· 28 The Holy Innocents is the biblical
account of infanticide by Herod
the Great, the Roman-appointed King of the Jews. According to the
Gospel of Matthew,[1]
Herod ordered the execution of all young male children in the vicinity of Bethlehem,
so as to avoid the loss of his throne to a newborn King of the Jews whose birth
had been announced to him by the Magi.
In typical Matthean style, it is understood as the fulfillment of an Old
Testament prophecy
· 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, King of England, over the rights and
privileges of the Church and was murdered by followers of the king in Canterbury Cathedral.
· 31 Samuel Ajayi Crowther, Bishop in the Niger
Territories, 1891 was a linguist
and the first African Anglican bishop in Nigeria. Born in
Osogun (in what is now Iseyin Local Government, Oyo State,
Nigeria), Crowther was a Yoruba
who also identified with Sierra Leone's
ascendant Creole ethnic group
OLD TESTAMENT: 2 Samuel 7: 1 - 11, 16 (RCL)
2 Samuel 7:
1 - 5, 8b - 12, 14a, 16 (Roman Catholic)
2Sam 7:1 (NRSV) Now when the king was settled in his
house, and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies around him, 2 the
king said to the prophet Nathan, "See now, I am living in a house of
cedar, but the ark of God stays in a tent." 3 Nathan said to the king,
"Go, do all that you have in mind; for the LORD is with you."
4 But that same night the word of the LORD came to Nathan:
5 Go and tell my servant David: Thus says the LORD: Are you the one to build me
a house to live in? 6 I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up
the people of Israel
from Egypt to
this day, but I have been moving about in a tent and a tabernacle. 7 Wherever I
have moved about among all the people of Israel,
did I ever speak a word with any of the tribal leaders of Israel,
whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel,
saying, "Why have you not built me a house of cedar?" 8 Now therefore
thus you shall say to my servant David: Thus says the LORD of hosts: I took you
from the pasture, from following the sheep to be prince over my people Israel;
9 and I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies
from before you; and I will make for you a great name, like the name of the
great ones of the earth. 10 And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and
will plant them, so that they may live in their own place, and be disturbed no
more; and evildoers shall afflict them no more, as formerly, 11 from the time
that I appointed judges over my people Israel; and I will give you rest from
all your enemies. Moreover the LORD declares to you that the LORD will make you
a house. 12 When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your ancestors,
I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come forth from your body,
and I will establish his kingdom.
14 I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me.
16 Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever
before me; your throne shall be established forever.
PSALM: Luke 1: 47 - 55 (RCL)
Luke 1:46b (NRSV) "My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his
servant.
Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
50 His mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
51 He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their
hearts.
52 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly;
53 he has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
55 according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to his descendants forever."
(ECUSA
and C of E would use the Canticle, Magnificat, as printed in the Book of
Common Prayer or Common Worship)
The Song of Mary Magnificat (ECUSA BCP)
Luke 1:46-55
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior; *
for he has looked with favor
on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed: *
the Almighty has done great
things for me,
and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him *
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm, *
he has scattered the proud
in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, *
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things, *
and the rich he has sent
away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel, *
for he has remembered his
promise of mercy,
The promise he made to our fathers, *
to Abraham and his children
for ever.
Psalm 89: 1 - 4, 26,
28 (Roman Catholic)
Psalm 89: 1 - 4, 19 -
26 (alt. for RCL)
Psal 89:1 (NRSV) I will sing of your steadfast love, O
LORD, forever;
with my mouth I will proclaim your faithfulness to all
generations.
2 I declare that your steadfast love is established
forever;
your faithfulness is as firm as the heavens.
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.'"
19 Then you spoke in a vision to your faithful one, and
said:
"I have set the crown on one who is mighty,
I have exalted one chosen from the people.
20 I have found my servant David;
with my holy oil I have anointed him;
21 my hand shall always remain with him;
my arm also shall strengthen him.
22 The enemy shall not outwit him,
the wicked shall not humble him.
23 I will crush his foes before him
and strike down those who hate him.
24 My faithfulness and steadfast love shall be with him;
and in my name his horn shall be exalted.
25 I will set his hand on the sea
and his right hand on the rivers.
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 in Roman Catholic bibles is one greater than the above
89 (ECUSA BCP)
1 Your love, O Lord, for ever will I sing; *
from age to age my mouth will proclaim your
faithfulness.
