·  26 Saint Stephen, Deacon and Martyr traditionally venerated as the Protomartyr or first martyr of Christianity,^[1] was according to the Acts of the Apostles a deacon in the early church at Jerusalem who aroused the enmity of members of various synagogues by his teachings

·  27 Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist

·  28 The Holy Innocents

·  29 Thomas Becket, 1170 was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 until his murder in 1170. He is venerated as a saint and martyr by both the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion. He engaged in conflict with Henry II of England over the rights and privileges of the Church and was murdered by followers of the king in Canterbury Cathedral.

·  30 Frances Joseph-Gaudet, Educator and Prison Reformer, 1934

·  31 Samuel Ajayi Crowther, Bishop in the Niger Territories, 1891

OLD TESTAMENT: 1 Samuel 2: 18 - 20, 26 (RCL)

1Sam 2:18 (NRSV) Samuel was ministering before the LORD, a boy wearing a linen ephod. 19 His mother used to make for him a little robe and take it to him each year, when she went up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.

20 Then E'li would bless Elka'nah and his wife, and say, "May the LORD repay you with children by this woman for the gift that she made to the LORD"; and then they would return to their home.

26 Now the boy Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in favor with the LORD and with the people.

Isaiah 61: 10 - 62: 3 (ECUSA)

Isai 61:10 (NRSV) I will greatly rejoice in the LORD,

my whole being shall exult in my God;

for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation,

he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,

as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland,

and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

11 For as the earth brings forth its shoots,

and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up,

so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise

to spring up before all the nations.

62:1 For Zion's sake I will not keep silent,

and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest,

until her vindication shines out like the dawn,

and her salvation like a burning torch.

2 The nations shall see your vindication,

and all the kings your glory;

and you shall be called by a new name

that the mouth of the LORD will give.

3 You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the LORD,

and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.

Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) 3: 3 - 7, 14 - 17a (Roman Catholic)

3:3 (NRSV) Those who honor their father atone for sins,

4 and those who respect their mother are like those who lay up treasure.

5 Those who honor their father will have joy in their own children,

and when they pray they will be heard.

6 Those who respect their father will have long life,

and those who honor their mother obey the Lord;

7 they will serve their parents as their masters.

14 For kindness to a father will not be forgotten,

and will be credited to you against your sins;

15 in the day of your distress it will be remembered in your favor;

like frost in fair weather, your sins will melt away.

16 Whoever forsakes a father is like a blasphemer,

and whoever angers a mother is cursed by the Lord.

Humility

17 My child, perform your tasks with humility;

then you will be loved by those whom God accepts.

PSALM 148 (RCL)

Psal 148:1 (NRSV) Praise the LORD!

Praise the LORD from the heavens;

praise him in the heights!

2 Praise him, all his angels;

praise him, all his host!

3 Praise him, sun and moon;

praise him, all you shining stars!

4 Praise him, you highest heavens,

and you waters above the heavens!

5 Let them praise the name of the LORD,

for he commanded and they were created.

6 He established them forever and ever;

he fixed their bounds, which cannot be passed.

7 Praise the LORD from the earth,

you sea monsters and all deeps,

8 fire and hail, snow and frost,

stormy wind fulfilling his command!

9 Mountains and all hills,

fruit trees and all cedars!

10 Wild animals and all cattle,

creeping things and flying birds!

11 Kings of the earth and all peoples,

princes and all rulers of the earth!

12 Young men and women alike,

old and young together!

13 Let them praise the name of the LORD,

for his name alone is exalted;

his glory is above earth and heaven.

14 He has raised up a horn for his people,

praise for all his faithful,

for the people of Israel who are close to him.

Praise the LORD!

147   Laudate Dominum   (ECUSA BCP)

1  Hallelujah!

How good it is to sing praises to our God! *

 how pleasant it is to honor him with praise!

2  The Lord rebuilds Jerusalem; *

 he gathers the exiles of Israel.

3  He heals the brokenhearted *

 and binds up their wounds.

4  He counts the number of the stars *

 and calls them all by their names.

5  Great is our Lord and mighty in power; *

 there is no limit to his wisdom.

6  The Lord lifts up the lowly, *

 but casts the wicked to the ground.

7  Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; *

 make music to our God upon the harp.

8  He covers the heavens with clouds *

 and prepares rain for the earth;

9  He makes grass to grow upon the mountains *

 and green plants to serve mankind.

10  He provides food for flocks and herds *

 and for the young ravens when they cry.

11  He is not impressed by the might of a horse; *

 he has no pleasure in the strength of a man;

12  But the Lord has pleasure in those who fear him, *

 in those who await his gracious favor.

13  Worship the Lord, O Jerusalem; *

 praise your God, O Zion;

14  For he has strengthened the bars of your gates; *

 he has blessed your children within you.

