Homily notes, scripture reflections and prayers of the people for Christmas Day, Feast of the Holy Family (29 December), the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God (1 January 2020) and the Feast of the Epiphany.
In the scripture reflections over the next fortnight we reflect on Luke’s Gospel (2:1-14) of how the census decreed by Caesar Augustus brought Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem (Christmas). For the Feast of the Holy Family (29 December) the reflection is on Matthew’s Gospel (2:13-15, 19-23) which records the flight of the Holy Family to Egypt, while for the Feast of the Epiphany, it is again Matthew’s Gospel which tells of the wise men’s interactions with King Herod.
In his homily notes, Fr Brendan Byrne SJ says the Lectionary offers a rich selection of scriptural texts for the midnight celebration of Christ’s birth, perhaps the most loved of the entire year. He warns that the Feast of the Holy Family is not the easiest form from a New Testament point of view. He says the reform of the liturgy in the 1960s as regards the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, revived a very ancient tradition as it was the first feast established in honour of Mary but it had fallen in neglect as other feasts were established.
In the prayers of the people, on Christmas Day we pray for all whose lives radiate the light of Christ. On 29 December the weekly intention is for the children of fractured families, while for the week beginning 5 January (The feast of the Epiphany) it is for all who question their life’s purpose.