·
2 Basil the Great and Gregory of Nazianzus, Bishops, Teachers of the Faith, 379 and 389 was a 4th-century Archbishop of Constantinople, and theologian. He is widely considered the most
accomplished rhetorical stylist of the patristic age.[3] As a
classically trained orator and philosopher he infused Hellenism into the early church, establishing the
paradigm of Byzantine theologians and church
officials
·
2 Vedanayagam
Samuel Azariah, Bishop in South India, Evangelist, 1945
·
6 THE EPIPHANY –
may be celebrated on the Sunday between 2 and 8 January
OLD TESTAMENT: Isaiah 61: 10 - 62: 3 (all but Roman Catholic)
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)
Sir 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.
17 My child,
perform your tasks with humility;
Genesis 15: 1 - 6, 21:
1 - 3 (alt. for Roman Catholic)
Gene 15:1 (NRSV)
{God's Covenant with Abram} After these things the word of the LORD came to
Abram in a vision, "Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield; your reward
shall be very great." 2 But Abram said, "O Lord GOD, what will you
give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of
Damascus?" {Meaning of Heb uncertain} 3 And Abram said, "You have
given me no offspring, and so a slave born in my house is to be my heir."
4 But the word of the LORD came to him, "This man shall not be your heir;
no one but your very own issue shall be your heir." 5 He brought him
outside and said, "Look toward heaven and count the stars, if you are able
to count them." Then he said to him, "So shall your descendants
be." 6 And he believed the LORD; and the LORD reckoned it to him as
righteousness.
21:1 The LORD
dealt with Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did for Sarah as he had promised.
2 Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the time of which
God had spoken to him. 3 Abraham gave the name Isaac to his son whom Sarah bore
him.
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!
Note: vs. 1-6 are
optional for C of E
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 (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.
6 May you see your
children's children.
Peace be upon
Israel!
Psalm 105: 1 - 6, 8 -
9 (alt. for Roman Catholic)
Psal 105:1 (NRSV)
O give thanks to the LORD, call on his name,
make known his
deeds among the peoples.
2 Sing to him,
sing praises to him;
tell of all his
wonderful works.
3 Glory in his
holy name;
let the hearts of
those who seek the LORD rejoice.
4 Seek the LORD
and his strength;
seek his presence
continually.
5 Remember the
wonderful works he has done,
his miracles, and
the judgments he has uttered,
6 O offspring of
his servant Abraham,
children of Jacob,
his chosen ones.
8 He is mindful of
his covenant forever,
of the word that
he commanded, for a thousand generations,
9 the covenant
that he made with Abraham,
his sworn promise
to Isaac,
NEW TESTAMENT: Galatians 4: 4 - 7 (RCL)
Galatians
3: 23 - 25, 4: 4 - 7 (ECUSA)
Gala 3:23 (NRSV)
Now before faith came, we were imprisoned and guarded under the law until faith
would be revealed. 24 Therefore the law was our disciplinarian until Christ
came, so that we might be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come,
we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian,
4:4 But when the
fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the
law, 5 in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might
receive adoption as children. 6 And because you are children, God has sent the
Spirit of his Son into our Father!" 7 So you are no longer a slave but a
child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.
h/t Montreal
Anglican
In vv. 1-3, he takes the example of an orphaned boy of minor age, an heir: although he owns his dead father’s property, it remains under the control of trustees until the date his father set (per Palestinian practice.) He cannot speak or act on his own behalf. So it is with Paul and his readers: before “we” accepted Christ, we had no power to speak or act, being slaves to spiritual elements , celestial beings that control the physical elements of the universe.
For Jewish Christians, that date has come: at the time our Father set (“fullness of time”, v. 4), “God sent his Son”, born a human (“of a woman”), indeed a Jew (“under the law”). God sent him so that we Jewish Christians might be adopted as God’s children, be made part of him. Then v. 6: being his children, he sent the “Spirit of his Son”, God’s Spirit, to empower us to call him Father. (“Abba”, v. 6, is Aramaic for father. Jesus prayed “Abba, ...” in the Garden of Gethsemane: see Mark 14:36.) So, v. 7, you are free from the obligations of Mosaic law, and being his child makes you an heir to God’s kingdom, through Christ.
