Occurring Scripture for the Hour of Matins
Ferias of the Christmas Season
January 1 Holy Name Sunday January 2 January 3 January 4 January 5-Vigil of the Epiphany January 6
January 1
Octave Day of Christmas—Circumcision of Our Lord
Solemnity of the Mother of GodLesson i
A reading from the letter of St. Paul the Apostle to the Romans
Romans 4:1-8What shall we say then that Abraham found, who is our father according to the flesh. For if Abraham were justified by works, he had whereof to glory, but not before God. For what says the scripture? "Abraham believed God, and it was reputed to him unto justice" (Genesis 15:6) Now to him that works, the reward is not reckoned according to grace, but according to debt. But to him that works not, yet believes in Him that justifies the ungodly, his faith is reputed to justice, according to the purpose of the grace of God. As David also termed the blessedness of a man, to whom God reputes justice without works: "Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord hath not imputed sin" (Psalm 31:1).
Lesson ii
Romans 4:9-12This blessedness then, does it remain in the circumcision only, or in the uncircumcision also? For we say that to Abraham faith was reputed to justice. How then was it reputed? When he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the justice of the faith, which he had, being uncircumcised; that he might be the father of all them that believe, being uncircumcised, that to them also it may be reputed to justice: And might be the father of circumcision; not to them only, that are of the circumcision, but to them also that follow the steps of the faithful, that is in the uncircumcision of our father Abraham.
Lesson iii
Romans 4:13-17For not through the law was the promise to Abraham, or to his seed, that he should be heir of the world; but through the justice of faith. For if they who are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, the promise is made of no effect. For the law works wrath. For where there is no law, neither is there transgression. Therefore is it of faith, that according to grace the promise might be firm to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, As it is written: "I have made thee a father of many nations, before God, whom he believed, who quickens the dead; and calls those things that are not, as those that are" (cf. Genesis 17:5).
Lesson iv
From the Sermons of Pope Saint Leo the Great
VII of ChristmasDearly beloved brethren, whoever will truly keep and piously honor this day's festival, it is necessary for him neither to think falsely of the Lord's Incarnation, nor meanly of the Lord's Godhead. For as there is danger, on the one hand, of denying the truth of Christ's participation of our nature, so is there no less danger, on the other, of doing despite to the equality of His glory with the glory of the Father. Wherefore, when we draw near to understand the mystery of Christ's Birth, wherein He was born of the Virgin Mary, we must leave the clouds of earthly imagination behind and pierce the fog of human wisdom with the eye of enlightened faith.
Lesson v
The authority on which we believe is the authority of God Himself; the teaching which we follow is the teaching of God Himself. Therefore, whether we lend the ear of our mind to the testimony of the Law, or to the revelations of the Prophets, or to the full pealing of the Gospel trumpet, that is true, which John the Son of Thunder, uttered, when he was filled with the Holy Ghost, and said: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The Same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him, and without Him was not anything made" John 1:1-3). True also is his witness when he said: "The Word was made Flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the Only-begotten of the Father" (Ibid: 14).
Lesson vi
The Person of the Son of God therefore remains unchanged and one, though He has two natures, keeping His own, and taking ours. He appeared as man to be the restorer of men, but abided all the while in His immutable Godhead. That Godhead which He shares with the Father was not a whit the less Almighty, nor did the form of a servant touch the form of God to derogate from it. The Most High and Everlasting Being, bending down for man's salvation, took the Manhood into His glory; He ceased not to be That which He is from everlasting. Hence we see the Only-begotten Son of God in one place confessing that the Father is greater than He, (John 14:28), and in another declaring that He and the Father are One, (Ibid: 10:30). This is an evident proof of the distinction of His two natures, and the unity of His Person; for He is inferior to the Father as touching His Manhood, and yet equal to the Father as touching His Godhead, and yet, though He be God and Man, He is not two, but One Christ.
Lesson vii
The continuation of the Holy Gospel according to Luke
Luke 2:21In that time, after eight days were accomplished, that the child should be circumcised, his name was called JESUS, which was called by the angel, before he was conceived in the womb.
