Revised Common Lectionary - First Sunday after Christmas Day
Sunday, 29 December 2013
PRAYER: Thematic
O Holy One,
heavenly angels spoke to earthly shepherds
and eternity entered time in the child of Bethlehem.
Through the telling of the Christmas story,
let our temporal lives be caught up in the eternal
in that same child,
that we might join shepherds and all the heavenly host
in praising the coming of Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen.
OR
God of glory,
your splendor shines from a manger in Bethlehem,
where the Light of the world is humbly born
into the darkness of human night.
Open our eyes to Christ's presence in the shadows of our world,
so that we, like him, may become beacons of your justice,
and defenders of all for whom there is no room. Amen.
OR
Light of life, you came in flesh,
born into human pain and joy,
and gave us power to be your children.
Grant us faith, O Christ, to see your presence among us,
so that all of creation may sing new songs of gladness
and walk in the way of peace. Amen.
OR
We bless you, Abba, Father,
for you have visited your people
in one like us in all things but sin,
and in human fragility you have revealed
the face of divinity.
Gather into your arms
all the peoples of the world,
so that in your embrace
we may find blessing, peace,
and the fullness of our inheritance
as your daughters and sons. Amen.
Intercessory
Nurturing God,
remembering the exile of the holy family
and Herod's slaughter of the children,
we remember all who need our sustaining love.
Hear our prayers for the church and the community in the world.
Prayers of the People concluding with:
Grant that all people may hear together the song of joy,
and find their homes in the garden of justice and hope,
that we may experience the fullness of life,
which is your will for all,
in the coming of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Scripture
Praise is our cry, O Holy One of Israel,
for you have come among us and borne our burdens.
Give us open hearts,
that we might embrace our suffering sisters and brothers,
and welcome Jesus in the hospitality
we show to exiles. Amen.
Isaiah 63: God’s Mercy Remembered
7 I will recount the gracious deeds of the Lord,
the praiseworthy acts
of the Lord,
because of all that the Lord has done for us,
and the great favor to
the house of Israel
that he has shown them according to his mercy,
according to the
abundance of his steadfast love.
8 For he said, “Surely they are my people,
children who will not
deal falsely”;
and he became their savior
9 in all their
distress.
It was no messenger[a] or angel
but his presence that
saved them;[b]
in his love and in his pity he redeemed them;
he lifted them up and
carried them all the days of old.
Footnotes:
a. Isaiah 63:9 Gk: Heb anguish
b. Isaiah 63:9 Or savior. 9 In all their distress he was
distressed; the angel of his presence saved them;
Psalm 148: Praise for God’s Universal Glory
1 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.[a]
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!
Footnotes:
a. Psalm 148:6 Or he set a law that cannot pass away
Hebrews 2: 10 It was fitting that God,[a] for whom and
through whom all things exist, in bringing many children to glory, should make
the pioneer of their salvation perfect through sufferings. 11 For the one who
sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one Father.[b] For this reason
Jesus[c] is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters,[d] 12 saying,
“I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters,[e]
in the midst of the
congregation I will praise you.”
13 And again,
“I will put my trust in him.”
And again,
“Here am I and the children whom God has given me.”
14 Since, therefore, the children share flesh and blood, he himself
likewise shared the same things, so that through death he might destroy the one
who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and free those who all their
lives were held in slavery by the fear of death. 16 For it is clear that he did
not come to help angels, but the descendants of Abraham. 17 Therefore he had to
become like his brothers and sisters[f] in every respect, so that he might be a
merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make a sacrifice of
atonement for the sins of the people. 18 Because he himself was tested by what
he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested.
Footnotes:
a. Hebrews 2:10 Gk he
b. Hebrews 2:11 Gk are all of one
c. Hebrews 2:11 Gk he
d. Hebrews 2:11 Gk brothers
e. Hebrews 2:12 Gk brothers
f. Hebrews 2:17 Gk brothers
Matthew 2: The Escape to Egypt
13 Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to
Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to
Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child,
to destroy him.” 14 Then Joseph[a] got up, took the child and his mother by
night, and went to Egypt, 15 and remained there until the death of Herod. This
was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, “Out of
Egypt I have called my son.”
The Massacre of the Infants
16 When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men,[b]
he was infuriated, and he sent and killed all the children in and around
Bethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had
learned from the wise men.[c] 17 Then was fulfilled what had been spoken
through 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 are no more.”
