·
29 Thomas Becket, Archbishop of
Canterbury, Martyr, 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 John
Wyclif, Reformer, 1384
- 1 The Naming and
Circumcision of Jesus
- 2 Basil the Great
He was an influential theologianwho supported the Nicene Creed and opposed
the heresies of the early Christian church, fighting against both Arianism and the followers
of Apollinaris of Laodicea.
His ability to balance his theological convictions with his political
connections made Basil a powerful advocate for the Nicene position and Gregory of
Nazianzus, Bishops, Teachers of
the Faith, 379 and 389
- 2 Seraphim, Monk of Sarov, Spiritual Guide, 1833
- 2 Vedanayagam
Samuel Azariah, Bishop in South India, Evangelist, 1945
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.
NEW TESTAMENT:
Colossians 3: 12 - 17 (RCL)
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.
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 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]
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: “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: “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 2:14and
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]
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 hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" 7 So you
are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through
God.
GOSPEL: Luke 2: 41 - 52
(RCL)
Luke 2:41 (NRSV)
Now every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover.
42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up as usual for the festival. 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. 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. 45 When they did not find him, they
returned to Jerusalem to search for him. 46 After three days they found him in
the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them
questions. 47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his
answers. 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." 49 He said to them,
"Why were you searching 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
Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. His
mother treasured all these things in her heart.
52 And Jesus increased
in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favor.
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
affairsand 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]
© 1996-2018
Chris Haslam