An Homily of Saint Ambrose, Bishop
Book II on Luke 2So the Child is circumcised. This is the Child of Whom it is said: "Unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given" (Isaias 9:6), "Made under the law to redeem them that were under the law" (Galatians 4:4), "To present Him to the Lord" (cf. Ibid., verse 22). In my Commentary on Isaias I have already explained what is meant by being presented to the Lord in Jerusalem, and therefore I will not enter into the subject again. He that is circumcised in heart gains the protection of God, "for the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous" (Psalm 33:16). You will see that as all the ceremonies of the old law were types of realities in the new, so the circumcision of the body signified the cleansing of the heart from the guilt of sin.
Lesson viii
But since the body and mind of man remain yet infected with a proneness to sin, the circumcision of the eighth day is also a type of that complete cleansing from sin which we shall have at the resurrection. This ceremony was also performed in obedience to the commandment of God: "Every male that opens the womb shall be called holy unto the Lord." (cf. Exodus 13:12). These words were written with special reference to the delivery of the Blessed Virgin. Truly He That opened her womb was holy, for He was altogether without spot, and we may gather that the law was written specially for Him from the words of the Angel: "That Holy Thing Which shall be born of thee, shall be called the Son of God" (Luke 1:35).
Lesson ix
Among all that are born of women the Lord Jesus Christ stood alone in holiness. Fresh from His immaculate Birth, He felt no contagion from human corruption, and His heavenly Majesty drove it away. If we are to follow the letter and say that every male that opens the womb is holy, how shall we explain that so many have been unrighteous? Was Ahab holy? Were the false prophets holy? Were they holy on whom Elijah justly called down fire from heaven? But He to Whom the sacred commandment of the law of God is mystically directed is the Holy One of Israel; Who also alone has opened the secret womb of His holy Virgin-bride the Church, filling her with a sinless fruitfulness to give birth to Christian souls.
Collect:
Let us pray:
O God, Who, by the fruitful virginity of the Blessed Mary, have given mankind the rewards of everlasting life; grant, we beseech Thee, that we may continually feel the might of her intercession, through whom we have worthily received the Author of life, our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son: Who with Thee.
Sunday from January 2 to and including January 5
Otherwise on January 2Holy Name of Jesus
Lesson i
A reading from from the Acts of the Apostles
Acts 3:1-8Now Peter and John went up into the temple at the ninth hour of prayer. And a certain man who was lame from his mother's womb, was carried: whom they laid every day at the gate of the temple, which is called Beautiful, that he might ask alms of those who went into the temple. When he had seen Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive an alms. But Peter with John fastening his eyes upon him, said: "Look upon us." But he looked earnestly upon them, hoping that he should receive something of them. But Peter said: "Silver and gold I have none; but what I have, I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, arise, and walk." And taking him by the right hand, he lifted him up, and forthwith his feet and soles received strength. And he leaping up, stood, and walked, and went in with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.
Lesson ii
Acts 3:9-16And all the people saw him walking and praising God. And they knew him, that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened to him. And as he held Peter and John, all the people ran to them to the porch which is called Solomon's, greatly wondering. But Peter seeing, made answer to the people: Ye men of Israel, why do you wonder at this? or why do you look upon us, as if by our strength or power we had made this man to walk? The God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His Son Jesus, whom you indeed delivered up and denied before the face of Pilate, when he judged he should be released. But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted to you. But the Author of life you killed, whom God has raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses. And in the faith of His name, this man, whom you have seen and known, has His name strengthened; and the faith which is by Him, has given this perfect soundness in the sight of you all.
Lesson iii
Acts 4:5-12And it came to pass on the morrow, that their princes, and ancients, and scribes, were gathered together in Jerusalem; And Annas the high priest, and Caiphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest. And setting them in the midst, they asked: "By what power, or by what name, have you done this?" Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said to them: "Ye princes of the people, and ancients, hear: If we this day are examined concerning the good deed done to the infirm man, by what means he has been made whole: Be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God has raised from the dead, even by Him this man stands here before you whole. This is the stone which was rejected by you the builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other. For there is no other name under heaven given to men, whereby we must be saved.
