Almighty God, who hast poured upon us the new light of thine incarnate Word; Grant that the same light enkindled in our hearts may shine forth in our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Epistle (Isaiah lxi. 1)
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.
The Gospel (St. Matthew ii. 19)
When Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's life. And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee: and he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.
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A Sunday Thought
Today's Collect affirms that at Christmas, God poured out the new light of His incarnate Word into the world. This Light is eternal, and is the same unchanging Light that existed before the creation of the heavens and earth. Indeed, it is through this Light we can know God the Father because we have seen and heard God the Son. The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.
A Sunday Thanksgiving
We praise God for faithful men who, like Joseph, have led their families by the Holy Spirit in times of danger throughout the ages.
A Sunday Question
What role does the message of 'good tidings' in today's Epistle inform your Christian life?
