25 THE NATIVITY OF
JESUS CHRIST
26 Saint Stephen,
Deacon and Martyr
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.
30 Frances
Joseph-Gaudet, Educator and Prison Reformer, 1934
31 Samuel Ajayi
Crowther, Bishop in the Niger Territories, 1891
READINGS for CHRISTMAS
VIGIL, following the Roman Catholic Lectionary
OLD TESTAMENT: Isaiah 62: 1 - 5
Isai 62:1 (NRSV)
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.
4 You shall no
more be termed Forsaken,
and your land
shall no more be termed Desolate;
but you shall be
called My Delight Is in Her,
and your land
Married;
for the LORD
delights in you,
and your land
shall be married.
5 For as a young
man marries a young woman,
so shall your
builder marry you,
and as the
bridegroom rejoices over the bride,
so shall your God
rejoice over you.
PSALM 89: 3 - 4, 15 -
16, 26, 28 (Roman Catholic)
Psal 89:1 (NRSV) 3
You said, "I have made a covenant with my chosen one,
I have sworn to my
servant David:
4 "I will
establish your descendants forever,
and build your
throne for all generations.' " [Selah]
15 Happy are the
people who know the festal shout,
who walk, O LORD,
in the light of your countenance;
16 they exult in
your name all day long,
and extol your
righteousness.
26 He shall cry to
me, "You are my Father,
my God, and the
Rock of my salvation!'
28 Forever I will
keep my steadfast love for him,
and my covenant
with him will stand firm.
Note: Verse numbering
is one higher in Roman Catholic bibles.
NEW TESTAMENT: Acts 13: 16 - 17, 22 - 25
Acts 13:16 (NRSV)
So Paul stood up and with a gesture began to speak: "You Israelites, and
others who fear God, listen. 17 The God of this people Israel chose our
ancestors and made the people great during their stay in the land of Egypt, and
with uplifted arm he led them out of it.
22 When he had
removed him, he made David their king. In his testimony about him he said,
"I have found David, son of Jesse, to be a man after my heart, who will
carry out all my wishes.' 23 Of this man's posterity God has brought to Israel
a Savior, Jesus, as he promised; 24 before his coming John had already
proclaimed a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.
25 And as John was
finishing his work, he said, "What do you suppose that I am? I am not he.
No, but one is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of the
sandals on his feet.'
Now, as is Paul’s custom, he attends the synagogue on the sabbath. After two readings (“the law and the prophets”, v. 15), he is invited to speak. To both Jews and others attracted to Judaic ethics, he shows Jesus as the promised Messiah by tracing the history of Israel, with God active at every stage. Jesus is descended from David (v. 23); John the Baptist prepared the way for him (v. 25). (Deuteronomy lists “seven nations”, v. 19, as the inhabitants of Israel when the Israelites arrived. How Paul calculates “four hundred and fifty years”, v. 20, is unknown.) The good news is for all Jews and for all others who hold God in respect (v. 26).
GOSPEL: Matthew 1: (1 - 17) 18 - 25
Matt 1:1 (NRSV) An
account of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of
Abraham.
2 Abraham was the
father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah
and his brothers, 3 and Judah the father of Per'ez and Ze'rah by Ta'mar, and
Per'ez the father of Hez'ron, and Hez'ron the father of Ar'am, 4 and Ar'am the
father of Amin'adab, and Amin'adab the father of Nah'shon, and Nah'shon the
father of Sal'mon, 5 and Sal'mon the father of Bo'az by Ra'hab, and Bo'az the
father of O'bed by Ruth, and O'bed the father of Jesse, 6 and Jesse the father
of King David.
