15 John Horden, Bishop and Missionary in Canada, 1893. Robert McDonald, Priest, 1913
16 Ralph Adams Cram, 1942, and Richard Upjohn, 1878, Architects, and John LaFarge, Artist, 1910
17 William Lloyd Garrison, 1879, and Maria Stewart, 1879, Prophetic Witnesses
19 Lillian Trasher, Missionary in Egypt, 1961
21 Saint Thomas the Apostle
22 Charlotte Digges (Lottie) Moon, Missionary in China, 1912. Henry Budd, Priest, 1875 Born to Cree parents in Norway House in what was then the Red River Colony, the youth originally named Sakachuwescam was baptised and renamed Henry Budd (after his own mentor) by Anglican missionary the Rev. John West in 1822.[2] He attended the Church Missionary Society (CMS) school, which West had established in what was then known as the Red River Colony in what is now the province of Manitoba.[1][3] Fellow students included James Settee and Charles Pratt (Askenootow).[4]

Raised and educated by missionaries including West, George Harbridge and David Jones, Budd returned to the Lower Church District (later St. Andrew's)[5] to assist his mother and sister-in-law in 1828


OLD TESTAMENT: Isaiah 35: 1 - 10 (RCL)
                              Isaiah 35: 1 - 6a, 10 (Roman Catholic)

Isai 35:1 (NRSV) The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad,
the desert shall rejoice and blossom;
like the crocus 2 it shall blossom abundantly,
and rejoice with joy and singing.
The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it,
the majesty of Car'mel and Sharon.
They shall see the glory of the LORD,
the majesty of our God.
3 Strengthen the weak hands,
and make firm the feeble knees.
4 Say to those who are of a fearful heart,
"Be strong, do not fear!
Here is your God.
He will come with vengeance,
with terrible recompense.
He will come and save you."
5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
and the ears of the deaf unstopped;
6 then the lame shall leap like a deer,
and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy.
For waters shall break forth in the wilderness,
and streams in the desert;
7 the burning sand shall become a pool,
and the thirsty ground springs of water;
the haunt of jackals shall become a swamp,
the grass shall become reeds and rushes.
8 A highway shall be there,
and it shall be called the Holy Way;
the unclean shall not travel on it,
but it shall be for God's people;
no traveler, not even fools, shall go astray.
9 No lion shall be there,
nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it;
they shall not be found there,
but the redeemed shall walk there.
10 And the ransomed of the LORD shall return,
and come to Zion with singing;
everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;
they shall obtain joy and gladness,
and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.


PSALM 146: 5 - 10  (RCL)
Psalm 146: 6 - 10  (Roman Catholic)

Psal 146:5 (NRSV) Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the LORD their God,
6 who made heaven and earth,
the sea, and all that is in them;
who keeps faith forever;
7 who executes justice for the oppressed;
who gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets the prisoners free;
8 the LORD opens the eyes of the blind.
The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down;
the LORD loves the righteous.
9 The LORD watches over the strangers;
he upholds the orphan and the widow,
but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.
10 The LORD will reign forever,
your God, O Zion, for all generations.
Praise the LORD!

Note: Verse numbering in your Psalter may differ from the above.


146   Lauda, anima mea   (ECUSA BCP)

4  Happy are they who have the God of Jacob for their help! *
  whose hope is in the Lord their God;

5  Who made heaven and earth, the seas, and all that is in them; *
  who keeps his promise for ever;

6  Who gives justice to those who are oppressed, *
  and food to those who hunger.

7  The Lord sets the prisoners free;
the Lord opens the eyes of the blind; *
  the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;

8  The Lord loves the righteous;
the Lord cares for the stranger; *
  he sustains the orphan and widow,
  but frustrates the way of the wicked.

9  The Lord shall reign for ever, *
  your God, O Zion, throughout all generations.
  Hallelujah!


Luke 1: 47 - 55 (alt. for RCL)
Luke 1: 46b - 55 ( alt. for C of E)

Luke 1:46 (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."


