Sermon from 29.12.2024 preached by Adam Szustak OP Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph 1st reading (1 Sam 1:20-22, 24-28) Samuel is presented to the Lord Reading from the First Book of Samuel Hannah conceived, and after a few days gave birth to a son, and named him Samuel, because she had said, "I have asked the Lord for him." Elkanah went with her whole family to offer the annual sacrifice to the Lord and to fulfill her vow. But Hannah did not go, but said to her husband, "When the boy is weaned, I will bring him to appear before the Lord, and there he will remain forever." When she had weaned him, she took him with her on the road, taking with her a three-year-old bullock, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine. She brought him to the house of the Lord at Shiloh. The boy was still young. They killed the bullock and brought the boy before Eli. Then she said, "Let me, my lord! By your life! I am the woman who stood before you and prayed to the Lord. I prayed for this boy, and the Lord has granted me my request. See, I am giving him to the Lord. He is given to the Lord as long as he lives." And there they worshiped the Lord. 2nd reading (1 John 3:1-2, 21-24) We are called children of God, and that is what we are A reading from the First Letter of Saint John the Apostle Beloved: See what love the Father has bestowed on us. We are called children of God, and that is what we are. But the world does not know us because it did not know him. Beloved, now we are children of God, but it has not yet been made known what we will be. We know that when he appears we will be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, then we have confidence in God, and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do what pleases Him. Now this is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another as He has commanded us. He who keeps His commandments abides in God, and God in him; and we know that he abides in us by the spirit which He has given us. Gospel (Luke 2:41-52) Jesus' parents find Jesus in the temple Words of the Gospel according to Saint Luke Jesus' parents went to Jerusalem every year for the Feast of the Passover. When He was twelve years old, they went there according to the custom of the festival. When they returned after the festivities were over, the young Jesus remained in Jerusalem, but His parents did not notice. Suppose that He was among the pilgrims, they went a day's journey and searched for Him among their relatives and acquaintances. When they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, looking for Him. It was not until three days later that they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were astonished at his intelligence and his answers. When they saw this, they were greatly amazed. And his mother said to him, "Son, why have you done this to us? Behold, your father and I have been looking for you anxiously." But he answered them, "Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?" But they did not understand what he said to them. Then he went down with them and returned to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. And his mother kept all these things in her heart. And Jesus advanced in wisdom, in age, and in favor with God and man.