And David was the
father of Solomon by the wife of Uri'ah, 7 and Solomon the father of Rehobo'am,
and Rehobo'am the father of Abi'jah, and Abi'jah the father of A'saph, 8 and
A'saph the father of Jehosh'aphat, and Jehosh'aphat the father of Jo'ram, and
Jo'ram the father of Uzzi'ah, 9 and Uzzi'ah the father of Jo'tham, and Jo'tham
the father of A'haz, and A'haz the father of Hezeki'ah, 10 and Hezeki'ah the
father of Manas'seh, and Manas'seh the father of A'mos, and A'mos the father of
Josi'ah, 11 and Josi'ah the father
of Jechoni'ah and
his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon.
12 And after the
deportation to Babylon: Jechoni'ah was the father of Sala'thiel, and Sala'thiel
the father of Zerub'babel, 13 and Zerub'babel the father of Abi'ud, and Abi'ud
the father of Eli'akim, and Eli'akim the
father of A'zor,
14 and A'zor the father of Za'dok, and Za'dok the father of A'chim, and A'chim
the father of Eli'ud, 15 and Eli'ud the father of Elea'zar, and Elea'zar the
father of Mat'than, and Mat'than the father of Jacob, 16 and Jacob the father
of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus
was born, who is
called the Messiah.
17 So all the
generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David to
the deportation to Babylon, fourteen generations; and from the deportation to
Babylon to the Messiah, fourteen generations.
18 Now the birth
of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been
engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with
child from the Holy Spirit. 19 Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and
unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. 20
But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him
in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary
as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She
will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people
from their sins." 22 All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken
by the Lord through the prophet: 23 "Look, the virgin shall conceive and
bear a son, and they shall name him Emman'uel," which means, "God is
with us." 24 When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord
commanded him; he took her as his wife, 25 but had no marital relations with
her until she had borne a son; and he named him
Jesus.
Matthew has told us of Jesus’ descent from
David. He is the anointed (“Messiah”) king God has promised. Joseph’s and
Mary’s families (“engaged”) have signed a marriage contract but Joseph has not
yet taken her (v. 20) into
his house. If Mosaic law on sexual relations was fully observed then, Joseph
could have brought charges against her, and she could have been stoned to death
(“public disgrace”, v. 19) for adultery(then including pre--marital sex). Joseph, while
observant of the Law (“righteous”), is compassionate: he “planned to dismiss
[divorce] her quietly”. God had intervened in the birth of some he has chosen –
Isaac, Jacob and Samuel – but never before has he replaced the whole male role.
Even so, the messenger from God points out Joseph’s role: Jesus is legally
descended from David through him. In Aramaic and Hebrew, “Jesus” (v. 21) and “he
will save” sound similar. Matthew is keen to show that Jesus fulfills God’s
promise made through Isaiah (v. 22). In v. 23, the
Greek word translated “virgin”, parthenos, is
rendered as unmarried daughter in Acts 21:9. Perhaps maiden is a better translation; it has the
same range of meanings as parthenos. Through
Jesus “‘God is with us’” (v. 23) but
Joseph names him Jesus, not Immanuel.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
READINGS for PROPER I
OLD TESTAMENT: Isaiah 9: 2 - 7 (RCL, Roman Catholic)
Isai 9:2 (NRSV)
{Ch 9.1 in Heb} The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great
light;
those who lived in
a land of deep darkness--
on them light has
shined.
3 You have
multiplied the nation,
you have increased
its joy;
they rejoice
before you
as with joy at the
harvest,
as people exult
when dividing plunder.
4 For the yoke of
their burden,
and the bar across
their shoulders,
the rod of their
oppressor,
you have broken as
on the day of Mid'ian.
5 For all the
boots of the tramping warriors
and all the
garments rolled in blood
shall be burned as
fuel for the fire.
6 For a child has
been born for us,
a son given to us;
authority rests
upon his shoulders;
and he is named
Wonderful
Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting
Father, Prince of Peace.
7 His authority
shall grow continually,
and there shall be
endless peace
for the throne of
David and his kingdom.
He will establish
and uphold it
with justice and
with righteousness
from this time
onward and forevermore.
The zeal of the
LORD of hosts will do this.