Lesson iv
A Sermon of Saint Bernard, Abbot
I on the Song of SongsIt is not idly that the Holy Ghost likens the Name of the Bridegroom to oil, when He makes the Bride say to the Bridegroom: "Thy Name is as oil poured forth. Oil indeed gives light, meat, and unction. It feeds fire, it nourishes the flesh, it soothes pain; it is light, food, and healing. Behold, thus also it is with the Name of the Bridegroom. To preach it, is to give light; to think of it, is to feed the soul; to call on it, is to win grace and unction. Let us take it point by point. What do you think has made the light of faith so suddenly and so brightly to shine in the whole world but the preaching of the Name of Jesus? Is it not in the light of this Name that God has called us into His marvelous light, even that light wherewith we being enlightened, and in His light seeing light, Paul said truly of us: "You were sometimes darkness, but now are you light in the Lord" (Ephesians 5:8).
Lesson v
This is the Name which the Apostle was commanded to bear before Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel, the Name which he bore as a light to enlighten his people, crying everywhere: "The night is far spent, the day is at hand; let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light, let us walk honestly as in the daylight" (Romans 13:12), He pointed out to all that candle set upon a candlestick, preaching in every place Jesus and Him crucified. How did that Name shine forth and dazzle every eye that beheld it, when it came like lightning out of the mouth of Peter to give bodily strength to the feet of the lame man, and to clear the sight of many a blind soul? Did he not cast fire when he said: "In the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk" (Acts 3:6)?
Lesson vi
The Name of Jesus is not a Name of light only, but it is meat also. Do you ever call it to mind, and remain unstrengthened? Is there anything like it to enrich the soul of him that thinks of it? What is there like it to restore the weakened senses, to fortify strength, to give birth to good lives and pure affections? The soul is fed on husks if what it eats lacks seasoning with this salt. If you write, you have no meaning for me if I do not read of Jesus there. If you preach, or dispute, you have no meaning for me if I do not hear of Jesus. The mention of Jesus is honey in the mouth, music in the ear, and gladness in the heart. It is our healing too. Is anyone sorrowful among us? Let the thought of Jesus come into his heart, and spring to his mouth. Behold, when the day of that Name begins to break, every cloud will flee away, and there will be a great calm. Does anyone fall into sin? Does anyone draw nigh to a hopeless death? And if he but calls on the life-giving Name of Jesus, will he not draw the breath of a new life again?
Lesson vii
The continuation of the Holy Gospel according to Luke
Luke 2:21In that time, after eight days were accomplished, that the child should be circumcised, his name was called JESUS, which was called by the angel, before he was conceived in the womb.
An Homily of Saint Bernard, Abbot
I on the Circumcision.Behold a mystery, great and full of wonder! The Child is circumcised, and His Name is called Jesus. Why are these two things thus mentioned together? It would seem that circumcision should rather be for the saved than for the Savior; that the Savior ought rather to be Circumciser than circumcised. But behold here the Mediator between God and men, how even from His childhood He joins the things of the Highest to the things of the lowest, the things of God to the things of men. He is born of a woman, but her womb is made fruitful without the loss of the flower of her virginity. He is wrapped in swaddling-bands, but these swaddling-bands are a theme for the jubilation of angels. He is laid in a manger, but a bright star stands in heaven over the place. So also in His circumcision, the ceremony gave proof of the reality of the Manhood which He had taken, and that Name which is above every name proclaimed the glory of His Blessed Majesty. As very son of Abraham He underwent circumcision; He assumed the Name of Jesus as very Son of God.
Lesson vii
Jesus does not bear that Name as others have borne it before Him, as a vain and empty title. It is not in Him the shadow of a great Name, but the very meaning of that Name. That His Name was revealed from heaven, is attested by the Evangelist, where it is written, "Which was so named of the Angel before He was conceived in the womb." After Jesus was born, men called Him Jesus, but angels called Him Jesus, before He was conceived in the womb. The One Lord is the Savior of angels and of men; of men, since His Incarnation; of angels, from the beginning of their creation. His Name, said the Evangelist, was called Jesus, which was so named of the Angel before He was conceived in the womb. In the mouth therefore of two or three witnesses is every word established; and that word whereof the Prophet spoke as cut short, is set forth at length in the Gospel: the Word made Flesh.Lesson vii
It is no wonder that it should be at His circumcision that the Name of Jesus (which is, being interpreted, Savior) is given to the Child Who is born unto us, for it was then that He for the first time shed that sinless Blood Which is the means whereby He has chosen to work out our salvation. It is no matter for the speculation of Christians why the Lord Christ was pleased to be circumcised. He was circumcised for the same reason for which He was born, and for which He suffered. Neither one nor the other was for Himself, but all for the sake of the elect. He was not born in sin; He was not circumcised to separate Him from sin; neither did He die for sins of His own, but for ours. Which was so named of the Angel before He was conceived in the womb. The Angel indeed gave Him that title of Savior, but not for the first time. Savior is His Name from everlasting; He has it of His own proper nature to save. This title He has in Himself, not by the gift of anything that He has made, be it man or Angel.
