Daily Gospel Reflection for December 29, 2024: Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph

Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel.

Today's Gospel: Luke 2:41-52

We know very little about Jesus’ boyhood, but, like all of us, He was a child once too. He must have been an amazing child and young man. While in the temple, away from His parents for three days, today’s Gospel says,

“ . . . and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers.”

In Mary and Joseph’s beautiful response of saying yes to the Lord’s call of raising Jesus, they knew that meant raising Jesus in their faith. They had to raise Him in all of His divinity to love the Lord. They were Jesus’ first teachers of faith and of love. Mary, our ultimate model in femininity and obedience, should also be our guide for creating a domestic church. She taught Jesus to pray. She probably taught Him songs and Scriptures. Mary had to nurture her Son, our Savior, in some of His spiritual needs as a young boy, as well as His physical needs.

As we celebrate the Holy Family today, let us remember to foster a family of holiness within our own domestic churches. Set aside time each day to pray as a family, read the daily scriptures, and learn more about Jesus. Ask your children how they shared the faith that day, how they were a friend, and tell them how you did the same.

Our goal is to lead our children to become saints. We can use Mary’s example of teaching Jesus the faith to guide us in our own domestic churches.

Ponder:

How can we foster our domestic churches?

Pray:

Sts. Mary and Joseph, pray for us and our families today. Intercede in our behalf to create domestic churches that will lead and guide our children to follow your son, Jesus Christ, Our Savior.

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