Sunday December 28, 2025
When a Sunday does not occur between December 25 and January 1, this feast is celebrated on December 30 with only one reading before the Gospel.
Mass Readings for the Feast of The Holy Family Year A
- First Reading – Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14: God values honoring one’s parents. Respecting them brings many blessings, including answered prayers, long life, and comfort for mothers. Care for aging parents kindly and patiently.
- Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 128: Respecting and following the Lord leads to personal blessings, a prosperous family, and a long, fulfilling life observing Jerusalem’s success.
- Second Reading – Colossians 3:12-22: Adopt virtues like compassion and kindness, forgive each other, and let Christ’s peace and message guide you. Act in all things with gratitude in the name of Jesus.
- Gospel – Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23: Joseph, following angelic directions in dreams, fled with Mary and Jesus to Egypt to escape Herod’s threat, returned to Israel after Herod’s death, and settled in Nazareth as foretold by prophets.
Themes for the Feast of The Holy Family Year A
The readings for the Feast of the Holy Family Year A give us a look at the life of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. The first reading speaks of the holiness of family relationships. The psalm also sings of the blessings of families. The second reading tells of how families must live in love and unity. In the gospel Joseph is once again visited by an angel and does as he is commanded in order to protect his family.
- How the actions of individual family members effect other members of the family
- Strengthening our families and communities
See the Homilies and Reflections section and the More Thoughts section for further expansion on these readings and some reflection questions for the Feast of The Holy Family Year A.
Resources for the Feast of The Holy Family Year A
Sunday December 28, 2025
Family Circle Icebreaker Game
Family Circle is a game which works well as an icebreaker or for a lesson about relationships. It also makes sense for a meeting about human dignity. We are all members of God’s family.
A Prayer for a Blessed Home
This blessed home prayer, based on Psalm 128, which is the responsorial psalm for the Feast of The Holy Family Year A, asks for blessings on our home and family as we follow the ways of the Lord.
Homilies and Reflections for the Feast of The Holy Family Year A
Sunday December 28, 2025
Herod and Joseph
From Bishop Robert Barron. “The point of our Gospel for Holy Family Sunday is to make us see a contrast between Herod, the perfect type of the anti-family man, and Joseph, the selfless protector of Mary and Jesus. Herod’s whole existence was conditioned by and predicated upon what was good for Herod; Joseph’s whole existence and behavior are conditioned by obedience to the Word of God. Herod is out for Herod; Joseph has transcended his own ego. And this makes all the difference!”
The Poverty of Christmas
From Fr. Richard Rohr of the Center for Action and Contemplation: “We clearly have a couple that is homeless and soon to be refugees or immigrants in their flight to Egypt shortly after Jesus’ birth [Matthew 2:13–15]. So where is this God revealing God’s self? Certainly not in the ‘safe’ world, but at the edge, at the bottom, among those people and places where we don’t want to find God, where we don’t look for God, where we don’t expect God. ” Continue reading.
Saving Family
From Scott Hahn. “Underlying the wisdom offered in today’s Liturgy is the mystery of the family in God’s divine plan.” Continue reading.
In a Dream
From Loyola Press. “Today we celebrate the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. As we do so, our Gospel invites us to consider Joseph’s protection of Jesus in the face of danger. Just as in the announcement of Jesus’ birth, an angel appears to Joseph in a dream.” Continue reading.
More Thoughts for the Feast of The Holy Family Year A
In Sirach we hear practical wisdom on how families should live together. To honor means to will what is good for the other person. Families are not perfect. If we have difficult relationships, we can still honor our family members while recognizing that we have been hurt.
Marriage is an act of mutual submission. Once again, this doesn’t mean staying in a hurtful relationship. But a true marriage reflects the life of Christ. We offer ourselves to each other in service to each other.
Reflection Questions for the Feast of The Holy Family Year A
- What do we owe each other as families?
- How do I deal with difficult family relationships?
- Do I need to reach out to someone in my family?
Quotes and Social Media Graphics for the Feast of The Holy Family Year A
And let the peace of Christ control your hearts, the peace into which you were also called in one body.
Colossians 3:15
Frequently Asked Questions
What date is the Feast of The Holy Family Year A?
The next date is Sunday December 28, 2025.
When a Sunday does not occur between December 25 and January 1, this feast is celebrated on December 30 with only one reading before the Gospel.
For other years see the links below:
Feast of The Holy Family Year B
Feast of The Holy Family Year C
What are the Mass readings for the Feast of The Holy Family Year A?
The Mass readings for Sunday December 28, 2025 are:
First Reading – Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14: Honor Your Parents
Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 128: Blessings of Reverence
Second Reading – Colossians 3:12-22: Live in Love
Gospel – Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23: Fleeing to Safety
What are the themes for the Mass readings for the Feast of The Holy Family Year A?
Some themes are how the actions of individual family members effect other members of the family, strengthening our families and communities, and family relationships.
Leave a Reply