Holy Family

Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

If you have ever lost your children, you will surely remember this incident on hearing today’s Gospel. As soon as you notice that the children are not with you, especially if they are very young, you become anxious and you panic, and you will not calm down, before they are found. When you finally find them, your reactions are mixed. You are overjoyed that they are safe, however you may also be angry at yourself that you were not attentive, and angry at them, that they wandered away. You are undecided whether you hug them or scold them! Most probably, these are the same emotions Mary and Joseph felt, when they noticed that Jesus was lost. When they found him, Jesus was calm and he almost gives us the impression of being surprised that they were anxious. The same thing would happen to us, if we found the children engrossed, looking at toys! When you find them, they innocently look at you, as if they want to say “Where else could we be, if not looking at the toys!” 

Mary and Joseph lost Jesus, they looked for him and they found him. Did we find Jesus? Is Jesus part of our daily life? Do we seek him when we need him? We are never lost to Jesus, he is always with us. It is we, who distance ourselves from him. Where do we look for Jesus? Where do we meet him? Prayer and the Bible, are good starting points.

Today’s reading, portrays Mary and Joseph as being faithful and observant of God’s law. Jesus too, obeys his parents. He returns with them to Nazareth, where he grows “in wisdom and age and favour before God.” We grow in age, year after year, however maturity in wisdom and in our relationship with God needs our effort and commitment. As parents, today reflect on how you are helping your children to grow in wisdom and in using their various talents. Remember that the family is called to be a Domestic Church, that is, the family is the place where one grows up in faith, in his love for God and others. It is in the family, where children learn to choose between right and wrong and to grow up into good Christian citizens. 

A reading from the Gospel of Luke (Lk 2, 41-52) 

Each year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, and when he was twelve years old, they went up according to festival custom. After they had completed its days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. Thinking that he was in the caravan, they journeyed for a day and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances, but not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him. 

After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions, and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.” And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what he said to them.

He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart. And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and favour before God and man.

The Gospel of the Lord
Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ

  1. Read the Gospel story so that you are familiar with it.
  2. Reflect on what the Gospel is saying to you. Which points would you highlight and why?
  3. It is a big trauma if your children are lost and you do not immediately find them. However, it is a greater misfortune if the children make wrong choices and they put their life and their spiritual life in danger. Pray to the Holy Family to protect your children, pray that they always choose what is right.
  4. No family can match the Holy Family. However, all Christian families should aspire to become more like it. Discuss with your family, how you can become better. What can you do to resemble Mary, Joseph and Jesus, more?
  5. Mary and Joseph are portrayed as a faithful Jewish family, they obeyed God’s law and Jewish traditions. Is Christian faith part of your daily life or is it an obligation you have to endure?
  6. Together with your family find the right time to read this gospel. The environment helps, so before you start, prepare:
    i. The Bible reading from St Luke (2, 41-52)
    ii. One big white candle
    iii. Cover the table with a white cloth
    iv. A holy picture or statue of the Holy Family
    v. A computer/laptop with the reading and clips
  7. Go through the steps with your children (2 age groups are being suggested)
  8. Feel free to adapt to your situation
  9. Be creative 😊
  10. Go to the Prayer Corner section to continue praying as a family

Today we are going to hear about a time, when Jesus was twelve years old and he went to Jerusalem with Mary and Joseph.

coming soon.

  • Jesus teaches us to obey our parents
  • He showed us that when we pray and talk with God, we will be happy
  • A photograph of your family
  • Print today’s activity on construction paper
  • Decorations
  • Colour pencils
PrintoutDownload

What happened to Mary and Joseph? (Jesus was lost)

Were you ever lost?

What did you feel, when you did not see your parents?

What did they tell you, when they found you?

Today, we heard, how Jesus went to Jerusalem with his parents, when he was twelve years old. They lived in Nazareth, and they had to walk all the way. This was a long way to walk, most probably they walked for four or five days! They walked as one big group, parents, children, aunties, grandparents, friends. They went to Jerusalem to celebrate the feast of when God freed the Jews from Egypt. Do you remember the story of Moses, how with God’s help, he freed the Jews?

They remained in Jerusalem for some days to celebrate this feast, and then they returend home. They walked as a very big group. Jesus was not very young, so he could walk with his friends, if he wanted to. That is the reason, why Mary and Jospeh, did not notice immediatly that Jesus was not with them. As soon as they noticed, they were very worried and they went to look for him. 