Canticle 3   The Song of Mary  Magnificat   (alt. for ECUSA)

Luke 1:46-55

My soul doth magnify the Lord, *
   and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.
For he hath regarded *
   the lowliness of his handmaiden.
For behold from henceforth *
   all generations shall call me blessed.
For he that is mighty hath magnified me, *
   and holy is his Name.
And his mercy is on them that fear him *
   throughout all generations.
He hath showed strength with his arm; *
  he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He hath put down the mighty from their seat, *
    and hath exalted the humble and meek.
He hath filled the hungry with good things, *
    and the rich he hath sent empty away.
He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel, *
    as he promised to our forefathers,
    Abraham and his seed for ever.


Canticle 15    The Song of Mary    Magnificat     (alt. for ECUSA)

   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.

Note: This is Canticle 18 in the Can. BAS


NEW TESTAMENT: James 5: 7 - 10 (all)

Jame 5:7 (NRSV) Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. 8 You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. 9 Beloved, do not grumble against one another, so that you may not be judged. See, the Judge is standing at the doors! 10 As an example of suffering and patience, beloved, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.

Early Christians expected the return of Jesus, the second coming, almost immediately. This was connected with expectations about the Kingdom of God. The apparent delay of this event caused some difficulties and even some disputes among the faithful. James warns his readers not to be impatient (vv. 8-9), lest this impatience lead to grumbling and division within the church (v. 9), which will bring judgement. For with the second coming of Christ comes also the judgement of God. The second coming is a two-edged sword: its arrival is both of comfort and of warning to Christians!

Instead, James tells his readers that they are to be patient in suffering like the prophets (v. 10). They are to bide their time like the farmer who plants his crop in the knowledge that the rains will come in their own time (v. 7). (In Palestine, there are two rainy times of the year: October-November, “early” and April-May, “late”.) So it is with the Kingdom. It is on its way, it is “near”, (v. 8) but will come in its own time. Our impatience will not hasten its coming, but we can expect it with the confidence of faith.

Comment: “The delay ... caused some difficulties ...”: see Matthew 24:3-6 (false messiahs); 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12.

Verses 7-9: Three references to the coming of Christ stand in contrast to the preceding passage on seeking riches in vain. [ NOAB]

Verse 7: “Be patient”: The verb indicates self-restraint, which enables the sufferer to refrain from retaliation or precipitous action. This phrase summarizes the whole section. Be patient not only when faced by outrageous injustice (vv. 4-6) but in the ordinary trials of life (vv. 9, 12-14, 19). [ NJBC]

Verse 7: “the coming of the Lord”: For the second coming of the Lord, see also 2 Thessalonians 2:1, 8-9; Matthew 24:3; 2 Peter 1:16; 3:4, 12; 1 John 2:28. [ NJBC]

Verse 7: “the early and the late rains”: Deuteronomy 11:14 and Joel 2:23 mention both rainy seasons. [ NJBC]

Verse 8: “Strengthen your hearts”: 1 Thessalonians 3:13 says :”... may he so strengthen your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints”. [ NJBC]

Verse 8: “the coming of the Lord is near”: See also Philippians 4:5 (“... The Lord is near”); Hebrews 10:25 (“as you see the Day approaching”), 37 (“... in a very little while, the one who is coming will come and will not delay”); 1 John 2:18 (“... it is the last hour! ...”); Revelation 22:10 (“... the time is near ...”), 12 (“I am coming soon”), 20. [ NJBC]

Verse 9: Note the abrupt change to seeing the coming of the Lord as that of a judge. [ NJBC]

Verse 10: “As an example ... take the prophets”: The prophets are represented as martyrs: see also Matthew 23:29-31. In Acts 7:42, Stephen quotes Amos: “‘Did you offer to me slain victims and sacrifices forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel?’”. [ NJBC]

Verse 11: See also Job 1:21-22; 2:10 (“... In all this Job did not sin with his lips ...”); Psalm 111:4. [ NOAB]

Verse 12: “do not swear ... by”: See also Matthew 5:34-37. [ NJBC]

Verse 12: “let your ‘Yes’ be yes and your ‘No’ be no”: i.e be truthful. [ NJBC]