2 For I am persuaded that your love
is established for ever; *
you have set your faithfulness firmly in the
heavens.
3 “I have made a covenant with my
chosen one; *
I have sworn an oath to David my servant:
4 ‘I will establish your line for
ever, *
and preserve your throne for all
generations.’”
19 You spoke once in a vision and said
to your faithful people: *
“I have set the crown upon a warrior
and have exalted one chosen out of the
people.
20 I have found David my servant; *
with my holy oil have I anointed him.
21 My hand will hold him fast *
and my arm will make him strong.
22 No enemy shall deceive him, *
nor any wicked man bring him down.
23 I will crush his foes before him *
and strike down those who hate him.
24 My faithfulness and love shall be
with him, *
and he shall be victorious through my Name.
25 I shall make his dominion extend *
from the Great Sea to the River.
26 He will say to me, ‘You are my
Father, *
my God, and the rock of my salvation.’
NEW TESTAMENT: Romans 16: 25 - 27 (all)
Roma 16:25 (NRSV) Now to God who is able to strengthen you
according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the
revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages 26 but is now
disclosed, and through the prophetic writings is made known to all the
Gentiles, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the
obedience of faith-- 27 to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to whom be
the glory forever! Amen.
h/t Montreal
Anglican
These are the closing words of Paul’s letter. I offer the
following paraphrase of this grammatically complex passage: God has
commanded my preaching of the good news, and the proclamation of Jesus Christ
in order that the mystery that was long kept secret might be revealed to all
people through the Scriptures, and that by this revelation God might strengthen
you in faith and thus in obedience to him. To the only wise God be the glory
through Jesus Christ forever. Amen. God’s “command” (v. 26)
to Paul is that he preach the good news. Jesus’ proclamation makes clear the
“mystery” (v. 25)
of who the Messiah is in the “prophetic writings” (v. 26),
i.e. in the Old Testament and contemporary Jewish writings about the future
- Some Greek manuscripts place these verses after 14:22; others place them after 15:33; still another lacks these verses.
- Some manuscripts precede these verses with a v. 24: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you. Amen”.
- Some manuscripts lack “to whom” in v. 27.
- Some manuscripts put v. 24 after v. 27.
In the P46 papyrus, the oldest text of Romans we have, these verses are after 15:33. The notion of mystery, applied to the salvation of Gentiles, is found in the epistles which many scholars consider not to be Pauline but not in those generally accepted as being from Paul. So, while we cannot be sure, these verses seem to have been added later. [ NJBC]
Verse 25: “God”: The Greek means literally the one. [ NOAB]
Verse 25: “to God who is able to strengthen you”: The author blesses God, who assures the gospel of Christ to human beings and also constancy in Christian life. [ NOAB]
Verse 25: “my gospel”: i.e. The good news which Paul made known. [ NOAB]
Verse 25: “proclamation”: Another word for gospel. [ NOAB]
Verse 25: “the proclamation of Jesus Christ”: NJBC offers the preaching of Jesus Christ. i.e. the proclamation that announces Jesus Christ.
Verse 25: “the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret”: This notion is also found in Colossians 1:26-27; Ephesians 1:9-10; 3:9-11; 2 Timothy 1:9-10; Titus 1:2-3; 1 Peter 1:20. [ CAB]
Verse 26: “according to the command of the eternal God”: Paul may be alluding to his commission as an apostle to the Gentiles so that he could make this mystery, now revealed, known to all peoples. [ NJBC]
Verse 26: “obedience of faith”: i.e. obedience which leads to faith. [ NJBC] This phrase also occurs in 1:5. [ CAB]
Verse 27: “the only wise God”: The uniqueness of God and his wisdom are also mentioned in 11:33-36; 1 Timothy 1:17; Jude 25; Revelation 15:4. Praise is once again paid to God the Father, through his Son, Jesus Christ. [ CAB] [ NJBC]
GOSPEL: Luke 1: 26 - 38 (all)
Luke 1:26 (NRSV) In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was
sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a
man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary.
28 And he came to her and said, "Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with
you." 29 But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of
greeting this might be. 30 The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary,
for you have found favor with God. 31 And now, you will conceive in your womb
and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be
called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne
of his ancestor David. 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of
his kingdom there will be no end." 34 Mary said to the angel, "How
can this be, since I am a virgin?" 35 The angel said to her, "The
Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow
you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God.