In vv. 8-9, Paul questions how, now that God has chosen them to know him, can they go back to spiritual elements. (Contemporary Jewish belief was that at Mount Sinai the Law was spoken by angels, celestial beings, spiritual elements.) How can they want to be enslaved again?
Colossians 3: 12 - 17
(18 - 21) (Roman Catholic)
Colo 3:12 (NRSV)
As God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion,
kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. 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. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves
with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the
peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one
body. And be thankful. 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. 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.
18 Wives, be
subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your
wives and never treat them harshly.
20 Children, obey
your parents in everything, for this is your acceptable duty in the Lord. 21
Fathers, do not provoke your children, or they may lose heart.
Hebrews 11: 8, 11 - 12,
17 - 19 (alt. for Roman Catholic)
Hebr 11:8 (NRSV)
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was
to receive as an inheritance; and he set out, not knowing where he was going.
11 By faith he
received power of procreation, even though he was too old-and Sarah herself was
barren-because he considered him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore from
one person, and this one as good as dead, descendants were born, "as many
as the stars of heaven and as the innumerable grains of sand by the
seashore."
17 By faith
Abraham, when put to the test, offered up Isaac. He who had received the
promises was ready to offer up his only son, 18 of whom he had been told,
"It is through Isaac that descendants shall be named for you." 19 He
considered the fact that God is able even to raise someone from the dead-and figuratively
speaking, he did receive him back.
Galatians was written to
Jewish Christians who were tempted to return to Judaism.
Verse 1: “minors”: Paul uses the word nepios,
meaning an infant, one who does not speak. [ NJBC]
Verse 2: “guardians and trustees”: According to CAB, a “guardian” was entrusted with the
general care of a child up to the age of 14, and a “trustee” with the financial
affairs of a young man up to the age of 25; however NJBC sees this as Palestinian
usage, not Roman. As minors, they are in an interim state; such is being under
the Law.
Verse 2: “until the date set by the father”: In Roman
law, a father could set limits to the time of trusteeship. [ CAB]
Verse 3: “the elemental spirits of the world”: There
are four possible meanings:
- based on the translation quoted above:
- the cosmic powers controlling the universe, as in
v. 8 [ NOAB]
- the elemental signs of the zodiac [ NJBC]
- based on the alternative translation “rudimentary
spirits of the world” given in the NRSV footnote:
Verses 4-5: Christ was sent at a time determined by God in
order to ransom those who were in bondage. “under the law”. [NOAB]
Verse 4: “born of a woman”: Both Matthew 11:11 and
Luke 7:28 tell
us that there is no one “born of women” greater than John the Baptizer. This
phrase is also found in the Old Testament: see Job 14:1; 15:14; 25:4.
It is also found in the QumranHymns.
Some patristic writers read genomenon with an omega (a
long O) rather than an omicron (a short O), so they saw
here a reference to Mary’s virginal conception, but this is an anachronism. [ NJBC] In the Old Testament and at
Qumran we see its use as a typical Jewish circumlocution for the human person,
so it does not refer to the process by which God’s Son became a man (his
birth), but it simply describes his human condition. This phrase is echoed in
v. 5:
“so that we might receive adoption as children”. [ BlkGal]
Verse 5: “in order to redeem”: In the sense that Christ
secured release of those retained in the Law: Paul says in 3:12:
“the law does not rest on faith; on the contrary, ‘Whoever does the works of
the law will live by them.’”. [ CAB]
Verse 5: “adoption”: Under Greco-Roman law, an adopted
child received the full legal status of a natural child. Perhaps Paul’s analogy
is influenced by Israel’s release from bondage in Egypt in Hosea 11:1:
“Out of Egypt I have called my son”, a verse quoted in Matthew 2:15.
See also Romans 15:8.
[ CAB]
Verse 6: “because you are children”: NJBC translates this
differently: the proof that you are sons is that God sent ...”.
Verse 6: “sent”: The Greek word, apostellein,
developed a specific meaning: to send someone in the service of the Kingdom
with authority fully grounded in God. [ NJBC]
Verse 6: “Abba! Father!”: In Romans 8:15-17,
Paul writes: “you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear,
but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’ it is
that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ – if, in
fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him”.
GOSPEL: Luke 2: 22 - 40 (RCL)
Luke 2: 22 (23 - 38) 39 -
40 (alt. for Roman Catholic)
Luke 2:22 (NRSV)
When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they
brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in
the law of the Lord, "Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to
the Lord"), 24 and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in
the law of the Lord, "a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons."
