Isaiah 9:2-7
Titus 2:11-14
Luke 2:1-14(15-20)
Psalm 96 Christmas, or Christ's Mass Christmas Day is one of the seven principal feasts. The Christmas season lasts twelve days, from Christmas Day until Jan. 5, the day before the Epiphany and includes Christmas Day, the First Sunday after Christmas Day, the Holy Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and may include the Second Sunday after Christmas Day. The Collect O God, you make us glad by the yearly festival of the birth of your only Son Jesus Christ: Grant that we, who joyfully receive him as our Redeemer, may with sure confidence behold him when he comes to be our Judge; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. or this O God, you have caused this holy night to shine with the brightness of the true Light: Grant that we, who have known the mystery of that Light on earth, may also enjoy him perfectly in heaven; where with you and the Holy Spirit he lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen. or this Almighty God, you have given your only-begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and to be born [this day] of a pure virgin: Grant that we, who have been born again and made your children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by your Holy Spirit; through our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom with you and the same Spirit be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen. Collect II The second collect picks up on the imagery from the Gospel of Luke in Christmas I and II. The light recalls the scene when an angel of the Lord stood before the shepherds and the “glory of the Lord shone around them.” One can imagine the brilliant light and colorful image from the collect. The image from Isaiah in Christmas I, also picks up on a light seen by those presently in darkness. Collect III The third collect picks up two concepts from the selected text of Titus the epistle for Christmas II. The rebirth and renewal of believers through water and the Holy Spirit. This collect further picks up on the theme that we are saved by grace and not by our own works. Isaiah 9:2-7 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness-- on them light has shined. You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as people exult when dividing plunder. For the yoke of their burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. For all the boots of the tramping warriors and all the garments rolled in blood shall be burned as fuel for the fire. For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this. Introduction to Isaiah Isaiah was active in Judah and Jerusalem from 742 until 701 B.C. In this period the Northern Kingdom was annexed to the Assyrian empire. Only Isaiah 1–39 can be assigned to Isaiah’s time. It is generally accepted that Isaiah 40–66 comes from the time of Cyrus of Persia (539 B.C.) The omitted introductory verse refers the Zebulun, Naphtali, and Issachar the area later known as Galilee which fell to Assyria in 733 B.C. the reference to the “Way of the sea” is one of the provinces set up by Assyria, around the sea-coast city of Dor south of Mount Carmel. The Righteous Reign of the Coming King But there will be no gloom for those who were in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he will make glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. The omitted introductory verse that moves the reading from DOOM to Assurance! Context The language referring to the Davidic monarchy has led scholars to believe that this passage may have originally celebrated the accession of a Judean king, perhaps Hezekiah. Later with later revisions it describes the coming Messiah as the ideal king. New Testament Christians reinterpreted this passage to refer to Jesus as the Prince of Peace, the king who brings peace and prosperity. These words provided comfort to their original audience for a present well regarded King, to Israel as hope for a return from the exile and now to us as comfort for the return of Jesus and a area of justice. The future illustrated by a victory from the past. The assurance was provided by a comparison to a great victory of the past. The reference to the day of Midian refers to the miraculous victory of Gideon over the Midianites in Judges 7.15–25. After Israel strayed and was oppressed by Midian, God raised Gideon as one of the hero Judges. Gideon had amassed an army of 22,000, but God had him send away all but 300. In a night raid each man with a trumpet and a torch tricked and then routed the Midianites who fled and whose leaders were killed. Ultimately, Israel enjoyed 40 years of peace then while Gideon lived and after he recovered from his own fall. Psalm 96 Page 725, BCP
Cantate Domino 1 Sing to the LORD a new song; *
sing to the LORD, all the whole earth. 2 Sing to the LORD and bless his Name; *
proclaim the good news of his salvation from day to day. 3 Declare his glory among the nations *
and his wonders among all peoples. 4 For great is the LORD and greatly to be praised; *
he is more to be feared than all gods. Psalm 96 Page 725, BCP
Cantate Domino 5 As for all the gods of the nations, they are but idols; *
but it is the LORD who made the heavens. 6 Oh, the majesty and magnificence of his presence! *
Oh, the power and the splendor of his sanctuary! 7 Ascribe to the LORD, you families of the peoples; * ascribe to the LORD honor and power. 8 Ascribe to the LORD the honor due his Name; *
bring offerings and come into his courts. Psalm 96 Page 725, BCP
