Christmas – Matthew 1:18-25 Please listen with me to a reading from the first chapter of the Gospel according to St. Matthew, beginning at the 18th verse. Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the…
Christmas Eve As an example of beautiful prose and story-telling, the Christmas narrative from St. Luke’s Gospel is not excelled by any other ancient tale. Its magical charm, and the emotional pull by which it draws all who hear or read it into the events that are described, are unsurpassed. And the story has everything.…
Luke 2:10-11 EXORDIUM: Christ is born! Let us glorify him! Today is the festival of the Nativity of Our Lord. It recalls the day in Bethlehem, so many centuries ago, when God’s Son entered into this world, and set out on his life’s journey as humanity’s Savior. God’s Son had, of course, been a part…
Luke 2:8-12 Christ is born! Let us glorify him! “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign…
Luke 2:8-14; Isaiah 9:2-7 EXORDIUM: Christ is born! Let us glorify him! Today is the festival of the Nativity of Our Lord. It recalls the day in Bethlehem, so many centuries ago, when God’s Son entered into this world, and set out on his life’s journey as humanity’s Savior. God’s Son had, of course, been…
One of the lessons that we will read in tomorrow’s Christmas Day service, from the Prophet Isaiah, says this: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined.” And on Epiphany, which is sometimes called the…
Revelation 21:3-7 St. John writes: And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there…
Isaiah 1:2-3 “Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth! For the Lord has spoken: ‘I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against Me; the ox knows its owner and the donkey its master’s crib; but Israel does not know, my people do not consider.’” In the name of Jesus. Amen.…