Note: the verse
numbering used by the Roman Catholic lectionary & Bible is
different - verses are
numbered 1 less than in the NRSV.
PSAM 96 (RCL)
Psalm 96: 1 - 3, 11 -
13 (Roman Catholic)
Psal 96:1 (NRSV) O
sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD,
all the earth.
2 Sing to the
LORD, bless his name;
tell of his
salvation from day to day.
3 Declare his
glory among the nations,
his marvelous
works among all the peoples.
4 For great is the
LORD, and greatly to be praised;
he is to be
revered above all gods.
5 For all the gods
of the peoples are idols,
but the LORD made
the heavens.
6 Honor and
majesty are before him;
strength and
beauty are in his sanctuary.
7 Ascribe to the
LORD, O families of the peoples,
ascribe to the
LORD glory and strength.
8 Ascribe to the
LORD the glory due his name;
bring an offering,
and come into his courts.
9 Worship the LORD
in holy splendor;
tremble before
him, all the earth.
10 Say among the
nations, "The LORD is king!
The world is
firmly established; it shall never be moved.
He will judge the
peoples with equity."
11 Let the heavens
be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
let the sea roar,
and all that fills it;
12 let the field
exult, and everything in it.
Then shall all the
trees of the forest sing for joy
13 before the
LORD; for he is coming,
for he is coming
to judge the earth.
He will judge the
world with righteousness,
and the peoples
with his truth.
96 Cantate Domino (ECUSA BCP)
1 Sing to
the Lord a new song; *
sing
to the Lord, all the whole earth.
2 Sing to
the Lord and bless his Name; *
proclaim
the good news of his salvation from day to day.
3 Declare
his glory among the nations *
and
his wonders among all peoples.
4 For
great is the Lord and greatly to be praised; *
he is
more to be feared than all gods.
5 As for
all the gods of the nations, they are but idols; *
but
it is the Lord who made the heavens.
6 Oh, the
majesty and magnificence of his presence! *
Oh,
the power and the splendor of his sanctuary!
7 Ascribe
to the Lord, you families of the peoples; *
ascribe
to the Lord honor and power.
8 Ascribe
to the Lord the honor due his Name; *
bring
offerings and come into his courts.
9 Worship
the Lord in the beauty of holiness; *
let
the whole earth tremble before him.
10 Tell it out among the nations: "The Lord
is King! *
he
has made the world so firm that it cannot be moved;
he
will judge the peoples with equity."
11 Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be
glad;
let the sea thunder
and all that is in it; *
let
the field be joyful and all that is therein.
12 Then shall all the trees of the wood shout
for joy
before the Lord
when he comes, *
when
he comes to judge the earth.
13 He will judge the world with righteousness *
and
the peoples with his truth.
NEW TESTAMENT: Titus 2: 11 - 14 (all)
Titu 2:11 (NRSV)
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, 12 training us to
renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives
that are self-controlled, upright, and godly, 13 while we wait for the blessed
hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus
Christ. 14 He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all
iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good
deeds.
GOSPEL: Luke 2: 1 - 14 (15 - 20) (RCL)
Luke 2: 1 - 14 (Roman Catholic)
Luke 2:1 (NRSV) In
those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be
registered. 2 This was the first registration and was taken while Quirin'ius
was governor of Syria. 3 All went to their own towns to be registered. 4 Joseph
also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David
called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David.
5 He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was
expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for her to deliver
her child. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands
of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the
inn.
8 In that region
there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by
night. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord
shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them,
"Do not be afraid; for see--I am bringing you good news of great joy for
all the people: 11 to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who
is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a child
wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a
manger."
13 And suddenly
there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and
saying,
14 "Glory to
God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace
among those whom he favors!"
15 When the angels
had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another,
"Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which
the Lord has made known to us." 16 So they went with haste and found Mary
and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. 17 When they saw this, they made
known what had been told them about this child; 18 and all who heard it were
amazed at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured all these words
and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and
praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
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