Cantate Domino 9 Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness; *
let the whole earth tremble before him. 10 Tell it out among the nations: "The LORD is King! *
he has made the world so firm that it cannot be moved;
he will judge the peoples with equity." 11 Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea thunder and all that is in it; *
let the field be joyful and all that is therein. Psalm 96 Page 725, BCP
Cantate Domino 12 Then shall all the trees of the wood shout for joy
before the LORD when he comes, *
when he comes to judge the earth. 13 He will judge the world with righteousness *
and the peoples with his truth. Psalm 96 Page 725, BCP
Cantate Domino This is a hymn text praising and extoling the Kingship of God. Other Gods are false only God created the universe. The line ‘sing a new song’ to the Lord is familiar as it is a part of the refrain from Hymn 412 of the 1982 BCP and is echoed in Psalm 98, the reading for Christmas III. This is the first of three Psalms 96, 97 and 98 chosen for Christmas I, II, and III. Titus 2:11-14 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly, while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds. Introduction to Titus Titus while not mentioned in Acts was an important companion to Paul as related in Paul’s other letters. Titus was Paul’s emissary to the Church at Corinth. He was a gentile and uncircumcised which caused controversy . This letter is written to Titus in Crete to address qualifications for Church leaders, the roles of various groups and the submissiveness of females, and ethical requirements for believers. The text The reading as edited leaves out the introduction: Titus 2: 1-11 2 But as for you, teach what is consistent with sound doctrine. 2 Tell the older men to be temperate, serious, prudent, and sound in faith, in love, and in endurance. 3 Likewise, tell the older women to be reverent in behavior, not to be slanderers or slaves to drink; they are to teach what is good, 4 so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 to be self-controlled, chaste, good managers of the household, kind, being submissive to their husbands, so that the word of God may not be discredited. 6 Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. 7 Show yourself in all respects a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, gravity, 8 and sound speech that cannot be censured; then any opponent will be put to shame, having nothing evil to say of us. 9 Tell slaves to be submissive to their masters and to give satisfaction in every respect; they are not to talk back, 10 not to pilfer, but to show complete and perfect fidelity, so that in everything they may be an ornament to the doctrine of God our Savior. The context With introduction we see that Paul has told Titus to teach good and prudent behavior for men and submissiveness to females. The text selected is part of an explanation to Titus of why he is teaching this to the Church in Crete. The good behavior was needed, as explained in the letter to keep from bringing Christianity into disrespect. Given other comments in the letter there must have been some sort of controversy between believers and the local Jewish groups or less likely between Gentile believers and Jewish believers. As Edited and presented here The text focuses on the role of Jesus in bringing salvation and on the pride in these qualities by His followers. This sentiment is particularly appropriate for the celebration of the birth of Jesus. Even while the gender roles and tolerance of slavery are hard for modern listeners. Perhaps Paul is addressing real people in the society in which they and he lived rather than the society which he might have preferred. Other writings of Paul do emphasis equality among believers. Luke 2:1-14(15-20) In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. Luke 2:1-14(15-20) And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for see-- I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. Luke 2:1-14(15-20)This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!" [When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us." So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. Luke 2:1-14(15-20) When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. ] The Birth Narrative This is one of two birth narratives in the New Testament. The other is from Matthew. The two are different in tone and details. In Matthew the story is more theological and delivered with a methodical thoroughness. With the reading from Luke, every Christmas pageant from the last 1500 years is brought to life. Enjoy the Imagery This particular reading is meant to be enjoyed and experienced, rather than studied. Whether Jesus was born in the dead of winter when shepherds with good sense would be home, or in late May/Spring when the sheep would be in the fields, its time to celebrate Christmas! Simone Martini,
The Annunciation, 1333
Tempera on wood, 265 x 305 cm
Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence Nicola Pisano, Annunciation, Birth of Jesus and Adoration of the Shepherds,
1260, Marble, 85 x 113 cm
Baptistry, Pisa French Miniaturist,
Très Belles Heures of the Duc the Berry,1380-90
Illumination on parchment,
28,0 x 20,0 cm
Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris Don Silvestro dei
Gherarducci,
Gradual 1 for San Michele a Murano (Folio 38v)
c. 1395
Tempera and gold on parchment, 570 x 380 mm
Pierpont Morgan Library, New York
The image is in an initial P.