36 And now, your relative Elizabeth
in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her
who was said to be barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God." 38
Then Mary said, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me
according to your word." Then the angel departed from her.
Elizabeth is now in the “sixth month” (v. 26) of her pregnancy. God sends the angel Gabriel to Nazareth. (Angels have appeared at great moments in the story of salvation. Gabriel also appeared to Daniel in Babylon. In John 1:46, we read “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” It was a town known for its jealous, materially minded people.) It is through Joseph (not Mary) that Jesus is of the lineage of David. Mary’s name in Hebrew is Miryam , meaning exalted one (“favoured one”).
The angel, speaking Aramaic, probably said shalom! Peace be with you! Mary is especially “favoured” (vv. 28, 30) with God’s love, and as such has long been part of God’s plan. “Perplexed” (v. 29), she reflects on this greeting (“pondered”, v. 29), drawing on her faith: in what way am I “favoured”? She might have panicked in the presence of God’s messenger: awe can easily turn into fear. Gabriel now tells her (vv. 30-33): she will bear a son, Son of God, a king. (God says “do not be afraid” to Abraham when he tells him he will have a son.) V. 31a recalls Isaiah 7:14: there Isaiah tells King Ahaz that “the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel” (meaning God with us .) Psalm 89:26-27 also speaks of the link between the dynasty of David and sonship of God. (“The Most High”, vv. 32, 35, is God.) The prophet Micah often speaks of the house of Israel as the “house of Jacob”; in his book ( 4:7), we read “the Lord will reign over them ... forevermore.” (Jacob is renamed Israel after his struggle with God at Peniel (Genesis 32:28), but we find both names used for the man and the people from that point on.)
While Mary does not doubt Gabriel’s message from God, she does wonder how can this be?. The last clause in v. 34 can be rendered since I have no husband. Mary is engaged to Joseph. Gabriel, in v. 35, answers Mary’s question by telling her that she will conceive through the power of the Holy Spirit (not through sexual union): a gift from God. The child will be filled with the Holy Spirit (“holy”), dedicated to the service of God, and “will be called Son of God” . V. 37 is like Genesis 18:14, where God says “Is anything too wonderful for the Lord?”. There (as with Elizabeth) in advanced years (“in her old age”, v. 36), after a normal gestation period, Sarah gives birth to a son. Jesus’ birth is even more exceptional than those of Isaac and John the Baptist. To be a “servant of the Lord” (v. 38) is special: David, in v. 8 of today’s first reading, is called a servant. Luke is doing more than telling the story of the Annunciation: he is placing Jesus in the context of Old Testament prophecies.
Verse 26: “Nazareth”: An insignificant village, neither mentioned in the Old Testament, Josephus nor rabbinic writings, of some two thousand people. [ HBD]
Verse 27: “Joseph”: Meaning May Yahweh add. [ NJBC]
Verse 28: “favoured one”: NJBC offers O Graced One!. Mary naturally asks: in what way am I graced or favoured?
Verses 31-35: In Romans 1:3-4, Paul writes what is probably a creed from before 50 AD: Jesus was humanly descended from David and designated as Son of God through the Holy Spirit at his resurrection. Vv. 31-35 go beyond this: Jesus was designated as Son of God at his conception. So Mary’s conception is virginal and through the power of the Holy Spirit. [ NJBC]
Verse 31: “Jesus”: This is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Joshua. The Hebrew and Aramaic forms of Jesus and he will save are similar. [ NOAB] To NJBC, the name means God saves.
Verses 32-33: The rest of this book spells out how Jesus is king, especially how he embodies God’s kingdom, which has come for outcasts. Jesus is often called king in the Passion story (e.g. in 23:2-3, 37-38), a time when his power is apparently at an all-time low. [ NJBC]
Verse 33: See also Matthew 28:18 and Daniel 2:44 (“... in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, ... it shall stand forever”: a verse in Daniel’s prophecy to Nebuchadnezzar). [ NOAB]
Verse 34: “How can this be?”: Mary’s question parallels Zechariah’s in v. 18. [ NJBC]
Verse 36: “the sixth month”: Luke again reminds us of the prophecy in Daniel 9:24-27. [ NJBC]
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