Sunday Bible Readings Feast of the Holy Family December 28 2008 with Traditional Catholic Commentary

December 28 2008 Sunday Feast of The Holy Family
4^th Day in the Christmas Octave

About the sources used. The Scriptural readings and commentary are from the Haydock Bible according to the daily Lectionary readings for the American Roman Catholic Church for your personal study. The Haydock Bible contains traditional Catholic commentary and is free from copyright. Due to verse numbering differences and pastoral deletions in the actual Lectionary, these readings may at times vary from the actual readings.

Official Readings of the Liturgy at – http://www.usccb.org/nab/122808.shtml

There were a large number of possible variant readings. All are included, or complete readings are offered where a choice exists between complete and truncated readings.

Sirach 3:2-7, 12-14 (Ecclesiasticus)
Douay-Rheims Challoner
These are not a perfect match. I came as close as I could.

Children, hear the judgment of your father, and so do that you may be saved. For God hath made the father honourable to the children: and seeking the judgment of the mothers, hath confirmed it upon the children. He that loveth God, shall obtain pardon for his sins by prayer, and shall refrain himself from them, and shall be heard in the prayer of days. And he that honoureth his mother is as one that layeth up a treasure. He that honoureth his father shall have joy in his own children, and in the day of his prayer he shall be heard. He that honoureth his father shall enjoy a long life: and he that obeyeth the father, shall be a comfort to his mother.

Son, support the old age of thy father, and grieve him not in his life; And if his understanding fail, have patience with him, and despise him not when thou art in thy strength: for the relieving of the father shall not be forgotten. For good shall be repaid to thee for the sin of thy mother. And in justice thou shalt be built up, and in the day of affliction thou shalt be remembered: and thy sins shall melt away as the ice in the fair warm weather.

Or
Genesis 15:1-6; 21:1-3
DR Challoner

Now 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.

And 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.

And Abram added:

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

And 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.

And 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.

Abram believed God, and it was reputed to him unto justice. And the Lord visited Sara, as he had promised: and fulfilled what he had spoken. And she conceived and bore a son in her old age, at the time that God had foretold her. And Abraham called the name of his son, whom Sara bore him, Isaac.

Psalm 127 LXX/Latin or 128 Hebrew
Douay-Rheims Challoner. Text Only
A gradual canticle.

Blessed are all they that fear the Lord: that walk in his ways.
For thou shalt eat the labours of thy hands:
blessed art thou, and it shall be well with thee.
Thy wife as a fruitful vine, on the sides of thy house.
Thy children as olive plants, round about thy table.
Behold, thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the Lord.
May the Lord bless thee out of Sion:
and mayst thou see the good things of Jerusalem all the days of thy life.
And mayst thou see thy children’s children, peace upon Israel.

Ps 104:1-6, 8-9 (Ps 105 NAB)
DR Challoner Text Only

Give glory to the Lord, and call upon his name:
declare his deeds among the Gentiles.
Sing to him, yea sing praises to him:
relate all his wondrous works.
Glory ye in his holy name:
let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord.
Seek ye the Lord, and be strengthened:
seek his face evermore.
Remember his marvellous works which he hath done;
his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth.
O ye seed of Abraham his servant;
ye sons of Jacob his chosen.
He hath remembered his covenant for ever:
the word which he commanded to a thousand generations.
Which he made to Abraham; and his oath to Isaac:

Colossians 3:12-21
Haydock New Testament

Put ye on, therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, the bowels of mercy, benighnity, humility, modesty, patience: Bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if any of you have a complaint against another: even as the Lord hath forgiven you, so do you also.

But above all these things have charity, which is the bond of perfection: And let the peace of Christ rejoice in your hearts, wherein also you are called in one body: and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you abundantly, in all wisdom, teaching, and admonishing one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual canticles, singing in grace in your hearts to God. All whatsoever you do in word or in work, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

Wives, be subject to your husbands, as it behoveth in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter towards them. Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is pleasing to the Lord. Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

Hebrews 11:8, 11-12, 17-19
Haydock New Testament

By 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.

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

By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered Isaac; and he who had received the promises, offered up his only begotten son: To whom is was said: That in Isaac shall seed be called to thee: Accounting that God is able to raise up even from the dead: from whence also he received him for a parable.

The Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ According to Saint Luke 2:22-40
Haydock New Testament

And 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, As it is written in the law of the Lord: that every male opening the womb shall be called holy to the Lord. And to offer a sacrifice, according as it is written in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtle-doves, or two young pigeons. And 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. And he had received an answer from the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Christ of the Lord. And 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; He also took him into his arms, and blessed God, and said:

Now thou dost dismiss thy servant, O Lord, according to thy word, in peace: Because my eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people: A light to the revelation of the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people, Israel.

And his father and mother were wondering at these things which were spoken concerning him. And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary, his mother:

Behold, this child is set for the ruin, and for the resurrection of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be contradicted. And thy own soul a sword shall pierce, that out of many hearts thoughts may be revealed.

