Break Open the Word

The Second Sunday after Christmas, 4 January 2014 Jeremiah 31:7-14 Psalm 84 Ephesians 1:3-6, 15-19a St. Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23, or St. Luke 2:41-52, or St. Matthew 2:1-12 Background: From Christmas to Epiphany In past comments I’ve described the important days that immediately follow Christmas, namely St. Stephen’s Day (26 December), St. John’s Day (27 December), and The Holy Innocents (28 December).   In the Lutheran and Episcopal Calendars, there are provisions for Christmas I and Christmas II, the Sundays following Christmas. The Roman calendar is different, with its provision for The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph that falls on the Sunday immediately following Christmas. The Gospel for that celebration is the account of the Presentation ( St. Luke 2:22-40 ). The Gospels for the first and second Sundays of Christmas in the Episcopal and Lutheran Calendars are the Prologue to the Gospel of John ( John 1 ) for the First Sunday, and a choice of Gospel...

The First Sunday after Christmass, 28 December 201 4 Isaiah 61:10 – 62:3 Psalm 147 Galatians 3:23-25; 4:4-7 St. John 1:1-18                                                                                                                 Background:  St. Stephen, St. John, and The Holy Innocents. Unfortunately, to my way of thinking, there is a rule of precedence that does not allow the use of the propers for the thr...