Collect:
Let us pray:
O God, Thou hast appointed Thine Only-begotten Son to be the Savior of mankind, and hast commanded that His Name should be called Jesus, mercifully grant that we who here on earth do worship that most Holy Name may be made glad in heaven by His Presence. Through the same.
January 2
Feria
In some places The Octave of Saint StephenLesson i
A reading from the letter of Saint Paul the Apostle to the Romans
Romans 5:1-5Being justified therefore by faith, let us have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ: By Whom also we have access through faith into this grace, wherein we stand, and glory in the hope of the glory of the sons of God. And not only so; but we glory also in tribulations, knowing that tribulation works patience; And patience trial; and trial hope; And hope does not confound: because the charity of God is poured forth in our hearts, by the Holy Ghost, who is given to us.
Lesson ii
Romans 5:6-9For why did Christ, when as yet we were weak, according to the time, die for the ungodly? For scarce for a just man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man some one would dare to die. But God commended His charity towards us; because when as yet we were sinners, according to the time, Christ died for us; much more therefore, being now justified by His blood, shall we be saved from wrath through Him.
If the day is observed as a feria of the Christmas Season
Lesson iii
Romans 5:10-12For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son; much more, being reconciled, shall we be saved by His life. And not only so; but also we glory in God, through our Lord Jesus Christ, by Whom we have now received reconciliation. Wherefore as by one man sin entered into this world, and by sin death; and so death passed upon all men, in whom all have sinned.
Collect:
Let us pray:
O God, Who, by the fruitful virginity of the Blessed Mary, have given mankind the rewards of everlasting life; grant, we beseech Thee, that we may continually feel the might of her intercession, through whom we have worthily received the Author of life, our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son: Who with Thee.
If the Octave of Saint Stephen is observed
Lesson iii
A Sermon of Saint Augustine, Bishop
II on Staint Stephen.Even after the glory of yesterday, bright with the splendor of Christ our Savior's Birth, this day finds itself an illumination of its own from the crown of the blessed Martyr Stephen. The whole earth knows how manfully he fought and conquered for he suffered at the very fountain-head of the Church, that is to say, in Jerusalem. It was in the Church there that he ministered as a Deacon and in the youthful springtime of life dyed with his blood the lily of his purity. His Passion is very glorious, and many ways wonderful, and when we read it in the Acts of the Apostles, we seem rather to see than to hear.
Let us pray.
O Almighty and everlasting God, Who hast dedicated the first-fruits of Thy Martyrs with the blood of the Blessed Stephen; grant, we beseech Thee, that the same may pray for us also, who prayed even for his murderers to our Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son:
Who with thee
January 3
Feria
In some places The Octave of Saint John
Lesson i
A reading from the letter of Saint Paul the Apostle to the Romans
Romans 6:1-5What shall we say, then? shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. For we that are dead to sin, how shall we live any longer therein? Do you not know that all we, who are baptized in Christ Jesus, are baptized in His death? For we are buried together with Him by baptism into death; that as Christ is risen from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we also may walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection.
Lesson ii
Romans 6:6-11Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin may be destroyed, to the end that we may serve sin no longer. For he that is dead is justified from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall live also together with Christ: Knowing that Christ rising again from the dead, dies now no more, death shall no more have dominion over Him. For in that He died to sin, He died once; but in that He lives, He lives unto God: 11 So do you also reckon, that you are dead to sin, but alive unto God, in Christ Jesus our Lord.
If the day is observed as a feria of the Christmas Season
Lesson iii
Romans 6:12-18Let no sin therefore reign in your mortal body, so as to obey the lusts thereof. Neither yield your members as instruments of iniquity unto sin; but present yourselves to God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of justice unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you; for you are not under the law, but under grace. What then? Shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know you not, that to whom you yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants you are whom you obey, whether it be of sin unto death, or of obedience unto justice. But thanks be to God, that you were the servants of sin, but have obeyed from the heart, unto that form of doctrine, into which you have been delivered. Being then freed from sin, we have been made servants of justice.