15  He has established peace on your borders; *

 he satisfies you with the finest wheat.

16  He sends out his command to the earth, *

 and his word runs very swiftly.

17  He gives snow like wool; *

 he scatters hoarfrost like ashes.

18  He scatters his hail like bread crumbs; *

 who can stand against his cold?

19  He sends forth his word and melts them; *

 he blows with his wind, and the waters flow.

20  He declares his word to Jacob, *

 his statutes and his judgments to Israel.

21  He has not done so to any other nation; *

 to them he has not revealed his judgments.

 Hallelujah!

Note: vs. 1-12 are optional

Psalm 128: 1 - 5   (Roman Catholic)

Psal 128:1 (NRSV) Happy is everyone who fears the LORD,

who walks in his ways.

2 You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands;

you shall be happy, and it shall go well with you.

3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine

within your house;

your children will be like olive shoots

around your table.

4 Thus shall the man be blessed

who fears the LORD.

5 The LORD bless you from Zion.

May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem

all the days of your life.

Colossians 3:12-17
3:12 As God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.

3:13 Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

3:14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

3:15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful.

3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God.

3:17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

h/t Montreal Anglican

The author has already begun to describe the true Christian life. In what is probably an early baptismal instruction, he has called on his readers to “Set your minds on things that are above” (v. 2). When Christ comes again, they will be seen as being with him in power (v. 4) but those who follow evil ways will suffer the wrath of God (v. 5-6). The author has told them: “you have stripped off the old self with its practices” (v. 9) and “have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator” (v. 10).
Now he tells them, chosen by God as they are, what virtues, ethical qualities, are expected of them: “compassion” (v. 12) is sympathy for the needs of others and “meekness” is gentleness and consideration towards others. Christ’s forgiveness of them (and us) is a model for their conduct towards each other (v. 13). The primary quality for the Christian is “love” (v. 14).
In v. 15, the word translated “rule” literally means be umpire or referee: so may “the peace of Christ” be the reference point for your consciences, as it is for you all in the Church (“one body”). May the understanding, the knowledge, of the way Christ works be yours, and may sharing this in the community lead you to deeper understanding (“wisdom”, v. 16); may you show your thankfulness to the Father through the Son in worship. In all your words and actions, speak and do as though Christ were doing them.

Verses 1-17: This passage offers a hinge between the general argument of Hosea that the holy people should avoid the faithlessness of idolatry, and the specific injunction of Jesus to avoid greed of any kind (which is a kind of idolatry, and thus is faithlessness to God).
Verse 1: “So”: In Colossians, this word often marks the start of a new section. [ NJBC]
Verse 1: “have been raised with Christ”: i.e. in baptism. In 2:12, the author says “when you were buried with him in baptism, you were also raised with him through faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead”. See also Ephesians 5:14. [ CAB]
Verse 1: “seated at the right hand of God”: This creedal statement, based on Psalm 110:1 (“The Lord says to my lord ...”), was used in the early church to show that the messianic promises had been fulfilled in Christ. [ NJBC] Christ being at God’s right hand is also mentioned in Hebrews 1:3.
Verses 3-4: Although the resurrection has already taken place, all the conditions of the end-time are not present. There is still a gap between what is on earth and what is in heaven, and the fulfilment of the body of Christ is “hidden with Christ in God”; but, finally, Christ and the believers will appear in glory. [ NJBC] The close fellowship which exists between Christians and their Lord is not yet fully revealed, but will be only when Christ’s glory is fully revealed at the end of time. The author says in 3:4: “When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory”. See also 1 Corinthians 1:8-9. [ CAB]
Verse 3: “you have died”: i.e. to the world.
Verse 4: 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 says: “For the Lord himself, with a cry of command, with the archangel's call and with the sound of God's trumpet, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will be with the Lord forever”. See also Mark 13:24-27 (the Little Apocalypse); 1 John 2:28; 3:2. [ CAB]
Verse 5: Lists of sins are common in Hellenic literature of the time, so there is no implication that the Colossian Christians indulged in any of these sins. Similar lists are found in the Qumran Literature: see, for example, 1QS (Rule of the Community) 4:3-5; CD (Damascus Document) 4:17-19. There are several lists of vices and virtues in the New Testament (which are general and are not intended to offer instructions that are specific to the context in which they occur).

