SUNDAY IN THE OCTAVE OF CHRISTMAS: HOLY FAMILY A Lectionary #17
Family life is not merely day-to-day living; even such mundane relationships are part of the divine plan. The way he was formed by his own family life shaped Jesus to become our savior.
Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14. The text offers traditional wisdom about the way children should care for their parents, but it concludes with the promise that behavior toward parents will be judged by God; it shapes our union with God.
Psalm of the Day: Ps (127) 128
This wisdom psalm suggests that fidelity to God will be rewarded in a happy family life. While this does not always seem to come true, it points out the more basic belief that our faith is connected to our daily behavior.
Blessed Are Those Who Fear the Lord (Guimont) GC 996/LPMG 17
Blessed Are Those Who Fear the Lord (Schiavone) LP 24/JS 894
Blessed Are You Who Fear the Lord (Rendek/Burns) PRM A10/PMB 570
Dichoso el que Teme (Contreraz) Cantos 78
Dichoso el que Teme al Señor (García) FYC 267
Dichoso el que Teme al Señor (Taulé) FYC 266
Dichosos Los Que Temen al Señor/Blessed Are Those Who Fear the Lord (Schiavone) SS
Happy Are Those (Somerville) CBW 33
O Blessed Are Those (Gelineau) CBW 431/LPGG 782
O Blessed Are Those (Inwood) JS 104/MI‑BB/GP 273/SP2 68
O Happy Are Those (Gelineau) WOR 782/RS 172
Suggested Common Psalm: Ps (97) 98
All the Ends of the Earth (see suggestions for Christmas Mass during the Day)
Colossians 3:12-21. The final paragraph in this reading, one of the more controversial texts from Paul's letters, may be used today or it may be omitted. After a set of basic instructions on how to behave as believers and within the community, Paul tells wives to “be subordinate.” This was routine advice in his time. The next piece of advice—“Husbands, love your wives”—was not routine, because wives were only slightly better off than slaves or small children in that society. Paul, in effect, was trying to blindside Christian men into a new way of behavior.
Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23. Matthew is explaining why Jesus, born in Bethlehem and thought to be a descendant of David, wound up living in Nazareth and saying nothing about his royal connections. On a human level, it was the fear of the Herodian dynasty that caused this, but even that fearful decision fulfilled the prophecies.
Songs for the Liturgy
*Blest Are Those Who Love You (Ps) GC 70/CBW 628/PCY2 43/RS 173
Bread of Life (Farrell) B Advent/Christmas setting (1,G) JS 819/BB
Child of Gladness (G) CBW 326
Child of the Poor (G) JS 366/GP 336/BB
Christ, You Are the Fullness (2) CBW 431
Come, Sing a Home and Family (G) PMB 220/WC 949/WS 684
*Coventry Carol (G)
Faith, Hope and Love (2) GC 609
Faithful Family (2) GP 365
For the Beauty of the Earth (2) GC 548/WOR 557/GP 704/CBW 531/WC 933/JS 642/MI‑BB/RS 697/PMB 517/WS 679/SS
God Is Love (2) CBW 473/MI‑BB/GC 608/JS 749/RS 744/GP 647
God Made from One Blood (1) RS 824
God of Adam, God of Joseph RS 960/GC 870/JS 361
God of Eve and God of Mary RS 959/GC 871/JS 360
*How Happy You Who Fear the Lord (Ps) PMB 336/WC 669
Love One Another (2) RS 745/JS 752/MI‑BB/GP 645
Love Which Never Ends GP 465/MI-BB/JS 573
Once in Royal David's City (G) WOR 402/GC 380/WC 471/RS 526/PMB 205/JS 362/BB/SS
Our Father, by Whose Name (1,2,G) WOR 570/RS 961
*Our Savior=s Infant Cries Were Heard (G) HG 98
Sing of Mary (G) WOR 404/GP 432/MI‑BB/LMGM 100/WC 962/GC 778/JS 490/RS 528/PMB 538/WS 685/SS
The Aye Carol RS 525/GC 381
The Greatest Gift (2) PMB 334/WC 668/WS 483
The Snow Lay on the Ground (G) JS 354/BB/WC 482/PMB 221/SS
Ubi Caritas (2) WOR 604/GC 430, 568, 601/CBW 67, 376/WC 800, 807/MI‑BB/RS 746/JS 753, 754, 805/GP 364/PMB 428, 430/WS 579, 580/SS
*We Praise You, vss 6‑7 (Ps) GP 677/GC 540/MI‑BB/RS 694/JS 626
What Child Is This (G) WOR 411/LMGM 29/GP 337/BB/CBW 338/GC 387/WC 499/JS 365/RS 530/PMB 216/WS 362/SS
When Love Is Found (2) WOR 745/WC 670/CBW 629/RS 942/GC 856/MI-BB/PMB 337/JS 568/WS 482/SS
Where Charity and Love Prevail (2) GC 610/MI‑BB/WC 801,806/JS 756/RS 747/GP 644/PMB 424, 429/WS 575, 580/SS
Where There Is Love (2) MI‑BB/CBW 631/JS 569/GP 464