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Saint Gertrude Parish - Lasne
December 28, 2025
On this page you will find:
The readings for Mass, the Mass leaflet with the choice of hymns
A sample universal prayer available for download, in PDF and editable Word formats.
A meditation on the Sunday Gospel, a spiritual text and commentary by Marie-Noëlle Thabut
The Holy Family
Party
“Get up; take the child and his mother,
and flee to Egypt.
Matthew 2:13
Readings from the Mass
Mass leaflet
Universal Prayer
Consult the Lectio Divina page, which invites you to read the Gospel in a prayerful atmosphere so that you may be touched in your heart. It is important not to rush to read commentaries or homilies before having this personal experience of encountering Christ in Scripture.
Next, if you wish, you can read the meditations below which will enrich your personal reading and meditation.
Meditation by Pope Francis
Today we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family of Nazareth. The term "holy" places this family within the realm of holiness, which is a gift from God but, at the same time, a free and responsible adherence to God's plan. This was true for the family of Nazareth: they were completely open to God's will.
How can we not be amazed, for example, by Mary's docility to the action of the Holy Spirit who asked her to become the mother of the Messiah? Because Mary, like all the young women of her time, was going to realize her life project, that is to say, marry Joseph.
But when she realizes that God is calling her to a particular mission, she does not hesitate to proclaim herself his “servant” (cf. Lk 1:38). Jesus will exalt her greatness, not so much for her role as mother as for her obedience to God. Jesus said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” (Lk 11:28), like Mary. And when she does not fully understand the events concerning her, Mary meditates in silence, reflects, and adores the divine initiative. Her presence at the foot of the cross consecrates her complete availability.
Then, concerning Joseph, the Gospel records not a single word: he does not speak, but he acts in obedience. He is the man of silence, the man of obedience. Today's Gospel reading (cf. Mt 2:13-15, 19-23) recalls this obedience of the righteous Joseph three times, in reference to the flight into Egypt and the return to the land of Israel. Under God's guidance, represented by the angel, Joseph leads his family away from Herod's threats and saves them. The Holy Family thus expresses its solidarity with all the families of the world forced into exile; it expresses its solidarity with all those who are compelled to abandon their land because of repression, violence, and war.
Finally, the third person of the Holy Family, Jesus. He is the will of the Father: in him, says Saint Paul, there was no “yes” and “no,” but only “yes” (cf. 2 Cor 1:19). And this was manifested at many moments in his earthly life. For example, during the episode in the temple where, to his parents who were anxiously searching for him, he replied: “Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” (Lk 2:49); when he constantly repeated: “My food is to do the will of him who sent me” (Jn 4:34); during his prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane: “My Father,” he said, “if this cup cannot be passed away unless I drink it, may your will be done” (Mt 26:42). All these events are the perfect fulfillment of Christ’s words: “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire […].” Then I said: Behold, I have come […] to do your will, O God” (Hebrews 10:5-7; Psalm 40:7-9).
Mary, Joseph, Jesus: the Holy Family of Nazareth, representing a shared response to the Father's will. The three members of this family helped one another to discover God's plan. They prayed, worked, and communicated. And I ask myself: in your family, do you know how to communicate, or are you like those young people at the table, each with a cell phone, chatting away? At that table, there seems to be a silence, as if they were at Mass… But they aren't communicating with each other. We must resume dialogue within our families: fathers, parents, children, grandparents, and siblings must communicate with one another… This is a task to be accomplished today, specifically on the Feast of the Holy Family. May the Holy Family be the model for our families, so that parents and children may support one another in adhering to the Gospel, the foundation of family holiness.
Let us entrust to Mary, "Queen of the family", all the families of the world, especially those suffering or experiencing difficulties, and invoke her maternal protection upon them.
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POPE FRANCIS
ANGELUS
Saint Peter's Square
Sunday, December 29, 2019
[ Multimedia ]
Homily
Draw from the source
On this first Sunday after Christmas, the Church invites us to celebrate the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. They are presented to us as the model for all families. This feast was established around the 1920s; at that time, there was already concern about the changing nature of the family. Over the years, the situation has become increasingly critical: couples separating, children left to fend for themselves and falling into delinquency, families living in poverty. And of course, we do not forget the many victims of violence and hatred.
Long before the coming of Jesus, Ben Sirach brings us back to what is essential. His discourse may seem moralizing. But when we listen to him, it is God who speaks to us. He wants every family to be happy. And he shows them the path that will allow them to achieve true harmony: “The success of an authentic family life is achieved only through a constant struggle against selfishness” (A. Brunot). In the very name of their faith, children have a duty to honor their parents, even when they are very frail. Later, Christians will understand that through them, it is God who is present.
In his letter to the Colossians (second reading), Saint Paul calls us to “live together in Christ.” He outlines the virtues that foster a beautiful family life: tenderness, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and forgiveness. And “above all, let there be love.” All of this will only be truly possible if we allow Christ to dwell within us. At this Christmas time, we celebrate the birth of Jesus: he wants to be born within us as well, to transform our lives and make them more and more conformed to his love. To live Christmas is first and foremost to welcome Christ into our lives.
The Gospel shows us a united and supportive family gathered around the child they must protect at all costs. On that night in Bethlehem, they sleep the rest of the righteous. But in Jerusalem, Herod does not sleep. He seeks to kill the child because he wants no rival. Faced with this danger, Mary and Joseph do as the angel of the Lord asks: they go as far away as possible to protect the child.
What is striking is that this family is always on the move: before the birth of Jesus, Mary made a long journey to visit her cousin Elizabeth. Then came the trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem for the census; and today, the Gospel tells us that they must flee to Egypt to escape Herod's wrath. Throughout his life, Jesus traveled from village to village to proclaim the Good News. This is the Holy Family: it is in their capacity to set out on a journey that they are presented to us as a model. They accept being challenged by events. Despite setbacks and trials, they trust in God.
This is very important for our families around the world. They too are shaken and buffeted. Parents, grandparents, and children are not spared from life's uncertainties. Everyone thinks of so many events that lead them down unexpected paths. How can we not think of all those children whose lives are threatened by wars and famine? Others are victims of violence and abuse. And of course, we do not forget all those who suffer because of indifference, lack of care, lack of love and affection. Through all those who endure these painful trials, it is Christ who is there and who awaits our love. Pope Francis constantly reminds us that he is always on the side of the least and the poorest.
This is how, by coming into our world, Jesus wanted to be part of a human family. He experienced joys, sufferings, and trials, just like in all families on earth. But later, he would tell us that he is part of the great family of God, who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And what is even more extraordinary is that he came to bring us into it. As Pope John Paul II said, “He gave God to men and men to God.” On the day of our baptism, we became children of God. We were immersed in this ocean of love that is in him. And we were called to set out on our journey toward this new world that Jesus calls the Kingdom of God.
On this Sunday, we give thanks to the Lord for the example set by his earthly family. We entrust to him all our families on earth, especially those experiencing painful trials. He is there, “at the heart of our lives,” but often, it is we who are elsewhere. We pray to you, Lord, that our whole lives may be imbued with your word and your love so that we may bear witness to them to all those we encounter along our path. Amen.
Sources: Feu Nouveau magazines, Sunday Bible readings (A. Vanhoye)
Understanding the readings
with Marie-Noëlle THABUT
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