Sunday after Christmas
Our readings give three examples of people in whom God worked out his purposes, but in one of them, because he refused to respond to God’s message positively, God’s providence worked out negatively to his ultimate shame and in two of them, because they responded in obedience to God’s revelation the providence worked out positively, in one a quiet, hidden holy fame, and in the other a public, evangelistic and conflicted holy flame. The difference was the response or lack of response to God’s revelatioin.
Title
Outline
We have a series of choosing in our readings
Joseph has been chosen by God to father Jesus
Herod had, under God’s providence, been given rule to establish stability in Judah and Galilee under Roman authority
Finally, we have Saul of Tarsus/ Paul
Brothers and Sisters, we have the chance to live out God’s purposes in our lives
Readings
EPISTLE
Galatians 1:11–19
11 For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not man’s gospel. 12 For I did not receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through a revelation of Jesus Christ. 13 For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it; 14 and I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and had called me through his grace, 16 was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not confer with flesh and blood, 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia; and again I returned to Damascus.
18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas, and remained with him fifteen days. 19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord’s brother.
GOSPEL
Matthew 2:13–23
13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there till I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” 14 And he rose and took the child and his mother by night, and departed to Egypt, 15 and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfil what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt have I called my son.”
16 Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, was in a furious rage, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time which he had ascertained from the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah:
18 “A voice was heard in Ramah,
wailing and loud lamentation,
Rachel weeping for her children;
she refused to be consoled,
because they were no more.”
19 But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, 20 “Rise, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child’s life are dead.” 21 And he rose and took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus reigned over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee. 23 And he went and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, “He shall be called a Nazarene.”
Notes
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2023 | NATIVITY OF OUR LORD
SUNDAY AFTER NATIVITY
Bright Vestments
On the same date: Sunday before Theophany; Leavetaking of Nativity
Matins Gospel John 20:11–18 (30th Sunday)
Epistle Galatians 1:11–19
Gospel Matthew 2:13–23