THE GOSPEL
Luke 2:41-52“Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.”
Mary
and Joseph,
looked everywhere
with their whole hearts,
and with harrowing anxiety,
for you, Jesus.
And they found you.
Let us
all find you
where we search:
in the Father’s House,
or in the faces of the poor,
––in songs we sing together,
in searching for answers, to end
all racial injustice, to find climate solutions;
to look into the deep thoughts of others; and in poetry.
Let it
all be prayer.
Come to us, Lord Jesus.
THE FIRST READING
Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14
Those who honor their father will have joy in their own children
Dear Lord,
your love spreads.
It is catching.
Your love
starts from you,
touches a mother here,
passes along to a father there
and gladdens its way into children’s hearts.
Wherever love settles, it heals,
makes miracles,
then returns
us
to you.
Let us let in your affection,
and make family.
In kindness
and in
love.
THE SECOND READING
Colossians 3:12-21 or 3:12-17
And over all these put on love. ...
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.
Christ,
how
greatly
we desire
to put on love,
like clothes we wear,
like the skin we dwell in.
Peace, heart’s yearning
kindness, humility,
gentleness and
patience:
let these dwell in us richly.
Let the peace of Christ
guide our hearts