Break Open the Word

  The Second Sunday after Christmas, 3 January 2021 People looking for the Propers for The Epiphany of our Lord  can find them here.   The Second Sunday after Christmas, 3 January 2021 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   The Collect: O God, who wonderfully created, and yet more wonderfully restored, the dignity of human nature: Grant that we may share the divine life of him who humbled himself to share our humanity, your Son Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.       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

  The First Sunday after Christmas, 27 December 2020   Isaiah 61:10 – 62:3 Psalm 147 Galatians 3:23-25, 4:4-7 St. John 1:1-18   The Collect for this Sunday:   Almighty God, you have poured upon us the new light of your incarnate Word: Grant that this light, enkindled in our hearts, may shine forth in our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.       Background: The Three Days   Often missed in parish life, are the three days that follow The Nativity of Our Lord, Christmas Day. They are instructive to those who wish to follow Jesus in the days that honor his birth, for they describe what is required of those who will follow. The Days honor St. Stephen the First Martyr (26 December), St. John Apostle and Evangelist (27 December), and The Holy Innocents (28 December). The dates in the Eastern Church depend on whether the Gregorian (beginning 9 January) or Julian Calendar (1 day later in December

  The Fourth Sunday of Advent, 20 December 2020   II Samuel 7:1-11, 16 Romans 16:25-27 Luke 1:26-38 Canticle 3 or  Canticle 15 or   Psalm 89:1-4, 19-26   The Collect   Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation, that your Son Jesus Christ, at his coming, may find in us a mansion prepared for himself; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen.     Background: David   On this Fourth Sunday of Advent, we have several references to David, an understandable inclusion that stems from the view that Jesus is “the Son of David.” It might be a good time then to look at Luke’s use of this term (Matthew uses it as well) to understand its intent and value. For that study we ought to look at  Luke 20:41-44 ,   “ Then he said to them, “How do they claim that the Messiah is the Son of David?   For David himself in the Book of Psalms says:   ‘The Lord said to my lord, “Sit at my right hand  till I make your enemies your footstool