The Holy Family – December 27, 2026

⁷But to every one of us is given grace, according to the measure of the giving of Christ.

⁸Wherefore he saith: Ascending on high, he led captivity captive; he gave gifts to men.

⁹Now that he ascended, what is it, but because he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?

¹⁰He that descended is the same also that ascended above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.

¹¹And he gave some apostles, and some prophets, and other some evangelists, and other some pastors and doctors,

¹²For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

¹³Until we all meet into the unity of faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the age of the fulness of Christ;

¹⁴That henceforth we be no more children tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the wickedness of men, by cunning craftiness, by which they lie in wait to deceive.

¹⁵But doing the truth in charity, we may in all things grow up in him who is the head, even Christ:

¹⁶From whom the whole body, being compacted and fitly joined together, by what every joint supplieth, according to the operation in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body, unto the edifying of itself in charity.

¹I rejoiced at the things that were said to me: We shall go into the house of the Lord.

²Our feet were standing in thy courts, O Jerusalem.

³Jerusalem, which is built as a city, which is compact together.

⁴For thither did the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord: the testimony of Israel, to praise the name of the Lord.

⁵Because their seats have sat in judgment, seats upon the house of David.

¹¹Say to them: As I live, saith the Lord God, I desire not the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way, and live. Turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways: and why will you die, O house of Israel?

¹And there were present, at that very time, some that told him of the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.

²And he answering, said to them: Think you that these Galileans were sinners above all the men of Galilee, because they suffered such things?

³No, I say to you: but unless you shall do penance, you shall all likewise perish.

⁴Or those eighteen upon whom the tower fell in Siloe, and slew them: think you, that they also were debtors above all the men that dwelt in Jerusalem?

⁵No, I say to you; but except you do penance, you shall all likewise perish.

⁶He spoke also this parable: A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it, and found none.

⁷And he said to the dresser of the vineyard: Behold, for these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it done therefore: why cumbereth it the ground?

⁸But he answering, said to him: Lord, let it alone this year also, until I dig about it, and dung it.

⁹And if happily it bear fruit: but if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.

¹Now when these things were done, the word of the Lord came to Abram by a vision, saying: Fear not, Abram, I am thy protector, and thy reward exceeding great.

²And Abram said: Lord God, what wilt thou give me? I shall go without children: and the son of the steward of my house is this Damascus Eliezer.

³And Abram added: But to me thou hast not given seed: and lo my servant, born in my house, shall be my heir.

⁴And immediately the word of the Lord came to him, saying: He shall not be thy heir: but he that shall come out of thy bowels, him shalt thou have for thy heir.

⁵And he brought him forth abroad, and said to him: Look up to heaven and number the stars, if thou canst. And he said to him: So shall thy seed be.

⁶Abram believed God, and it was reputed to him unto justice.

¹And the Lord visited Sara, as he had promised: and fulfilled what he had spoken.

²And she conceived and bore a son in her old age, at the time that God had foretold her.

³And Abraham called the name of his son, whom Sara bore him, Isaac.

¹Alleluia. Give glory to the Lord, and call upon his name: declare his deeds among the Gentiles.

²Sing to him, yea sing praises to him: relate all his wondrous works.

³Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord.

⁴Seek ye the Lord, and be strengthened: seek his face evermore.

⁵Remember his marvellous works which he hath done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth.

⁶O ye seed of Abraham his servant; ye sons of Jacob his chosen.

⁸He hath remembered his covenant for ever: the word which he commanded to a thousand generations.

⁹Which he made to Abraham; and his oath to Isaac:

⁸By faith he that is called Abraham, obeyed to go out into a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

¹¹By faith also Sara herself, being barren, received strength to conceive seed, even past the time of age; because she believed that he was faithful who had promised,

¹²For which cause there sprung even from one (and him as good as dead) as the stars of heaven in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.

¹⁷By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered Isaac: and he that had received the promises, offered up his only begotten son;

¹⁸(To whom it was said: In Isaac shall thy seed be called.)

¹⁹Accounting that God is able to raise up even from the dead. Whereupon also he received him for a parable.

²²And after the days of her purification, according to the law of Moses, were accomplished, they carried him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord:

²³As it is written in the law of the Lord: Every male opening the womb shall be called holy to the Lord:

²⁴And to offer a sacrifice, according as it is written in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons:

²⁵And behold there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Ghost was in him.

²⁶And he had received an answer from the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Christ of the Lord.

²⁷And he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when his parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law,

²⁸He also took him into his arms, and blessed God, and said:

²⁹Now thou dost dismiss thy servant, O Lord, according to thy word in peace;

³⁰Because my eyes have seen thy salvation,

³¹Which thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples:

³²A light to the revelation of the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

³³And his father and mother were wondering at those things which were spoken concerning him.

³⁴And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary his mother: Behold this child is set for the fall, and for the resurrection of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be contradicted;

³⁵And thy own soul a sword shall pierce, that, out of many hearts, thoughts may be revealed.

³⁶And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser; she was far advanced in years, and had lived with her husband seven years from her virginity.

³⁷And she was a widow until fourscore and four years; who departed not from the temple, by fastings and prayers serving night and day.

³⁸Now she, at the same hour, coming in, confessed to the Lord; and spoke of him to all that looked for the redemption of Israel.

³⁹And after they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their city Nazareth.

⁴⁰And the child grew, and waxed strong, full of wisdom; and the grace of God was in him.