Collect:
Let us pray:
O God, Who, by the fruitful virginity of the Blessed Mary, have given mankind the rewards of everlasting life; grant, we beseech Thee, that we may continually feel the might of her intercession, through whom we have worthily received the Author of life, our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son: Who with Thee.
If the Octave of Saint John is observed
Lesson iii
A Sermon of Saint Augustine, Bishop
On Saint JohnOf the Four Evangelists, or, rather, the Four Writers of the one Evangel, the holy Apostle John has not unworthily been compared by spiritual writers to an eagle, because of the lofty and glorious flight of his teaching, soaring above the other three; a flight that raises not only himself, but also the hearts of all, whoever will hear him. The other three writers walk with the Lord upon earth, as with a man, and enlarge little upon His Godhead; but John, as though it had wearied him to walk upon earth, in the very first words of his writing, rises not above the earth only, or above the firmament, and the heavens, but above every angel, and above every power of things unseen, and flies directly to Him by Whom all things were made, saying In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Let us pray.
Shine upon Thy Church, O Lord, in Thy goodness, that, enlightened by the teachings of Blessed John, Thine Apostle and Evangelist, She may attain to everlasting gifts. Through our Lord Jesus Christ
January 4
Feria
In some places The Octave of the Holy Innocents
Lesson i
A reading from the letter of Saint Paul the Apostle to the Romans
Romans 7:1-3Know you not, brethren, for I speak to them that know the law, that the law has dominion over a man, as long as he lives? 2 For the woman that has a husband, while her husband lives is bound to the law. But if her husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. Therefore, while her husband lives, she shall be called an adulteress, if she be with another man: but if her husband is dead, she is delivered from the law of her husband; so that she is not an adulteress, if she be with another man.
Lesson ii
Romans 7:4-6Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law, by the body of Christ; that you may belong to another, who is risen again from the dead, that we may bring forth fruit to God. For when we were in the flesh, the passions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members, to bring forth fruit unto death. But now we are loosed from the law of death, wherein we were detained; so that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.
If the day is observed as a feria of the Christmas Season
Lesson iii
Romans 7:7-9What shall we say, then? Is the law sin? God forbid. But I do not know sin, but by the law; for I had not known concupiscence, if the law did not say: "Thou shalt not covet." But sin taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. And I lived some time without the law. But when the commandment came, sin revived.
Collect:
Let us pray:
O God, Who, by the fruitful virginity of the Blessed Mary, have given mankind the rewards of everlasting life; grant, we beseech Thee, that we may continually feel the might of her intercession, through whom we have worthily received the Author of life, our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son: Who with Thee.
If the Octave of the Holy Inncvocnts is observed
Lesson iii
A Sermon of Saint Augustine, Bishop
For the feast of the Holy InnocentsThe Lord is born, and sorrow breaks out, not in heaven but on earth; to mothers is proclaimed lamentation, to angels joy, to children translation. God is born, and innocence must be offered up to Him Who comes to condemn the malice of the world. The Lamb that takes away the sins of the world is come to be crucified, and the tender flock is brought to the sacrifice. But the mothers will lament over them whose inarticulate bleating is silenced for ever. Let us turn a look on this great martyrdom, this heart-rending sorrow. The sword is drawn, though there is no offence to punish, only jealousy shrieking for Him Who is born, and does no violence. And here are mothers weeping over the lambs of the flock. In Ramah was there a voice heard, weeping and great mourning. which shall be returned hereafter, but they are pledges taken without being given, impounded without being entrusted.
Let us pray.
O God, whose praise the martyred Innocents on this day confessed, not by speaking, but by dying, destroy all the evils of sin in us, that our life also may proclaim in deeds, thy faith which our tongues profess. Through our Lord Jesus Christ
January 5
Vigil of the Epiphany
Lesson i
A reading from the letter of Saint Paul the Apostle to the Romans
Romans 8:1-4There is now therefore no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not according to the flesh. For the law of the spirit of life, in Christ Jesus, has delivered me from the law of sin and of death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh; God sending his own Son, in the likeness of sinful flesh and of sin, has condemned sin in the flesh; That the justification of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh, but according to the spirit.
