of his father, and a father
without honour is the disgrace of the son.
14
Son, support the old age of thy father, and grieve him not in his
life.
OR
FIRST
READING: Genesis
15:1-6; 21:1-3
1
Now when these things were done, the word of the Lord came to Abram
by a vision, saying: Fear not, Abram, I am thy protector, and thy
reward exceeding great.
2
And Abram said: Lord God, what wilt thou give me? I shall go without
children: and the son of the steward of my house is this Damascus
Eliezer.
3
And Abram added: But to me thou hast not given seed: and lo my
servant, born in my house, shall be my heir.
4
And immediately the word of the Lord came to him, saying: He shall
not be thy heir: but he that shall come out of thy bowels, him shalt
thou have for thy heir.
5
And he brought him forth abroad, and said to him: Look up to heaven
and number the stars, if thou canst. And he said to him: So shall thy
seed be.
6
Abram believed God, and it was reputed to him unto justice.
1
And the Lord visited Sara, as he had promised: and fulfilled what he
had spoken.
2
And she conceived and bore a son in her old age, at the time that God
had foretold her.
3
And Abraham called the name of his son, whom Sara bore him, Isaac.
PSALM:
Psalms 128:1-5
1
Blessed are all they that fear the Lord: that walk in his ways.
2
For thou shalt eat the labours of thy hands: blessed art thou, and it
shall be well with thee.
3
Thy wife as a fruitful vine, on the sides of thy house.
4
Behold, thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the Lord.
5
May the Lord bless thee out of Sion: and mayest thou see the good
things of Jerusalem all the days of thy life.
OR
PSALM:
Psalms 105:1-6, 8-9
1
Alleluia. Give glory to the Lord, and call upon his name: declare his
deeds among the Gentiles.
2
Sing to him, yea sing praises to him: relate all his wondrous works.
3
Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek
the Lord.
4
Seek ye the Lord, and be strengthened: seek his face evermore.
5
Remember his marvellous works which he hath done; his wonders, and
the judgments of his mouth.
6
O ye seed of Abraham his servant; ye sons of Jacob his chosen.
8
He hath remembered his covenant for ever: the word which he commanded
to a thousand generations.
9
Which he made to Abraham; and his oath to Isaac.
SECOND
READING: Colossians
3:12-21
12
Put ye on therefore, as the elect of God, holy, and beloved, the
bowels of mercy, benignity, humility, modesty, patience:
13
Bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if any have a
complaint against another: even as the Lord hath forgiven you, so do
you also.
14
But above all these things have charity, which is the bond of
perfection:
15
And let the peace of Christ rejoice in your hearts, wherein also you
are called in one body: and be ye thankful.
16
Let the word of Christ dwell in you abundantly, in all wisdom:
teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual
canticles, singing in grace in your hearts to God.
17
All whatsoever you do in word or in work, do all in the name of the
Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
18
Wives, be subject to your husbands, as it behoveth in the Lord.
19
Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter towards them.
20
Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing
to the Lord.
21
Fathers, provoke not your children to indignation, lest they be
discouraged.
OR
SECOND
READING: Colossians
3:12-17
12
Put ye on therefore, as the elect of God, holy, and beloved, the
bowels of mercy, benignity, humility, modesty, patience:
13
Bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if any have a
complaint against another: even as the Lord hath forgiven you, so do
you also.
14
But above all these things have charity, which is the bond of
perfection:
15
And let the peace of Christ rejoice in your hearts, wherein also you
are called in one body: and be ye thankful.
16
Let the word of Christ dwell in you abundantly, in all wisdom:
teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual
canticles, singing in grace in your hearts to God.
17
All whatsoever you do in word or in work, do all in the name of the
Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
OR
SECOND
READING: Hebrews
11:8,11-12,17-19
8
By faith he that is called Abraham, obeyed to go out into a place
which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not
knowing whither he went.
11
By faith also Sara herself, being barren, received strength to
conceive seed, even past the time of age; because she believed that
he was faithful who had promised,
12
For which cause there sprung even from one (and him as good as dead)
as the stars of heaven in multitude, and as the sand which is by the
sea shore innumerable.
17
By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered Isaac: and he that had
received the promises, offered up his only begotten son;
18
(To whom it was said: In Isaac shall thy seed be called.)
19
Accounting that God is able to raise up even from the dead. Whereupon
also he received him for a parable.
GOSPEL:
Luke 2:22-40
22
And after the days of her purification, according to the law of
Moses, were accomplished, they carried him to Jerusalem, to present
him to the Lord:
23
As it is written in the law of the Lord: Every male opening the womb
shall be called holy to the Lord:
24
And to offer a sacrifice, according as it is written in the law of
the Lord, a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons:
25
And behold there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon, and this man
was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel; and the
Holy Ghost was in him.
26
And he had received an answer from the Holy Ghost, that he should not
see death, before he had seen the Christ of the Lord.
27
And he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when his parents
brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of
the law,
28
He also took him into his arms, and blessed God, and said:
29
Now thou dost dismiss thy servant, O Lord, according to thy word in
peace;
30
Because my eyes have seen thy salvation,
31
Which thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples:
32
A light to the revelation of the Gentiles, and the glory of thy
people Israel.
33
And his father and mother were wondering at those things which were
spoken concerning him.
34
And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary his mother: Behold this
child is set for the fall, and for the resurrection of many in
Israel, and for a sign which shall be contradicted;
35
And thy own soul a sword shall pierce, that, out of many hearts,
thoughts may be revealed.
36
And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the
tribe of Aser; she was far advanced in years, and had lived with her
husband seven years from her virginity.
37
And she was a widow until fourscore and four years; who departed not
from the temple, by fastings and prayers serving night and day.
38
Now she, at the same hour, coming in, confessed to the Lord; and
spoke of him to all that looked for the redemption of Israel.
39
And after they had performed all things according to the law of the
Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their city Nazareth.
40
And the child grew, and waxed strong, full of wisdom; and the grace
of God was in him.
OR
GOSPEL:
Luke 2:22, 39-40
22
And after the days of her purification, according to the law of
Moses, were accomplished, they carried him to Jerusalem, to present
him to the Lord:
39
And after they had performed all things according to the law of the
Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their city Nazareth.
40
And the child grew, and waxed strong, full of wisdom; and the grace
of God was in him.