• of vices: Romans 1:24, 26, 29-31; 13:13; 1 Corinthians 5:10-11; 6:9-10; Ephesians 4:31; 5:3-5; 1 Peter 4:3-4
• of virtues: Matthew 5:3-11 (the Beatitudes); 2 Corinthians 6:6-7; Ephesians 6:14-17; Philippians 4:8. [ NJBC]

V. 5 enumerates sins of the body and passions, while v. 8 includes sins that would arise in the intellect. [ NJBC]
Verse 5: “fornication”: The Greek word porneia is used to refer to all forms of sexual immorality. It is also found in 2 Corinthians 12:21; Galatians 5:19; 1 Thessalonians 4:7. [ CAB]
Verse 5: “impurity”: In the context, sexual impurity is meant. [ CAB]
Verse 5: “passion”: i.e. lust. [ CAB]
Verse 5: “evil desire”: i.e. self-centred covetousness, which is the basis of all sins. [ CAB]
Verse 5: “greed (which is idolatry)”: Ephesians 5:5 also connects the two words. [ CAB]
Verse 6: See also Romans 1:18-32: “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and wickedness of those who by their wickedness suppress the truth ...”. [ CAB]
Verse 7: Ephesians 2:1-2 says: “You were dead through the trespasses and sins in which you once lived, following the course of this world, following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work among those who are disobedient”. [ CAB]
Verse 8: “anger”: Ephesians 4:26 advises: “Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger”. See also Psalm 4:4 (where the word rendered as “disturbed” can be translated as angry). [ CAB]
Verse 8: “abusive language”: See also James 3:5-12 (“... the tongue is a small member ...”). [ CAB]
Verses 9-10: In 2 Corinthians 5:17, Paul writes: “So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!”. [ CAB]
Verse 10: “according to the image of its creator”: See Genesis 1:26-27 (“... Let us make humankind in our image ...”). See also 1 Corinthians 15:45-49; Ephesians 2:10; 4:24.
Verse 11: In Galatians 3:28, Paul writes: “There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus”. [ CAB]
Verse 11: “Scythian”: The Scythians were a nomadic people from the Caucasus who threatened the Assyrian and Persian empires from the north. In the Old Testament they are called “Ashkenaz”: see Genesis 10:3; 1 Chronicles 1:6; Jeremiah 51:27. The Scythians’ cruelty was proverbial in inter-testamental literature: 3 Maccabees 7:5 speaks of “cruelty more savage than that of Scythian custom”. See also 2 Maccabees 4:47 and 4 Maccabees 10:7.
Verse 11: “Christ is all and in all”: The Greek is alla [ta] panta kai en pasin Christos. This clause expresses both the universality of Christ (following from the descriptions of the cosmic Christ in earlier passages), and his presence in everything. In renewal in Christ, ethnic and other divisive differences do not exist.
Verse 12: “compassion ... patience”: Lists of virtues (and of vices) are common in Greek philosophical writings, and are also found in the Dead Sea Scrolls: see 1QS (Rule of the Community) 4:3-5; CD (Damascus Document) 4:17-19.
1QS 4:2-11 says:

“These are their [the spirits of truth] paths in the world: to enlighten the heart of man, straighten out in front of him all the paths of justice and truth, establish in his heart respect for the precepts of God; it is a spirit of meekness, of patience, generous compassion, eternal goodness, intelligence, understanding, potent wisdom which trusts in all the deeds of God and depends on his abundant mercy; a spirit of knowledge in all the plans of action, of enthusiasm for the decrees of justice, of holy plans with firm purpose, of generous compassion with all the sons of truth, of magnificent purity which detests all unclean idols, of unpretentious behaviour with moderation in everything, of prudence in respect of the truth concerning the mysteries of knowledge. ... However, to the spirit of deceit belong greed, frailty of hands in the service of justice, irreverence, deceit, pride and haughtiness of heart, dishonesty, trickery, cruelty, much insincerity, impatience, much insanity, zealousness about wrong things, appalling acts performed in a lustful passion, filthy paths for indecent purposes, blasphemous tongue, blindness of eyes, hardness of hearing, stiffness of neck, hardness of heart in order to walk in all the paths of darkness and evil cunning. ...” [ Martinez]

CD 4:15-19 says:

“These are Belial’s [Satan’s] three nets ... in which he catches Israel and makes them appear before them like three types of justice. The first is fornication; the second, wealth; the third, defilement of the temple. He who eludes one is caught in another and he who is freed from that, is caught in another ...” [ Martinez]

Verse 12: “compassion”: See also 2 Corinthians 6:6; Ephesians 2:7; Mark 8:2. [ CAB]
Verse 12: “kindness”: See also Galatians 5:22-23, 1 Timothy 6:11; 2 Peter 1:5-7, 2 Corinthians 6:6; Ephesians 2:7. [ CAB]
Verse 12: “humility”: See also 2:18, 23; Philippians 2:3. [ CAB]
Verse 12: “meekness”: See also Galatians 6:1; 2 Timothy 2:25. [ CAB]
Verse 12: “patience”: See also 2 Corinthians 6:6; Galatians 5:22; Ephesians 4:2; 2 Timothy 3:10; 4:2. [ CAB]
Verse 13: See also 2 Corinthians 11:19; Galatians 6:6; Romans 9:19; 15:7; Hebrews 8:8; Matthew 6:14-15; Ephesians 4:32. [ CAB]
Verse 14: “love”: Born out of God’s love. See also Romans 13:8-10; 1 Corinthians 12:31-13:13; 1 John 4:19. [ CAB]
Verse 15: “the peace of Christ”: In John 14:27, Jesus tells his followers: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid”. See also Ephesians 2:14 and 2 Thessalonians 3:16. [ CAB]
Verse 16: “word”: The word in Greek is logos, as in John 1:1: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God”.
Verse 17: Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 10:31: “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God”. [ CAB]

Luke 2:41-52
2:41 Now every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover.