25 Now there was a
man in Jerusalem whose name was Sim'eon; this man was righteous and devout,
looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on
him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see
death before he had seen the Lord's Messiah. 27 Guided by the Spirit, Sim'eon
came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do
for him what was customary under the law, 28 Sim'eon took him in his arms and
praised God, saying,
29 "Master,
now you are dismissing your servant in peace,
according to your
word;
30 for my eyes
have seen your salvation,
31 which you have
prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 a light for
revelation to the Gentiles
and for glory to
your people Israel."
33 And the child's
father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. 34 Then Sim'eon
blessed them and said to his mother Mary, "This child is destined for the
falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed
35 so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed--and a sword will pierce
your own soul too."
36 There was also
a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phan'uel, of the tribe of Ash'er. She was of a
great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37
then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but
worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day. 38 At that moment she
came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were
looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.
39 When they had
finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee,
to their own town of Nazareth. 40 The child grew and became strong, filled with
wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.
Simeon looks forward to the coming of the Messiah to restore Israel to favour with God (“the consolation of Israel”, v. 25). The Spirit has told him that he will see the Christ before he dies (v. 26). Simeon’s words in vv. 29-32 are known as the Nunc Dimittis, from the first words in Latin. He begins by saying that God is setting him free, as a slave is granted liberty. He is now free to die (for the Spirit’s revelation to him is now fulfilled), and Israel is free of bondage. God has saved Israel, as he promised to “all peoples”; his salvation is for Gentiles too. In v. 33, Joseph is Jesus’ legal father. Simeon prophesies in vv. 34-35 through the Spirit (v. 25). Jesus is destined for the death and resurrection (“falling” and “rising”) of many; he will meet opposition, and will cause many to think deeply about him. Mary too will need to decide for or against Christ (“own soul”, v. 35). Simeon and Anna together stand before God; to Luke, men and women are equal in God’s eyes. Anna praises God, and tells many the meaning of Jesus, as Simeon has prophesied. Like Samuel, “the favour of God was upon him” (v. 40)
The continuity between the
traditions of Israel and what God was to do through Jesus is exemplified:
- By the presentation of Jesus in the Temple and the
sacrifices offered,
- By Simeon’s recognition and affirmation of Jesus as
“Messiah” and bringer of “revelation to the Gentiles” (v. 32)
as well as a cause of controversy within Israel (Isaiah 8:14),
and
- by the prophetess Anna’s acclaim of Jesus as the one
who will redeem “Jerusalem” (v. 38),
the symbol of God’s people (see Isaiah 52:7-10).
[ CAB]
When a child was one month old, he
was redeemed for five shekels (see Numbers 3:47-48; 18:15-16),
but Luke does not mention this. Rather, he introduces Jesus’ presentation – for
which there is no regulation in the Old Testament. [ NJBC] However, being “designated
as holy” (v. 23)
was probably to be done in a liturgy, a public event, a presentation. Luke has
presented both John and Jesus as dedicated to God from the time they were in
the womb. So both are, in a sense, Nazirites. Matthew 2:23,
in saying that Jesus “will be called a Nazorean”, may be saying that he will be
called a Nazirite. While we know of no ritual for initial consecration of a
Nazirite, Numbers 6:9-12 prescribes
an elaborate ritual for reconsecration of a Nazirite should he or she become
ritually unclean. [ HBD] Also
recall that it is Luke that gives us the Magnificat (in 1:46-55),
the song of Mary modelled after Hannah’s song before the dedication of her son
Samuel to temple service (see 1 Samuel 2:1-10).
Perhaps Luke is continuing his parallel with Samuel.
Verses 22-24: For the requirement for, and the delay in, purification,
see Leviticus 12:2-8.
[ NOAB]
Verse 22: “to present him to the Lord”: For Samuel’s presentation in
the temple (at Shiloh), see 1 Samuel 1:22-24.
Luke also probably thinks of Malachi 3:1-2 (“the
Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple”). [ NJBC]
Verse 22: “Jerusalem”: The Greek is Hierosolyma,
literally meaning holy Salem or holy space. In his
gospel, Luke sometimes uses Hierosolyma and sometimes Ierosalem.
