Archbishop Jerome E. Listecki
Choir: Heart of the Nation
Text from the Gospel and Homily ~ December 29, 2024
The Lord be with you. And with your spirit.
A reading from the holy gospel according to St. Luke. Glory to you, Lord.
Each year Jesus' parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to the 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 advances in wisdom and age and favor before God and man.
The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.
There was a congregational church which posted the themes of the sermons on the billboard outside the church. The morning sermon theme was 'Jesus walks on water.' the evening service theme was 'the search for Jesus.' I'm sure they forgot to check the inferences of the two themes. But that's a question. How do you lose Jesus? Ironically I guess many people misplace Jesus even in their own lives. Some, relegate Jesus to an hour on Sunday and forget about him the rest of the week. Others ignore him as meaningless. Jesus doesn't bother them and they don't bother Jesus. And still others are just plain ignorant of him. But certainly the gospel gives us every indication of where to look for him. Mary and joseph found him in the temple. In the midst of the teachers who were astounded at his understanding and his answers. We can easily find him in church. It is his father's house. Not only his home but our home. Also where we gather as family. In the Eucharist he fulfills his promise to be one with us forever. In answer to Mary and Joseph's anxiety, the question 'Son why have you done this to us?' He said to them, "Did you not know that I must be in my father's house?" They did not understand his response but Jesus returned with them and was obedient to them. We possess two families. The human family which is fashioned in the flesh. The flesh Jesus, Mary and Joseph given as a model for how we should care for one another. The other our heavenly family which is fashioned by the love of God and his commandment is this: we should believe in the name of the son Jesus Christ and love one another just as he has commanded us. We will never lose Jesus if we keep his command to love one another and we will see him in our brothers and sisters and experience God's family. See, what love the father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God.
Entrance: O Come All Ye Faithful
Text: Irregular with refrain; John F. Wade, ca. 1711-1786; tr. by Frederick Oakeley, 1802-1880, alt. Music: John F. Wade
Psalm 128: Blessed Are Those
Text © 1969, 1981, 1997, ICEL. All rights reserved. Used with permission. Music © 2018, Steve Angrisano. Published by OCP. All rights reserved.
Preparation: Away In A Manger
Text: 11 11 11 11; verses 1–2, Little Children’s Book for Schools and Families, ca. 1885; verse 3, Gabriel’s Vineyard Songs, 1892, alt. Music: attr. to James R. Murray, 1841–1905.
Communion: Child of the Poor/What Child Is This?
This song may be combined with “What Child Is This.” Use instructions in accompaniment books. Text and music © 1994, OCP. All rights reserved.
Sending Forth: Angels from the Realms of Glory
This song may be combined with “What Child Is This.” Use instructions in accompaniment books. Text and music © 1994, OCP. All rights reserved.
Mass Setting: Mass of the Holy Night
© 2010 Jeffrey Honore. Used with permission.
Permission to podcast/stream the music in this liturgy obtained from ONE LICENSE, License No. A-718591.
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