Readings of the day

Mass readings

1. First reading Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14

   ²For the Lord honors the father over the children, and has confirmed the judgment of the mother over her sons. ³He who honors his father will make atonement for sins. ⁴He who gives glory to his mother is as one who lays up treasure. ⁵Whoever honors his father will have joy in his own children. He will be heard in the day of his prayer. ⁶He who gives glory to his father will have length of days. He who listens to the Lord will bring rest to his mother, ¹²My son, help your father in his old age, and don’t grieve him as long as he lives. ¹³If he fails in understanding, have patience with him. Don’t dishonor him in your full strength. ¹⁴For the kindness to your father will not be forgotten. Instead of sins it will be added to build you up.

   WEB-C · World English Bible (Catholic). Public Domain. Source: eBible.org. Read in context: Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14

2. Responsorial Psalm Psalms 128:1-2, 3, 4-5

   ¹A Song of Ascents. Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, who walks in his ways. ²For you will eat the labor of your hands. You will be happy, and it will be well with you. ³Your wife will be as a fruitful vine in the innermost parts of your house, your children like olive shoots around your table. ⁴Behold, this is how the man who fears the LORD is blessed. ⁵May the LORD bless you out of Zion, and may you see the good of Jerusalem all the days of your life.

   WEB-C · World English Bible (Catholic). Public Domain. Source: eBible.org. Read in context: Psalms 128:1-2, 3, 4-5

3. Second reading Colossians 3:12-21

   ¹²Put on therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, humility, and perseverance; ¹³bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, if any man has a complaint against any; even as Christ forgave you, so you also do. ¹⁴Above all these things, walk in love, which is the bond of perfection. ¹⁵And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body, and be thankful. ¹⁶Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your heart to the Lord. ¹⁷Whatever you do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. ¹⁸Wives, be in subjection to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. ¹⁹Husbands, love your wives, and don’t be bitter against them. ²⁰Children, obey your parents in all things, for this pleases the Lord. ²¹Fathers, don’t provoke your children, so that they won’t be discouraged.

   WEB-C · World English Bible (Catholic). Public Domain. Source: eBible.org. Read in context: Colossians 3:12-21

4. Gospel acclamation Colossians 3:15a, 16a

5. Gospel Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23

   ¹³Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and stay there until I tell you, for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.” ¹⁴He arose and took the young child and his mother by night and departed into Egypt, ¹⁵and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called my son.” ¹⁹But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, ²⁰“Arise and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel, for those who sought the young child’s life are dead.” ²¹He arose and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. ²²But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in the place of his father, Herod, he was afraid to go there. Being warned in a dream, he withdrew into the region of Galilee, ²³and came and lived in a city called Nazareth; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophets that he will be called a Nazarene.

   WEB-C · World English Bible (Catholic). Public Domain. Source: eBible.org. Read in context: Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23