The Return from Egypt
19 When Herod died, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in a
dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, 20 “Get up, take the child and his mother,
and go to the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the child’s life are
dead.” 21 Then Joseph[d] got up, took the child and his mother, and went to the
land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in
place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And after being warned in
a dream, he went away to the district of Galilee. 23 There he made his home in
a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might
be fulfilled, “He will be called a Nazorean.”
Footnotes:
a. Matthew 2:14 Gk he
b. Matthew 2:16 Or astrologers; Gk magi
c. Matthew 2:16 Or astrologers; Gk magi
d. Matthew 2:21 Gk he
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John Wesley’s Notes and Commentary for:
Isaiah 63:7-9
Verse 7. Mention - Here begins a new matter, which contains the
prophet's prayer, to the end of chap. 64, wherein he begins with mentioning the
great kindnesses that God had shewn the Jews, and that emphatically, setting
them forth with the greatest advantages.
Verse 8. He said - When he made a covenant with our fathers, and
brought them out of Egypt. Not lie - That will keep my covenant. So he - Not
Cyrus, Zerubbabel, or Nehemiah, but Christ himself.
Verse 9. The angel - The same that conducted them through the
wilderness; the Lord Jesus Christ, who appeared to Moses in the bush. Saved
them - From the house of bondage. Carried - He carried them in the arms of his
power, and on the wings of his providence. And he is said to do it of old, To
remember his ancient kindness for many generations past.
Psalm 148
PS 148 An exhortation to all creatures in heaven and earth, man
especially, to praise God, ver. 1-14.
Verse 4. Heavens of heavens - Ye highest heavens, the place of
God's throne. Waters - Ye clouds which are above a part of the heavens.
Verse 6. Established - He hath made them constant and
incorruptible, not changeable, as the things of the lower world. A decree -
Concerning their continuance.
Verse 7. Dragons - Either serpents, which hide in the deep
caverns of the earth; or whales, and other sea-monsters, which dwell in the
depths of the sea.
Verse 8. Fire - Lightnings and other fireworks of the air. Vapor
- Or, fumes: hot exhalations. Fulfilling his word - Executing his commands,
either for the comfort or punishment of the inhabitants of the earth.
Verse 13. Above - Above all the glories which are in earth and
in heaven.
Verse 14. The horn - In scripture commonly denotes strength,
victory, glory, and felicity.
Hebrews 2:10-18
Verse 10. In this verse the apostle expresses, in his own words,
what he expressed before in those of the Psalmist. It became him - It was
suitable to all his attributes, both to his justice, goodness, and wisdom. For
whom - As their ultimate end. And by whom - As their first cause. Are all
things, in bringing many adopted sons to glory - To this very thing, that they
are sons, and are treated as such To perfect the captain - Prince, leader, and
author of their salvation, by his atoning sufferings for them. To perfect or
consummate implies the bringing him to a full and glorious end of all his
troubles, chap. v, 9. This consummation by sufferings intimates,
1. the glory of Christ, to whom, being consummated, all things
are made subject.
2. The preceding sufferings. Of these he treats expressly, ver.
11- 18; having before spoken of his glory, both to give an edge to his
exhortation, and to remove the scandal of sufferings and death. A fuller
consideration of both these points he interweaves with the following discourse
on his priesthood. But what is here said of our Lord's being made perfect
through sufferings, has no relation to our being saved or sanctified by
sufferings. Even he himself was perfect, as God and as man, before ever be
suffered. By his sufferings, in his life and death, he was made a perfect or
complete sin-offering. But unless we were to be made the same sacrifice, and to
atone for sin, what is said of him in this respect is as much out of our sphere
as his ascension into heaven. It is his atonement, and his Spirit carrying on
"the work of faith with power" in our hearts, that alone can sanctify
us. Various afflictions indeed may be made subservient to this; and so far as
they are blessed to the weaning us from sin, and causing our affections to be
set on things above, so far they do indirectly help on our sanctification.
Verse 11. For - They are nearly related to each other. He that
sanctifieth - Christ, chap. xiii, 12. And all they that are sanctified - That
are brought to God; that draw near or come to him, which are synonymous terms.
Are all of one - Partakers of one nature, from one parent, Adam.
Verse 12. I will declare thy name to my brethren - Christ
declares the name of God, gracious and merciful, plenteous in goodness and
truth, to all who believe, that they also may praise him. In the midst of the
church will I sing praise unto thee - As the precentor of the choir. This he
did literally, in the midst of his apostles, on the night before his passion.
