The shepherds hurriedly went and found Mary and Joseph and the newborn baby lying in the manger. ***

  First Reading: Ecclesiasticus 3:3-7:14-17

Reading from the book of Ecclesiasticus – 3God honors the father in his children and confirms, over them, the authority of the mother. 4Whoever honors his father obtains forgiveness of sins; he avoids committing them and will be heard in daily prayer. 5Whoever respects his mother is like someone who lays up treasures. 6Whoever honors his father will have joy with his own children; and in the day that he prays, he will be answered. 7Whoever respects his father will live long, and whoever obeys his father is his mother's comfort. 14My son, support your father in his old age and do not cause him grief while he lives. 15Even if he is losing his lucidity, try to be understanding towards him; do not humiliate him in any of the days of his life: the charity given to your father will not be forgotten, 16but it will serve to repair your sins 17and, in justice, it will be for your edification. - Word of the Lord.

Optional reading: Genesis 15,1-6; 21:1-3.

Responsorial Psalm: 127(128)

Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways!

1. Happy are you if you fear the Lord / and walk his paths! / From the work of your hands you will live, / you will be happy, everything will be fine! – R.

2. Your wife is a very fruitful vine / in the heart of your home; / your children are olive shoots / around your table. – R.

3. Every man / who fears the Lord will be blessed. / The Lord bless you from Zion / every day of your life. – R.

Optional Psalm: Ps 104(105),1-6.8-9 (R. 7-8).

Second Reading: Colossians 3:12-21

Reading of Saint Paul's letter to the Colossians – Brothers, 12you are loved by God, you are his chosen saints. Therefore, clothe yourselves with sincere mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience, 13bearing with one another and forgiving each other if one has a complaint against another. As the Lord has forgiven you, so forgive you also. 14But above all, love one another, for love is the bond of perfection. 15May the peace of Christ reign in your hearts, to which you were called as members of one body. And be grateful. 16May the word of Christ, with all its richness, dwell in you. Teach and admonish one another with all wisdom. From the bottom of your hearts, sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs to God in thanksgiving. 17Whatever you do, in word or deed, be done in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Through him give thanks to God the Father. 18Wives, be attentive to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19Husbands, love your wives and do not be rude to them. 20Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is good and right in the Lord. 21Fathers, do not intimidate your children, lest they become discouraged. - Word of the Lord.

Optional reading: Hebrews 11,8.11-12.17-19.

Gospel: Luke 2:22-40 or 22:39-40

[The short form is in brackets.]

May the peace of Christ reign in your hearts / and His Word dwell richly in you! (Cl 3.15s) – R.

Proclamation of the holy Gospel according to Luke – [22When the days were complete for the purification of the mother and child, according to the Law of Moses, Mary and Joseph took Jesus to Jerusalem, in order to present him to the Lord.] 23As it is written in the Law of the Lord: “Every firstborn male must be consecrated to the Lord.” 24They also went to offer the sacrifice – a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons –, as is commanded in the Law of the Lord. 25In Jerusalem there was a man named Simeon, who was righteous and pious and hoped for the consolation of the people of Israel. The Holy Spirit was with him 26 and had announced to him that he would not die before seeing the Messiah who comes from the Lord. 27Moved by the Spirit, Simeon went to the temple. When the parents brought the baby Jesus to fulfill what the Law commanded, 28Simeon took the boy in his arms and blessed God: 29“Now, Lord, according to your promise, you can let your servant go in peace; 30For my eyes have seen your salvation, 31which you prepared before all peoples: 32a light to enlighten the nations and glory to your people Israel.” 33Jesus' father and mother were amazed at what they said about him. 34Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, the mother of Jesus: “This child will be the cause of both the fall and the rise of many in Israel. It will be a sign of contradiction. 35In this way the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. As for you, a sword will pierce your soul.” 36There was also a prophetess named Hannah, daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser. She was of very advanced age; When she was young, she had been married and lived with her husband for seven years. 37Then she became a widow and was now eighty-four years old. She did not leave the temple, day and night serving God with fasting and prayers. 38Anna arrived at that moment and began praising God and talking about the boy to all who were waiting for the liberation of Jerusalem.