2:42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up as usual for the festival.

2:43 When the festival was ended and they started to return, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it.

2:44 Assuming that he was in the group of travelers, they went a day's journey. Then they started to look for him among their relatives and friends.

2:45 When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for him.

2:46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.

2:47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.

2:48 When his parents saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, "Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety."

2:49 He said to them, "Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?"

2:50 But they did not understand what he said to them.

2:51 Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. His mother treasured all these things in her heart.

2:52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favor.

This is the only passage in the Bible that tells of Jesus’ boyhood. On the “festival of the Passover”, Jews celebrated both Israel’s deliverance from Egypt and the Festival of Unleavened Bread, a symbol of the start of a new year. Jesus’ family is pious. He is now “twelve years old” (v. 42); in another year, he will officially become a man (now celebrated by Jews in the bar mitzvah). After the eight days of the festival, the “group” (v. 44, probably the whole village) begins the journey back to Nazareth. Joseph and Mary find Jesus in the outer court of the Temple “among the teachers” (v. 46), experts in Jewish law. Respectful of the law, he not only listens and asks questions, but also answers their questions.
V. 49 marks a turning point in the gospel: these are the first words of Jesus we have; for the first time Jesus’ father is named as the Father – until now, Joseph has been called his father. Note “must”: the relationship between Jesus and the Father requires obedience. Parents do reach the point where they do not understand their children (v. 50); here Mary and Joseph do not comprehend that his relationship with God takes precedence over being their child. Upon return to Nazareth, he obeys his parents in everyday life. In spite of not understanding, Mary “treasured” (v. 51) what Jesus says – as his mother and also as the model believer. Jesus continues to grow physically and in understanding, preparing himself for the mission that lies ahead of him (v. 52).

There may be a parallel in this story with one in Josephus’ Antiquities of the Jews. While 1 Samuel 3 does not tell us the age at which Samuel began to prophesy, Josephus says that it was at age 12. [ NJBC]
Verses 41-43: See 1 Samuel 1:3, 21; 2:19 for allusions to Elkanah and Hannah, who also made annual pilgrimages (to the temple at Shiloh). [ NJBC]
Verse 41: “Passover”: The regulations for Passover are in Exodus 23:17ff; 34:22-23; Leviticus 23:4-14; Deuteronomy 16 [ NJBC]. Leaven (yeast) was seen as associated with fermentation and thus corruption (1 Corinthians 5:8). The Festival of Unleavened Bread, seven days in length, originally followed the one-day Passover celebration. Leavened bread was forbidden during this festival to mark the beginning of the grain harvest. In their haste to leave Egypt, the Israelites could not wait for the dough to rise: see Exodus 12:14-20; 34-39. By the time of Jesus, the two festivals had been combined. See also 22:1.
Jews were required to make three pilgrimages to Jerusalem each year: Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles. Rabbis were divided on whether women and children were required to participate. Those who lived far from Jerusalem were customarily excused from the pilgrimages at Pentecost and Tabernacles. [ JBC]
Verse 46: “three days”: A possible symbolic reference to the three days Jesus was in the tomb. “Three days” also occurs in 9:22 (between Jesus’ death and his resurrection); 13:32 (Jesus says: “on the third day I finish my work”); 18:33; 24:7, 21; 1 Corinthians 15:4. [ JBC]
Verse 47: Recall v. 40: “The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favour of God was upon him.”. See also v. 52 and 1:80; 2:40; 1 Samuel 2:26. [ NJBC]
Verses 48-51: See also Mark 3:31-35, where Jesus says: “‘Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother’”. [ CAB]
Verse 49: “must”: The Greek word is dei. Dei is used 18 times in Luke and 22 times in Acts. [ NJBC]
Verse 49: “be in my Father’s house”: The Greek is difficult. Other possible translations are be involved in my Father’s affairs and be among those belonging to my Father. [ NJBC] One scholar says that be involved ... is favoured by the Greek construction in such texts as Matthew 16:23; John 8:29; 9:4; 14:31. [ JBC]
Verses 50-51: 2:19 says: “But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart”. [ CAB]