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First Reading

Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14
1 Samuel 1:20-22, 24-28

1. Sirach: God brings each of us to the other by uniting us to the Trinity. Discuss. Does God’s love for someone help you to love that person?

2. 1 Samuel: Sunday’s feast celebrates not only the Holy Family—Jesus, Mary and Joseph—but also the Christmas family of God that we all become. Explain.


Second Reading

Colossians 3:12-21 or 3:12-17
1 John 3:1-2, 21-24

1 John: What does the term “children of God” imply about God? St. John says we can have confidence in God and receive from him whatever we ask. What kinds of things do you ask for?

2. Colossians: St. Paul says how we can love each other and live together with “heartfelt  compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another. … ” How are you doing with these things in your life? How are we as Church doing with them?


Gospel

Luke 2:41-52

1. Imagine Mary’s and Joseph’s anxiety as they searched for Jesus for three whole days. And imagine the long-term anxiety his answer gave them: “Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” How do you think Mary reacted? How would you have reacted?
                                                                   
2. “He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them … ” Pope Francis told the people in the Philippines that we are all called to make a home for Jesus. What does the Pope recommend that we do to make this happen?

As Christians, you too are called, like Joseph, to make a home for Jesus. You make a home for him in your hearts, your families, your parishes and your communities.
                                             
To hear and accept God’s call, to make a home for Jesus, you must be able to rest in the Lord. You must make time each day for prayer. But you may say to me: Holy Father, I want to pray, but there is so much work to do! I must care for my children; I have chores in the home; I am too tired even to sleep well. This may be true, but if we do not pray, we will not know the most important thing of all: God’s will for us. And for all our activity, our busy-ness, without prayer we will accomplish very little. 

Pope Francis Meeting with Families
Sri Lanka and the Philippines
Friday, 16 January 2015

Anne Osdieck
Art by Martin Erspamer, OSB
from Religious Clip Art for the Liturgical Year (A, B, and C). This art may be reproduced only by parishes who purchase the collection in book or CD-ROM form. For more information go http://www.ltp.org