Feast of the Holy Family Year C Gospel

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke.

The parents of Jesus used to go every year to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, and when Jesus was twelve they went up for the celebration as was their custom.  As they were returning at the end of the feast, the child Jesus remained behind unknown to Mary and Joseph.  Thinking Jesus was in their party, they continued their journey for the day, looking for him among their relatives and acquaintances.

Not finding Jesus, they returned to Jerusalem in search for him.  On the third day they came upon him in the temple sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.  All who heard Jesus were amazed at his intelligence and his answers.

When Mary and Joseph saw him they were astonished, and Mary said: “Son, why have you done this to us?  You see that your father and I have been searching for you in sorrow.  Jesus said to them, “Why did you search for me?  Did you not know I had to be in God’s house?”

But Mary and Joseph did not grasp what Jesus said to them.  He went down with them, and came to Nazareth and was obedient to them.  Mary kept all these things in her memory.  Jesus, for his part, progressed steadily in wisdom and age and grace before God and all creation.

The Good News as spoken through Luke.