For the Philippine Church, since we are celebrating the Feast of Sto. Nino, please use the following readings:
1st Reading: Isaiah 9:1-6
(1) First he degraded the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali; but in the end he has glorified the seaward road, the land West of the Jordan, the District of the Gentiles. Anguish has taken wing, dispelled is darkness; for there is no gloom where but now there was distress.
(2) The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; Upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone.
(3) You have brought them abundant joy and great rejoicing, As they rejoice before you as at the harvest, as men make merry when dividing spoils.
(4) For the yoke that burdened them, the pole on their shoulder, And the rod of their taskmaster you have smashed, as on the day of Midian.
(5) For every boot that tramped in battle, every cloak rolled in blood, will be burned as fuel for flames.
(6) For a child is born to us, a son is given us; upon his shoulder dominion rests. They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace.
Second Reading: Ephesians 1:3-6,15-16
(3) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens,
(4) as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blemish before him. In love
(5) he destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ, in accord with the favor of his will,
(6) for the praise of the glory of his grace that he granted us in the beloved.
(15) Therefore, I, too, hearing of your faith in the Lord Jesus and of your love for all the holy ones,
(16) do not cease giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers,
Gospel: Luke 2:41-52
(41) Each year his parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover,
(42) and when he was twelve years old, they went up according to festival custom.
(43) After they had completed its days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it.
(44) Thinking that he was in the caravan, they journeyed for a day and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances,
(45) but not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him.
(46) After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions,
(47) and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers.
(48) When his parents saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.”
(49) And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”
(50) But they did not understand what he said to them.
(51) He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart.
(52) And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and favor before God and man.