GOSPEL: Matthew 11: 2 - 11 (all)

Matt 11:2 (NRSV) When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples 3 and said to him, "Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?" 4 Jesus answered them, "Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5 the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. 6 And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me."
7 As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? 8 What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces. 9 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is the one about whom it is written,
"See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way before you.'
11 Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

John the Baptist has been arrested and imprisoned. Discouraged and in doubt, he sends messengers to ask Jesus: “Are you the one ...?” (v. 3) But Jesus does not simply say yes. Instead, he points John (and the crowd) to the signs of the Kingdom (v. 5). Echoing Isaiah, he points out that the blind, the deaf, the lame and the lepers are being healed and good news is given to the poor. Anyone can claim to be a herald of the kingdom, but only in the presence of the Messiah will the true signs of the Kingdom be evident. These are not mere claims, but incontrovertible proof. Yet apparently there are some who take offense at Jesus (v. 6). Perhaps even John himself has been disappointed because his expectations of the Messiah do not seem to be fulfilled by Jesus, e.g. he does not “wear soft robes” (v. 8). Perhaps this has given rise to doubts. Jesus refers to the signs of the Kingdom in Isaiah. John is “more than a prophet” (v. 9) for he heralds the dawn of the final era of history and announces the coming of the Kingdom. Now Jesus validates John’s ministry as a true prophet (by quoting a prophecy from Malachi, v. 10), going on even to identify John as Elijah, returned (v. 14). (Jews understood the time of the prophets to have ended, but took Malachi’s words to mean that Elijah would come again.) Jesus criticizes the people who went out to see John the Baptist in the wilderness with a variety of incorrect expectations. What they actually saw was greater than they could have imagined. Yet even John, as great as he was, only pointed the way to an even greater reality (v. 11). Up to and including John the Baptist was the time of prophetic promise; now this promise is starting to be fulfilled (v. 13). When we are disappointed, or our expectations of God’s Kingdom are dashed, perhaps it is because we are not looking for the signs of the Kingdom that are all around us.

© 1996-2019 Chris Haslam

The parallel is Luke 7:18-28. See also Luke 16:16. [ NOAB]

Verse 2: “in prison”: At Machaerus, a fortress about 8 km (5 miles) east of the Dead Sea. [ NOAB]

Verses 4-5: Jesus invites John to answer his own question: does Jesus fulfil Isaiah’s prophecies?

Verse 5: “the blind receive their sight ...”: These notions of rescue are also found in Isaiah 29:18-19; 35:5-6; 61:1. Jesus reads Isaiah 61:1 in the synagogue at Nazareth and interprets it as being fulfilled in him: see Luke 4:18-21. [ NOAB]

Verse 6: “takes no offence at me”: The Greek word really means scandalized.

Verse 7: “a reed shaken by the wind?”: These crowds knew that John was a sturdy, fearless man, who sacrificed personal comfort to be loyal to God and to speak the prophetic word people needed. [ BlkMt] On the other hand, note Isaiah 42:1-4, a Servant Song: “Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. He will not cry or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. He will not grow faint or be crushed until he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his teaching.”

Verse 10: Malachi 3:1 says: “See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me ...”; however Jesus’ quotation agrees precisely with neither the Hebrew text nor the Septuagint translation. 2 Kings 2:11 tells us that “Elijah ascended in a whirlwind into heaven”. Malachi 4:5 foretells his return: “Lo, I will send you the prophet Elijah before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes”. [ BlkMt]

Verse 11: Great as John the Baptiser is, because Jesus, unlike John, is in the Kingdom. John announced the imminence of the Kingdom, but he himself still stood within the old order. [ BlkMt]

Verse 12: BlkMt says that this verse is difficult. The final struggle has begun; God’s power is at work through Jesus to establish his reign, but his Kingdom is suffering violence; violent people are trying to seize or snatch away this blessing and keep people from accepting God’s rule. In this time of crisis, great with opportunity but full of danger for those not alert to respond at once, Jesus says with stern emphasis: “Let anyone with ears listen!” (v. 15).

© 1996-2019 Chris Haslam