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| "The
Return from Egypt" -- by James Tissot |
FIRST
READING: Sirach
3: 2 - 7, 12 - 14
2
For the Lord honored the father above the children, and he confirmed
the right of the mother over her sons.
3
Whoever honors his father atones for sins,
4
and whoever glorifies his mother is like one who lays up treasure.
5
Whoever honors his father will be gladdened by his own children, and
when he prays he will be heard.
6
Whoever glorifies his father will have long life, and whoever obeys
the Lord will refresh his mother;
7
he will serve his parents as his masters.
12
O son, help your father in his old age, and do not grieve him as long
as he lives;
13
even if he is lacking in understanding, show forbearance; in all your
strength do not despise him.
14
For kindness to a father will not be forgotten, and against your sins
it will be credited to you.
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 Zion: and mayest thou see the good
things of Jerusalem all the days of thy life.
SECOND
READING: Colossians
3: 12 - 21 OR
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.
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
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.
GOSPEL:
Matthew 2:
13 - 15, 19 - 23
13
And after they were departed, behold an angel of the Lord appeared in
sleep to Joseph, saying: Arise, and take the child and his mother,
and fly into Egypt: and be there until I shall tell thee. For it will
come to pass that Herod will seek the child to destroy him.
14
Who arose, and took the child and his mother by night, and retired
into Egypt: and he was there until the death of Herod:
15
That it might be fulfilled which the Lord spoke by the prophet,
saying: Out of Egypt have I called my son.
19
But when Herod was dead, behold an angel of the Lord appeared in
sleep to Joseph in Egypt,
20
Saying: Arise, and take the child and his mother, and go into the
land of Israel. For they are dead that sought the life of the child.
21
Who arose, and took the child and his mother, and came into the land
of Israel.
22
But hearing that Archelaus reigned in Judea in the room of Herod his
father, he was afraid to go thither: and being warned in sleep
retired into the quarters of Galilee.
23
And coming he dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be
fulfilled which was said by prophets: That he shall be called a
Nazarene.