If you were lost, what would your parents do? They will be worried, just like Mary and Joseph. After a long time, Mary and Joseph found Jesus. Do you remember where they found him? (in the Temple)

Jesus loved God a lot. That was the reason, why Jesus was not afraid in the Temple. When Mary and Joseph, found him, he was not crying, but he was happy talking with the teachers. Jesus was happy because he was in the Temple, the house of God. Jesus noticed that his parents were worried, so he returned with them and continued to live with them, he obeyed them and continued to learn and love God and others.

Today we saw, how Jesus was a boy like you, he also had a family, which loved him. Surely, when he prayed, he thanked God for Mary and Joseph, because they loved him and took care of him. Do you thank God, for mummy and daddy? Do you ask God to take care of them?

Today you are going to stick a photograph of your family on the printout. Afterwards, go over the dots with coloured pencils, so that the prayer may be read properly. You may wish to decorate around the photograph. Keep this near Baby Jesus, so that when you pass from in front of it, you remember to thank Jesus for your family.

Although in today’s Gospel, Jesus is twelve years old, we are still celebrating Christmas. So, go in front of Baby Jesus and tell him that you love him, also sing, Baby Jesus we love you.

Sign of the cross.

Thank you, Jesus for my family. Please take care of them and help them to be good parents, like Mary and Joseph. Jesus, I want to pray for those children, who do not have a family which loves them. Please send someone to take care of them and to love them. Thank you, Jesus.

Today is the feast of the Holy Family, Jesus, Mary and Joseph. In today’s Gospel, we will hear how this family faithfully and lovingly fulfilled its duties and obeyed the law of God. Jesus was twelve years old. Let us hear what happened when this family went to Jerusalem. 

Coming soon.

  • Jesus teaches us that we are to respect and obey our parents
  • We need to pray to God so that we become more like Jesus
  • Construction paper
  • A photograph of each member of the family
  • Colours and decorations
  • A pencil
PrintoutDownload

Why did Jesus go to Jerusalem with his family? (they went to celebrate the feast of Passover)

How old was Jesus? (he was twelve years old)

What happened when Mary and Joseph set out to return to Nazareth? (Jesus remained in the Temple)

What did Mary and Joseph do, when they noticed that Jesus was not with them? (they went to look for him)

Remember, that Mary and Joseph cared for Jesus; Jesus was lost, not because they were careless. In those days, they travelled in large groups, and children of Jesus’ age, could either travel with the women, with the men or with their friends. That is why Mary and Joseph did not immediately notice that Jesus remained behind.

Where did they find him? (in the Temple)

What was Jesus doing? (he was listening to the teachers and he was talking with them)

How would you feel, if you were lost, and your parents did not immediately find you?

When Jesus was found, he was not afraid. Why do you think that Jesus was not afraid, neither was he worried? (Jesus was in the Temple, the house of God, and he knew that there, no harm could reach him)

Did Jesus remain in the Temple or did he go with his parents? (Jesus obeyed his parents and returned with them to Nazareth)

Jesus returned to Nazareth, because he loved and respected his parents. When we love our family, and our family loves us, we grow up to be better persons. You know that it is not always easy to obey your parents, neither is it easy for parents to always do what is right. However, if you pray to Jesus, he will help you, so that as a family, you will choose what is right.

The Gospel ends by saying that “Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and favour before God and man.” It was his family, which helped Jesus to grow up, just as your family helps you. How does your family help you to grow? (by providing healthy food, you go to school, you go for sports or other activities, you pray, you read the Bible, you go for catechetical meetings, you go to church ….)

For today’s activity, you are going to stick the photos of your family on the construction paper. Allow space, from one photo to another. Near each photo, write down how that person helps you to grow in “wisdom and age and favour before God and man.” If you have younger siblings, write how you help them to grow. Underneath the photos, write a prayer and thank Jesus for your family and ask him to help you, so that you obey your parents.

We are in Christmas time, and we know that Jesus loves us, so, whilst doing the activity, listen to, When love was born.

Sign of the cross.

Lord God, today we celebrate the feast of the Holy Family. Help my family so that we love each other and so that there shall be peace amongst us. Let us help each other, so that we grow in wisdom and age and favour before you and others. We pray this, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Gospel in SymbolsDownload

How to use this space

God speaks to us in many ways, including through the Sunday Scripture readings. Here you will find useful background and activities to better understand the upcoming Sunday's Scripture readings, helping you to connect the Scripture to daily life in a meaningful way.