Perhaps he is showing the etymology of the name of the city. [NJBC]
Verses 25-28: “Simeon”: Some interpreters, especially ancient ones, saw
Acts 15:14 (“Simeon
has related ...”) as referring to this Simeon. Other than that possible
reference, he is unknown. Both he and Anna (v. 38)
express faith in Jesus as Saviour, Messiah and universal Lord. [ NOAB] Simeon means God
has heard. He is described in much the same way as John the Baptist’s
parents: 1:6 tells
us “Both of them were righteous before God, living blamelessly according to all
the commandments and regulations of the Lord”. [ NJBC]
Verse 25: “the consolation of Israel”: While I have interpreted
these words in an eschatological sense,
it is also possible that Simeon looks forward to the independence of Israel
from Roman occupation. The word translated “consolation” isparaklesis.
This word is used in the Septuagint translation
of Isaiah 40:1,
“Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God.”. [ BlkMt] JBC notes that according to the
rabbis, this term denoted the final, unrecorded words that passed between
Elijah and Elisha (see 2 Kings 2:11)
and that would be made known when Elijah reappeared (see 1:17).
[ JBC] Isaiah 66:12-13 may
also be in Luke’s mind. [ NJBC]
Verse 26: “the Lord’s Messiah”: The Lord here is God (the
Father). Christos is the Greek translation of Messiah.
In 9:20,
Peter identifies Jesus as “the Messiah of God”. [ NOAB]
Verse 27: “Simeon came into the temple”: Note that he is not a
priest. He and Anna do embody the heart of Temple cult: service to God. [ NJBC]
Verses 29-32: The vocabulary of these verses, the theological
centrepiece of the passage, seems to be drawn from Deutero-Isaiah: see
Isaiah 52:9-10; 49:6; 46:13; 42:6; 40:5.
They stress the universal nature of Christ’s salvation. See also Isaiah 46:13;
Acts 13:47; 26:23.
[ NJBC]
Verse 29: “in peace”: i.e. in a state of harmony with God.
Verse 30: See also 3:6 (“‘...
all flesh shall see the salvation of God’”) and Isaiah 52:10 (“...
all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God”). [ NOAB]
Verse 30: “salvation”: See also 1:47 (the Magnificat,
where Mary says “‘my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour’”). See also 1:71, 77; 2:11.
[ NJBC]
Verses 31-32: God’s salvation in Jesus moves out and embraces God’s
people Israel and then encircles the others, the nations. See also 24:44-47 (Jesus
appears to his disciples). [ NJBC]
Verse 33: “father”: Joseph is Jesus’ legal father as Mary’s husband.
In Matthew 13:55,
people at the synagogue ask: “‘Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his
mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and
Judas?’”. In Luke 3:23,
we read “...He was the son (as was thought) of Joseph ...”. [ NOAB] His lineage is traced,
through Joseph, back to David and the patriarchs in the following verses.
Verse 35: “sword”: Ezekiel 14:17-18 speaks
of a sword of discrimination between the godly and the ungodly; perhaps this is
view, rather than a sword of punishment. Mary too has to choose for or against
God’s revelation in Jesus, family ties not withstanding. [ NJBC]
Verse 36: “Anna”: Her name means grace, favour. Her
pairing with Simeon, and of Elisabeth and Zechariah, illustrate an important
theme in Luke: men and women stand side-by-side before God, equal in honour and
grace, endowed with the same gifts, with the same responsibilities. See also
Genesis 1:27 and
Galatians 3:28.
Other pairings are Zarephath and Naaman ( 4:25-28),
the healing of the demoniac and Peter’s mother-in-law ( 4:31-39),
and the centurion of Capernaum and the widow of Nain ( 7:1-17).
[ NJBC]
Verse 36: “Asher”: See Joshua 19:24 for
Asher’s portion in the division of the Promised Land into tribal territories. [NOAB]
Verse 37: “to the age of eighty-four”: There is an alternative
translation: for eighty-four years. This would make Anna over 100
years old at the time. Perhaps Luke is symbolically linking her to Judith, also
a devout widow, who lived to the age of 105: see Judith 16:23.
Verse 38: “Jerusalem”, i.e. all the elect.
Verse 40: “filled with wisdom”: i.e. God’s practical all-embracing
plan of salvation: see Proverbs 8:22ff and
Sirach 24.
© 1996-2017
Chris Haslam
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