And there was on 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. And she was a widow until fourscore and four years: who departed not from the temple, by fastings and prayers serving night and day. Now she at the same hour coming in, gave praise to the Lord: and spoke of him to all that looked for the redemption of Israel. And after they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth. And the child grew and waxed strong, full of wisdom, and the grace of God was in him.

Haydock Commentary Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) 3:2-7, 12-14
Notes Copied From Haydock Commentary Site

• Ver. 3. Seeking. Greek, “and hath confirmed the judgment,” &c. H. — God will revenge any disrespect shewn to parents. M.
• Ver. 7. Father. Greek, “Lord…mother (8.) and will serve them,” &c. H. — Though you may feed your parents, you are still much in their debt. S. Amb. in Lu. ii. and xviii. Ex. xx. 12. Job iv. 3.
• Ver. 12. Thee. Boast not of thy superior talents, nor say any thing disrespectful.
• Ver. 13. A father. Greek, “mother.” Alexander was ashamed of having Philip for his father, pretending that he was the son of Jupiter Ammon. His mother Olympias, with much ingenuity, wrote to him, that he would thus make Juno her powerful rival!

Haydock Commentary Genesis 15:1-6

• Ver. 1. Fear not. He might naturally be under some apprehensions, lest the four kings should attempt to be revenged upon him. — Reward, since thou hast so generously despised earthly riches. H. — Abram was not asleep, but saw a vision of exterior objects. v. 5.
• Ver. 2. I shall go. To what purpose should I heap up riches, since I have no son to inherit them? Abram knew that God had promised him a numerous posterity; but he was not apprized how this was to be verified, and whether he was to adopt some other for his son and heir. Therefore, he asks modestly, how he out to understand the promise. — And the son, &c. Heb. is differently rendered, “and the steward of my house, this Eliezer of Damascus.” We know not whether Eliezer or Damascus be the proper name. The Sept. have “the son of Mesech, my handmaid, this Eliezer of Damascus.” Most people suppose, that Damascus was the son of Eliezer, the steward. The sentence is left unfinished, and must be supplied from the following verse, shall be my heir. The son of the steward, filius procurationis, may mean the steward himself, as the son of perdition denotes the person lost. C.
• Ver. 6. Reputed by God, who cannot judge wrong; so that Abram increased in justice by this act of faith, believing that his wife, now advanced in years, would have a child; from whom others should spring, more numerous than the stars of heaven. H. — This faith was accompanied and followed by many other acts of virtue. S. Jam. ii. 22. W.

Haydock Commentary Genesis 21:1-3

• Ver. 1. Visited, either by the angel, C. xviii. 10, or by enabling her to have what he had promised, at the return of the season.
• Ver. 3. Isaac. This word signifies laughter; (Ch.) or “he shall laugh,” and be the occasion of joy to many, as S. John was. Luke i. 14; and thus Sara seems to explain it, v. 6.

Haydock Commentary Colossians 3:12-21

• Ver. 14. Above all these things have charity, the love of God, and of your neighbour, which is the bond of perfection, the end of all virtues, which unites the hearts of all to God. Wi.
• Ver. 15. The peace of Christ rejoice:[2] reign, conquer, bear away the prize. Wi.
• Ver. 16. Employ yourselves in studying and reading the Scriptures; meditating on what our Saviour has done and suffered for you. It is a calumny of our enemies, that we forbid the reading of the Testament. But the Church, fearing lest the faithful should read to their own destruction what was ordained for their salvation, wisely ordains that they should have recourse to their pastors, and receive from them those versions which she approves as most conformable to the Latin Vulgate, which has received the sanction of the holy Catholic Church, and at the same time forbids them those which might corrupt their faith. In this she acts the part of a good and provident mother, conducting her children to the rich and salutary pastures of peace and plenty, and carefully guarding then from others where tempting but noxious weeds luxuriantly grow up, watered with the baneful streams of polluted and poisoned sources.
• If pure be the steams from the fountain,
• As purely the river will flow;
• If noxious the stream from the mountain,
• It poisons the valley below.
• Ver. 17. Do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Let all be done for his honour and glory. See 1 Cor. x. 31. Wi.

Haydock Commentary Hebrews 11:8, 11-12, 17-19

• Ver. 8. By faith he that is called Abraham, &c. He commends his faith, who believing God, left his own country, lived in Chanaan as in a strange country, waiting for the promise and for a city, whose builder and maker is God; i.e. for an habitation in the kingdom of heaven. Wi.
• Ver. 11. By faith also Sara, &c. Though Sara seemed at first incredulous, yet she presently believed, and conceived Isaac when she was past the age of having children. Wi.
• Ver. 12. Hid as dead: dead in a manner in that respect, and incapable of having children by Sara. Wi.
• Ver. 17. By faith Abraham . . . . offered up Isaac; i.e. was ready and willing to do it, when Isaac was his only son, by whom God had promised to give him a numberless progeny, but by faith he considered that God, who had miraculously given him a son, could if he pleased raise him to life again. Wi.
• Ver. 19. Whence also he received him for a parable.[7] Some understand by this, that both Abraham and his son became hereby an example of a perfect obedience to God, which all nations should admire. S. Chrys. says, that Abraham received again his son safe in a figure, by being ordered to sacrifice for him a ram, which was a figure of Isaac. Others, that Abraham received again his son Isaac, who was a figure of Christ sacrificed on the cross, and risen again. Christ carried the cross on which he was to suffer, as Isaac carried the wood up to the mountain where he was to have been offered. Wi. — Parable; that is, as a figure of Christ slain and coming to life again. Ch.

