Hello friends! This week we have a wide variety of readings in the lectionary, with three different options to accomodate having multiple Christmas services.
Here are the three propers for the Nativity of the Lord (aka Christmas) with links:
Nativity of the Lord - Proper I (December 24, 2022)
- First reading
- Isaiah 9:2-7
- Psalm
- Psalm 96
- Second reading
- Titus 2:11-14
- Gospel
- Luke 2:1-14, (15-20)
Nativity of the Lord - Proper II (December 24, 2022)
- First reading
- Isaiah 62:6-12
- Psalm
- Psalm 97
- Second reading
- Titus 3:4-7
- Gospel
- Luke 2:(1-7), 8-20
Nativity of the Lord - Proper III (December 24, 2022)
- First reading
- Isaiah 52:7-10
- Psalm
- Psalm 98
- Second reading
- Hebrews 1:1-4, (5-12)
- Gospel
- John 1:1-14
Thank you for providing all of these readings. I always enjoy the Psalms because they tend to have a very broad view of creation, always including flora, fauna, and different biomes and not just focusing on humans and their cities, etc. However, I find the descriptions of the Lord, his might and power (melting mountains like was, for example) to be an interesting contrast to the humble way He chose to bring forth his incarnation. Yes, there were angels, wise men, and a star; but for the most part, his entrance was not one reflective of great power. Unless, of course, one is prepared to accept that the greatest power of all is love. So many of the scriptures ask for God to bring us peace. It is distressing that we have been seeking the same thing for thousands of years, with inconsistent results. We have been given a blueprint, but can't seem to follow it, or the Prince of Peace. Okay, those are my ramblings. Thanks for giving me a lot to think about and the opportunity to attempt to express some of my scattered thoughts. Peace on Earth! Good Will to All!
ReplyDeleteRobyn - that's a great point. I think that we tend to project onto God those qualities of grandeur and power that we think befitting of a kingly figure -- and then as John's gospel points out, we don't recognize him when he comes in humble form. At the Good News Festival, Bishop Curry talked about how God continually gave people the message of what God was like, but they never seemed to get it and kept screwing it up, so God finally said "I'm coming down there myself!" :) But I agree - that has been sticking out a lot for me this season as well. The blueprint is indeed right in front of us, but for some reason we want to make it more complicated than it needs to be.
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