The leaf contains the introit to the Mass for Christmas Day. Robert Campin (Master of Flémalle), The Nativity, 1420
Oil on wood, 87 x 70 cm, Musée des Beaux-Arts, Dijon
Ladies on the right are midwives Martin Schongauer,
Nativity, c. 1480
Oak panel, 37,5 x 28 cm
Staatliche Museen, Berlin Hans Memling,
Nativity, 1475-1500
Oil on oak panel,
99,2 x 72,3 cm
Private collection Albrecht Altdorfer,
Nativity, c. 1513
Linden panel,
36 x 26 cm
Staatliche Museen, Berlin Matthias Grunewald,
Concert of Angels and Nativity (Part of Isenheim Altarpiece), c. 1515
Oil on wood, 265 x 304 cm, Musée d'Unterlinden, Colmar Crib of the Infant Jesus, 15th century
South Netherlandish; Made in Brabant
Carved and polychromed oak, copper gilt, silver gilt, painted parchment, and silk embroidered with seed pearls, gold thread, tinsel, and translucent enamels
12 1/2 x 11 x 7 1/8 in., The Metropolitan Museum Pieter Bruegel the Elder, The Census at Bethlehem, 1566
Oil on oak, 116 x 164 cm
Musées Royaux des Beaux-Arts, Brussels Leonardo da Vinci, Studies for a Nativity, c. 1480-1510
Pen and brown ink, on pink prepared paper, 193 x 162 mm
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York Giorgione, The Adoration of the Shepherds, 1505-10
Oil on panel, 91 x 111 cm
National Gallery of Art, Washington Coreggio, Nativity (Holy Night), 1528-30
Oil on canvas, 256,5 x 188 cm
Gemäldegalerie, Dresden Giuseppe Sammartino,
Nativity, 1780s
Coloured terracotta,
height 29 cm
Private collection Christmas Tree with Neapolitan Crèche
Naples, 18th-19th century
Metropolitan Museum Christmas Tree with Neapolitan Crèche
Naples, 18th-19th century
Metropolitan Museum Old art Duccio di Buoninsegna, Nativity, 1308-11 Tempera on wood, 43,5 x 44,5 cm National Gallery of Art, Washington Robert Campin (Master of Flémalle), The Nativity, 1420 Oil on wood, 87 x 70 cm, Musée des Beaux-Arts, Dijon Ladies on the right are midwives Dieric Bouts the Elder, Nativity, c. 1445 Oil on wood, 80 x 56 cm Museo del Prado, Madrid Giorgione, The adoration of the Shepherds, 1505-10 Oil on panel, 91 x 111 cm
National Gallery of Art, Washington Matthias Grunewald, Concert of Angels and Nativity (Part of Isenheim Altarpiece), c. 1515 Oil on wood, 265 x 304 cm, Musée d'Unterlinden, Colmar Coreggio, Nativity (Holy Night),1528-30 Oil on canvas, 256,5 x 188 cm Gemäldegalerie, Dresden
