Greeting
We are already the children of God;
we need not be afraid in his presence.
May the Lord Jesus be always with you.
R/ And also with you.
Introduction by the Celebrant
A. In The House Of The FatherIt may come as a real surprise to us to hear Jesus ask Mary and Joseph: "Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I had to be where my Father is?" Even Joseph and Mary had still to learn and to grow in their faith. Like the Holy Family, our families and each of us have also to grow in the faith. Perhaps it is through painful trials like the one of Mary and Joseph that our faith may become mature. We too are asked: Did you not know...?
B. Busy With The Father's Affairs
It is perhaps hard for us to imagine that Jesus, God's own Son, was really human, that he grew up not only physically but matured as a person and discovered little by little who he was. Of course, the whole Holy Family sought to do the will of God but we see Jesus affirm today that he has become aware that he is especially close to the Father and that God's loving will is all that matters. Isn't that all that matters for us, too, and should also we not grow closer to God? Let Jesus here in this Eucharist help us to become mature in God's love.
Penitential Act
Are we still willing to grow in our faith?
Let us examine ourselves before the Lord.
(pause)
Lord Jesus, you accepted to live
under the authority of Mary and Joseph:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Jesus Christ, your mother pondered in her heart
the events happening in her life:
Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, with Mary and Joseph
you sought above everything
the will of the Father in heaven:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Lord, forgive us our sins
and our lack of understanding.
Make us mature in our faith and love.
Lead us to everlasting life. R/ Amen.
Opening Prayer
Let us pray
that the Lord Jesus may grow up in us
(pause)
God our Father,
we give you all thanks and praise
that you chose for your Son a human family.
Through the prayers and example
of Mary and Joseph,
may we too learn
to make room for Jesus in our life,
that he may grow up in us day after day
and make us more like him.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord. R/ Amen.
Liturgy of the Word
First Reading Introduction: Now I Give My Son To The Lord
In her old age, Hannah had asked the Lord to give her a son. When the Lord had answered her prayer, she offered Samuel for the Lord's service.
In her old age, Hannah had asked the Lord to give her a son. When the Lord had answered her prayer, she offered Samuel for the Lord's service.
Second Reading Introduction: We Are Already God's Children
Beyond the Holy Family of Nazareth, there is the great family of all God's children, united in one love. God is our Father, the Son is our brother, and the Holy Spirit is our bond of love.
Beyond the Holy Family of Nazareth, there is the great family of all God's children, united in one love. God is our Father, the Son is our brother, and the Holy Spirit is our bond of love.
Gospel Introduction: I Must Be In My Father's House
When Jesus is lost in the Temple, Mary and Joseph experience again the discomfort of being part of Jesus' mission. The service of God and people comes first.
General Intercessions
With the Holy Family of Nazareth we trust in the Lord, who knows all our needs, and we ask him to bless all our human families. Let us say: R/ Lord, bless your people.
• For the family of the Church, that it may be a mother and a home for all people in need, let us pray: R/ Lord, bless your people.
• For all married couples, that they may keep the freshness of their first love or rediscover it, let us pray: R/ Lord, bless your people.
• For all the families of the world, that they may keep growing in mutual appreciation and service, let us pray: R/ Lord, bless your people.
• For children and young people, that their parents may be to them grownups concerned about their growth and happiness, let us pray: R/ Lord, bless your people.
• For separated couples and their children, that they may meet warmhearted people whose understanding helps them to overcome the failures of their home life, let us pray: R/ Lord, bless your people.
• For our Christian communities, that as members of one family we may learn to carry each other's burdens and to share each other's joys, let us pray:R/ Lord, bless your people.
Father, we trust in you. May we not deny one another all the love you show us in Jesus Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.
Prayer over the Gifts
God our Father,Preface:
you invite us to share the family table
of Jesus your Son.
May the food and drink he gives us
change us into gifts to one another,
that we may become each other's
bread and wine, life and joy.
Let serving love and respect
be our offering to one another,
today and tomorrow and every day,
on account of your Son in our midst,
Jesus Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.
It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation, always and everywhere to give you thanks, Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God, through Christ our Lord.
For on the feast of this awe-filled mystery, though invisible in his own divine nature, he has appeared visibly in ours; and begotten before all ages, he has begun to exist in time; so that, raising up in himself all that was cast down, he might restore unity to all creation and call straying humanity back to the heavenly Kingdom.
And so, with all the Angels, we praise you, as in joyful celebration we acclaim:
Introduction to the Eucharistic Prayer
Today we thank our Father for having given us the Holy Family as a model of loving service for our homes. May this Eucharist make us responsive to God's love.
Introduction to the Lord's Prayer
United before God as his sons and daughters,
we pray the prayer taught us
by his son, Jesus of Nazareth. R/ Our Father...
Deliver Us
Deliver us Lord, from every evil
and let the peace of Christ live
in our hearts and our homes.
Keep us from all that divides us
or encloses us within ourselves.
Give us compassion, gentleness, and patience,
that we may prepare in hope and joy
the full coming among us
of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. R/ For the kingdom...
Invitation to Communion
This is Jesus the Lord,
who comes to unite us
as the sons and daughters of the Father.
Happy are we to be invited
at the family table of the Lord. R/ Lord, I am not worthy...
Prayer after Communion
God our Father,
Jesus your Son made himself near to us
in this Eucharistic celebration.
He has been here for us
approachable and available to all.
May he keep on living
in our homes and our communities.
Let him make us approachable
and available to one another,
even at the cost of personal discomfort
and, with Mary and Joseph,
ready for any task you may entrust to us.
For we can do everything
in the name of Jesus the Lord. R/ Amen.
Blessing
It was good to be together
as the family of God's people
and to pray with the Holy Family of Nazareth
for what is dear to all of us:
our homes, our families,
the Christian community,
the family of our nation and people.
May God bless you all
and keep you united:
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. R/ Amen.
Go in the peace of the Lord. R/ Thanks be to God.