Haydock Commentary Luke 2:22-40

• Ver. 22. Of her purification. The blessed Virgin mother stood not in need of this ceremony, to which she submitted herself, as her Son did to that of circumcision. Wi. — Whence S. Laur. Justin. in his sermon on the purification, very well observes: grace raised the Virgin above the law; humility subjected her to it. Jesus Christ, in subjecting himself to the law of Moses, has left us an example to princes and magistrates, to obey their own laws; for then they may expect them to be observed by others, when themselves shew respect to them. Barradius.
• Ver. 23. Every male opening the womb.[2] This translation is more conformable to the doctrine of the Fathers, that Christ was born without opening the womb; which Bede calls the doctrine of the Catholic Church. Wi. — See Exod. xiii. 2. and Num. viii. 16.
• Ver. 24. This was the offering of the poorer classes.
• Ver. 25. A man . . . named Simeon, whom some conjecture to have been one of the Jewish priests. — Waiting for the consolation of Israel, for the happy coming of the Messias. — And the Holy Ghost was in him, by the spirit of grace and of prophecy. Wi. — The consolation here expected by Holy Simeon, was the coming of the Messias, and the consequent redemption of mankind from sin and the devil; not a redemption only, as some carnal Jews thought, from the power of temporal enemies. These supposed the Messias was to come in order to raise them in power above all nations, to whom before his coming they had been subject. S. Greg. of Nyssa in Diony. — Many have pretended that Simeon was a priest; the best and oldest interpreters say he was a laic. V.
• Ver. 26. And he had received an answer, . . . that he should not see death; i.e. die. Wi.
• Ver. 27. And he came by the spirit, or moved by the holy Spirit. Wi.
• Ver. 30. Thy salvation; i.e. the Saviour, whom thou hast sent. Wi.
• Ver. 31. Before the face of all people; not of Israel only, but also as a light to be revealed to the Gentiles, the spiritual children of Abraham: to whom also the promises were made. Wi.
• Ver. 33. In the Greek, Joseph and the mother of Jesus. V.
• Ver. 34. Is set for the ruin. Christ came for the redemption and salvation of all men: but Simeon prophesies what would happen in consequence of the wilful blindness and obstinacy of many. Wi. — Not that God sent his Son for the fall of any man; but that many, by their own perverseness, in wilfully refusing to receive and obey him, would take occasion of falling. Ch. — And for a sign which shall be contradicted, to signify that Christ, and his doctrine, should be as it were a mark, or butt, against whom the Jews should discharge the arrows and darts of their malice. Wi. — Hence S. Paul, (2 Cor. ii. 16.) We are to one the odour of death unto death, but to the other the odour of life unto life.
• Ver. 35. And thy own soul a sword shall pierce. These words, which figuratively express the grief of the blessed Virgin mother, when present at the death of her Son, are to be taken by way of a parenthesis. — That out of many hearts thoughts may be revealed, and these are to be joined with what went before; to wit, that child shall be a sign of contradiction, set unto the fall and resurrection of many, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed and disclosed; when some shall believe, and others remain in their obstinacy. Wi. — Bede, and many others, understand this of the sharp sorrow, which wounded the soul of the blessed Virgin Mary, at the time of Christ’s passion. Barradius. — Carthusianus and Jansenius explain this passage as follows: Behold, this child is placed for a sign that shall be contradicted, which as a sword of most poignant grief will pierce thy soul, O Virgin! But Christ shall be contradicted, that the thoughts of the Jews may be revealed from many hearts, and it may appear who among them are good, and who are wicked and hypocrites. Barradius.
• Ver. 36. Anna, a prophetess. She was another witness that Jesus was the Messias, venerable for age, and more for her piety. — And had lived with her husband seven years from her virginity; i.e. had been seven years a wife: and from the death of her husband, had remained always a widow: now 84 years of age: who departed not from the temple, but was constantly there at the times of prayer, with fastings and prayers, serving God day and night. Wi.
• Ver. 40. The child grew, and waxed strong, full of wisdom, and (52) increased in wisdom and age. The Arians from this, pretend to prove that Christ was not truly God, who cannot advance or increase in wisdom. The true meaning is, that Jesus, as he advanced in age as man, gave greater marks of his divine wisdom, and discovered himself full of knowledge, wisdom, &c. Wi.