First reading Ecclesiasticus 3:2-6,12-14
He who fears the Lord respects his parents
The Lord honours the father in his children,
and upholds the rights of a mother over her sons.
Whoever respects his father is atoning for his sins,
he who honours his mother is like someone amassing a fortune.
Whoever respects his father will be happy with children of his own,
he shall be heard on the day when he prays.
Long life comes to him who honours his father,
he who sets his mother at ease is showing obedience to the Lord.
My son, support your father in his old age,
do not grieve him during his life.
Even if his mind should fail, show him sympathy,
do not despise him in your health and strength;
for kindness to a father shall not be forgotten
but will serve as reparation for your sins.
Responsorial Psalm 127(128):1-5
Second reading Colossians 3:12-21
Family life in the Lord
You are God’s chosen race, his saints; he loves you, and you should be clothed in sincere compassion, in kindness and humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with one another; forgive each other as soon as a quarrel begins. The Lord has forgiven you; now you must do the same. Over all these clothes, to keep them together and complete them, put on love. And may the peace of Christ reign in your hearts, because it is for this that you were called together as parts of one body. Always be thankful.
Let the message of Christ, in all its richness, find a home with you. Teach each other, and advise each other, in all wisdom. With gratitude in your hearts sing psalms and hymns and inspired songs to God; and never say or do anything except in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Wives, give way to your husbands, as you should in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and treat them with gentleness. Children, be obedient to your parents always, because that is what will please the Lord. Parents, never drive your children to resentment or you will make them feel frustrated.
Gospel Matthew 2:13-15,19-23
The flight into Egypt and the return to Nazareth
After the wise men had left, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, ‘Get up, take the child and his mother with you, and escape into Egypt, and stay there until I tell you, because Herod intends to search for the child and do away with him.’ So Joseph got up and, taking the child and his mother with him, left that night for Egypt, where he stayed until Herod was dead. This was to fulfil what the Lord had spoken through the prophet:
I called my son out of Egypt.
After Herod’s death, the angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, ‘Get up, take the child and his mother with you and go back to the land of Israel, for those who wanted to kill the child are dead.’ So Joseph got up and, taking the child and his mother with him, went back to the land of Israel. But when he learnt that Archelaus had succeeded his father Herod as ruler of Judaea he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he left for the region of Galilee. There he settled in a town called Nazareth. In this way the words spoken through the prophets were to be fulfilled:
‘He will be called a Nazarene.’
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The Holy Family
The Feast of the Holy Family reveals that God entered the world not through power, but through a simple family: Mary, Joseph, and Jesus. They show that holiness resides in everyday acts of love and faithfulness. In today’s gospel, Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus are not shown in a peaceful home. Instead, they face a crisis: they flee danger and live as migrants in a foreign land. Their holiness does not come from avoiding problems but from how they respond. They trust in God, protect one another, and remain faithful during uncertain times. This reminds us that families become holy not because they are perfect, but because they support one another through life’s challenges.
In the second reading, St Paul’s words offer a beautiful portrait of what a holy family looks like from the inside: “Put on compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience… Bear with one another… Forgive one another… And over all these, put on love.” These virtues are not abstract ideals; they are the daily garments of family life. May this feast strengthen us to “put on love” in our homes, to trust God in difficulties, and to allow Christ to be the centre who unites, heals, and renews us.
Reflective question:
How can I practice virtues like compassion, kindness, and humility in my daily routine and transform ordinary tasks into acts of love?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year A” by Sr Maria Jose FMVD