And as it means, in a more general sense, setting forth the praise of God, he
has done it in the church by his word and his Spirit; he still does, and will
do it throughout all generations. Psalm xxii, 22.
Verse 13. And again - As one that has communion with his
brethren in sufferings, as well as in nature, he says, I will put my trust in
him - To carry me through them all. And again - With a like acknowledgment of
his near relation to them, as younger brethren, who were yet but in their
childhood, he presents all believers to God, saying, Behold I and the children
whom thou hast given me. Isaiah viii, 17, 18
Verse 14. Since then these children partake of flesh and blood -
Of human nature with all its infirmities. He also in like manner took part of
the same; that through his own death he might destroy the tyranny of him that
had, by God's permission, the power of death with regard to the ungodly. Death
is the devil's servant and serjeant, delivering to him those whom he seizes in
sin. That is, the devil - The power was manifest to all; but who exerted it,
they saw not.
Verse 15. And deliver them, as many as through fear of death
were all their lifetime, till then, subject to bondage - Every man who fears
death is subject to bondage; is in a slavish, uncomfortable state. And every
man fears death, more or less, who knows not Christ: death is unwelcome to him,
if he knows what death is. But he delivers all true believers from this
bondage.
Verse 16. For verily he taketh not hold of angels - He does not
take their nature upon him. But he taketh hold of the seed of Abraham - He
takes human nature upon him. St. Paul says the seed of Abraham, rather than the
seed of Adam, because to Abraham was the promise made.
Verse 17. Wherefore it behoved him - It was highly fit and
proper, yea, necessary, in order to his design of redeeming them. To be made in
all things - That essentially pertain to human nature, and in all sufferings
and temptations. Like his brethren - This is a recapitulation of all that goes
before: the sum of all that follows is added immediately. That he might be a
merciful and faithful High Priest-Merciful toward sinners; faithful toward God.
A priest or high priest is one who has a right of approaching God, and of
bringing others to him. Faithful is treated of, chap. iii, 2, &c., with its
use; merciful, chap. iv, 14, &c., with the use also; High Priest, chap. v,
4, &c., chap. vii, 1, &c. The use is added from chap. x, 19. In things
pertaining to God, to expiate the sins of the people - Offering up their
sacrifices and prayers to God; deriving God's grace, peace, and blessings upon
them.
Verse 18. For in that he hath suffered being tempted himself he
is able to succor them that are tempted - That is, he has given a manifest,
demonstrative proof that he is able so to do.
Matthew 2:13-23
Verse 15. That it might be fulfilled - That is, whereby was
fulfilled. The original word frequently signifies, not the design of an action,
but barely the consequence or event of it. Which was spoken of the Lord by the
prophet - on another occasion: Out of Egypt have I called my Son - which was
now fulfilled as it were anew; Christ being in a far higher sense the Son of
God than Israel, of whom the words were originally spoken. Hosea xi, 1.
Verse 16. Then Herod, seeing that he was deluded by the wise men
- So did his pride teach him to regard this action, as if it were intended to
expose him to the derision of his subjects. Sending forth - a party of
soldiers: In all the confines thereof - In all the neighbouring places, of
which Rama was one.
Verse 17. Then was fulfilled - A passage of Scripture, whether
prophetic, historical, or poetical, is in the language of the New Testament
fulfilled, when an event happens to which it may with great propriety be
accommodated.
Verse 18. Rachel weeping for her children - The Benjamites, who
inhabited Rama, sprung from her. She was buried near this place; and is here
beautifully represented risen, as it were out of her grave, and bewailing her
lost children. Because they are not - that is, are dead. The preservation of
Jesus from this destruction, may be considered as a figure of God's care over
his children in their greatest danger. God does not often, as he easily could,
cut off their persecutors at a stroke. But he provides a hiding place for his
people, and by methods not less effectual, though less pompous, preserves them
from being swept away, even when the enemy comes in like a flood. Jer. xxxi,
15.
Verse 22. He was afraid to go thither - into Judea; and so
turned aside into the region of Galilee - a part of the land of Israel not
under the jurisdiction of Archelaus.
Verse 23. He came and dwelt in Nazareth - (where he had dwelt
before he went to Bethlehem) a place contemptible to a proverb. So that hereby
was fulfilled what has been spoken in effect by several of the prophets,
(though by none of them in express words, ) He shall be called a Nazarene -
that is, he shall be despised and rejected, shall be a mark of public contempt
and reproach.
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