Lesson ii
Romans 8:5-9For those who are according to the flesh, mind the things that are of the flesh; but they that are according to the spirit, mind the things that are of the spirit. For the wisdom of the flesh is death; but the wisdom of the spirit is life and peace. Because the wisdom of the flesh is an enemy to God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither can it be. And they who are in the flesh, cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh, but in the spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwells in you.
Lesson iii
Romans 8:9-11Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His. And if Christ be in you, the body indeed is dead, because of sin; but the spirit lives, because of justification. And if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead, dwells in you; He that raised up Jesus Christ from the dead, shall animate also your mortal bodies, because of His Spirit that dwells in you.
Lesson iv
A sermon of Saint Augustine, Bishop
XIII on the SeasonOur Lord Jesus Christ, dearest brethren, who in eternity is the Creator of all things, was as at this time born of a mother and became our Savior. It was as at this time that he willed to be born for us in earthly time, so as to lead us to the Father's eternity. God is made man, that man may be made as God. That man may eat Angels' food, the Lord of Angels was as on this day made man.
Lesson v
Now is fulfilled that prophecy: "Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and bring forth a Savior" (Isaias 45:8). He Who made all things is therefore Himself made, that those who are lost may be found. It is even as man is made to testify of Himself in the Psalms: Before I was humbled, I went wrong. Man sinned and became guilty. God is born man, that the guilty may be delivered. Man fell, but God descended. Man fell miserably, God descended mercifully. Man fell by pride, God descended with grace.
Lesson v
O my brethren, what a miracle! what a wonder! The laws of nature are changed concerning man: God is born, a Virgin conceives without a husband; the Word of God is wedded to one who knows no man; she is at once Mother and Virgin. A Mother, yet inviolate: a Virgin having a Son; knowing no man, ever sealed, yet not unfruitful. For he alone was born without sin. He alone was born without human embrace, begotten not of the will of the flesh, but of the obedience of the mind.
Lesson vii
The continuation of the Holy Gospel according to Matthew
Matthew 2:19-23
At that time: when Herod was dead, behold an angel of the Lord appeared in sleep to Joseph in Egypt, saying: "Arise, and take the child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel. For they are dead that sought the life of the child." Who arose, and took the child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel. But hearing that Archelaus reigned in Judea in the room of Herod his father, he was afraid to go there: and being warned in sleep retired into the quarters of Galilee. And coming he dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was said by prophets: "That He shall be called a Nazarene" ('netser, 'a shoot'—'flos', 'flower,' in the Prophecy of Isaias (11:1).
An Homily of Saint Jerome, Priest
Book I Commentary on MatthewFrom the words, they are dead, (in the Plural), which are used in this passage of the Gospel, we may understand that there were others beside Herod which sought the young Child's life —probably the Priests and Scribes. And he Joseph "arose, and took the young Child and His Mother." It is not written, He took his wife and child, but "he took the young Child and His Mother"; whence it is clear that the holy Evangelist willed to imply that Joseph was not the father, but the Guardian of Jesus, not the husband, but the betrothed of Mary.
Lesson viii
But when he heard that Archelaus reigned in Judea, in the place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. There are some persons so grossly ignorant of history that they confuse themselves over the two Herods, as if the one mentioned here were the same who afterwards set our Lord at nought during His Passion, and they cannot understand how he should now be said to be dead. The Herod who was made friends with Pilate over Christ's death, was the son of the Herod who massacred the infants of Bethlehem, and the brother of Archelaus.
Lesson ix
"He shall be called a Nazarene." The Evangelist, in quoting these words, said that they were spoken by the Prophets, (Plural). If he had been citing any one precise passage he would have said by the Prophet, in the Singular. But he is citing the sense of the Prophets, and not any individual passage in any of their writings. He seems to refer to the fact that in Hebrew the word Nazarene signifies holy, and that Christ is the Holy One of God is the common declaration of all the Scriptures.
Collect:
Let us pray:
O Almighty and everlasting God, do Thou order all our actions in conformity with Thy good pleasure, that through the name of Thy well-beloved Son, we may worthily abound in all good works. Who with Thee.
