The Circumcision and Holy Name of our Lord- 1 January- Luke 2:21

 On the traditional church calendar, the first day of January is not observed as New Year's Day. In fact, for much of church history, even the secular or civil new year was not observed in January. When the early Books of Common Prayer were published, the civil new year was still observed on 25 March (and continued this way until the new British calendar in 1752). On the church calendar, January 1 is the eighth day of Christmas (the liturgical Octave), and this day recalls the circumcision and naming of the Holy Child in accord with Jewish tradition.

One finds an emphasis on the name in the traditional Gospel assigned on this day. Luke 2:21 states that at the circumcision, the child "was called Jesus, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb."  Jesus (Greek IESOU, Aramaic YESHUA) was a common Jewish name of the time, meaning "The LORD saves." In the case of this child, the common name has a special significance. This child born in Bethlehem is the divine Word incarnate who has come to save His people. Thus, the most appropriate way for us to begin a new year is to praise the holy name of Jesus and give thanks for the salvation that has come in the Christ Child!

St. Sylvester- 31 December

 Since ancient times, Christians have been uncertain about how to approach the pagan New Year's Eve from the Roman calendar. One response was to designate the last day of December as the feast of St. Sylvester. In Germany, this was sometimes a big celebration. Among Anglicans, it has been a minor commemoration, listed as a "black letter day" in the 1662 Book of Common Prayer. 

Sylvester was Bishop of Rome from 314 to 335 A.D. He became Bishop right after the Emperor Constantine issued his Edict of Toleration for Christianity, and Sylvester served during a time of great change for the Church. He sent legates or representatives to the Council of Nicea in what is now Turkey in 325. Of course, this council, which became known as the First Ecumenical Council, defended the reality of the Incarnation against the Arian Heresy. The response became known as the Nicene Creed. 

Many later legends about Sylvester are doubtful, but the verified facts indicate that Sylvester was a faithful bishop who strove to defend the orthodox Faith.  His faithfulness remains an example for Christians across the centuries. So, as we Christians mark the change in the secular calendar, let us be cautious and reflective. We may give thanks for the old year and toast the opportunities of the new, but we must look beyond such matters and focus on the divine light and truth incarnate in Jesus Christ. In the words of John 1:4-5,  "In [Jesus Christ] was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not."

Holy Innocents Day- 28 December- Matthew 2

 This year the First Sunday after Christmas is also Holy Innocents Day. St. Matthew 2 tells us about the cruel act of King Herod I. Hoping to eliminate the threat of the Messiah to his dynasty, the king ordered the execution of male children in Bethlehem under two years of age. This reminds us that even at the time near Christ's Birth, evil, sin, and death were still at work. The Christ Child was feared and hated, and His innocent contemporaries were killed. The world is still much the same. The holy child is still not universally welcomed, and evil people still destroy the innocent to preserve power, wealth, and comfort.

Despite such evil, God's work continues. Herod did not succeed in destroying the incarnation of God's truth, love, and grace. In our day, there are similar realities. Evil still causes much suffering, even of the most innocent. However, God's redeeming work is not defeated. Truth, love, and grace continue and will continue to the end of the age and beyond! God's goodness triumphs over evil!

St. John, Apostle and Evangelist- 27 December

In the early centuries of the Church, the days after Christmas became associated with various important figures and events. By at least the sixth century in France and Italy, December 27 commemorated St. John the Apostle and Evangelist. The collect for the day has been handed down with only slight changes since that time. It reads:

Merciful Lord, we beseech thee to cast thy bright beams of light upon thy Church, that it, being illumined by the doctrine of thy blessed Apostle and Evangelist Saint John, may so walk in the light of thy truth, that it may at length attain to life everlasting; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Commemorating John in Christmastide is appropriate because his Gospel, especially in chapter 1, proclaims the mystery of the Incarnation, the Word becoming flesh and dwelling among us. Jesus Christ is the light that shines in a dark world and is not overcome by the darkness!

St. Stephen, Deacon and Martyr- 26 December- Acts 7:55ff

The day after Christmas is the feast day of St. Stephen, the first martyr of the Church (Acts 7). Commemorating a martyr on this day may seem strange, but since the early days of the church calendar in the fourth century, the feast of the Nativity and that of St. Stephen have been bound together. Whatever the ancient reason for the date, this combination can teach us something important. As God's Son was born in humility, His humble servant Stephen had his heavenly birthday. Even celebrating the birth of Jesus, our Redeemer, cannot be isolated from the Cross. There is Christmas joy, but this joy is not worldly. Our joy is rooted in what C.S. Lewis calls the "deep magic"- salvation through loving sacrifice. We rejoice in faith and love because the divine work of redemption for us sinners is expressed in varied situations.

Christmas 2025

The Christian tradition is marked by two great periods based on events in the life of Jesus. The central commemorations are related to the redemptive acts at Holy Week and Easter; the second period centers on Christmas. Christmas and Holy Week/Easter Sunday bring the same Gospel message in different ways.

The church calendar associates many meaningful and beautiful passages of Scripture with the birth of Jesus, the eternal Son of God, who came to earth as a human infant. There are numerous Old Testament prophecies from Isaiah, Jeremiah, and others. There are epistle readings such as Hebrews 1, Titus 2, and Galatians 4. And of course, there are the Gospel accounts from Matthew, Luke, and John. Each of these Gospels has its own beauty and deep significance. One can say that Matthew 1& 2 focus on Joseph's perspective, that Luke 1& 2 reflect the point of view of the Virgin Mary, and that John 1 emphasizes the timeless theological meaning. 

All these Scriptures complement one another and provide believers with a broad vista for meditating on the meaning of Christ's Birth. They help us move beyond the beautiful but simplistic imagery of a childhood pageant, and they provide deep nourishment for heart, mind, and soul. They teach us the truth that Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, "came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, and was made man" for us and for our salvation (Nicene Creed). In other words, Scripture teaches us that Christmas is about more than a family festival or the birth of a great man; it is about our eternal salvation. That spiritual reality is where we need to put our emphasis, not merely for a few moments on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning, but for twelve days and more!

Alleluia. Unto us a child is born; * O come, let us adore him. Alleluia. (Christmas Antiphon for Morning Prayer, 1928 Book of Common Prayer.)

St. Thomas the Apostle

The traditional feast of St. Thomas the Apostle is on December 21, but because the 21st is the Fourth Sunday in Advent  this year, many transfer the commemoration to Monday, December 22. We tend to associate St. Thomas with the Resurrection since he confessed his faith in the risen Christ on the Sunday after Easter. Nevertheless, it is also fitting to remember Thomas before Christmas since he was a great witness to Christ's Incarnation. After doubting the Resurrection, in St. John 20:28, Thomas affirmed his faith in Jesus the Christ as "my Lord and my God." Thus, Thomas proclaimed the great truth that the man Jesus is divine. As Advent draws toward a close, let us focus on such faith in Jesus Christ, God the Son, who came to earth as a human babe.

Advent IV- Philippians 4; John 1:19-28

On this Fourth Sunday in Advent, the Epistle from Philippians 4:4-7 has a lighter tone. It exhorts us to rejoice, and it reminds us that "the Lord is at hand." Despite the serious human condition and its sinfulness, there is a true reason for joy and hope. Our joy and hope come from the peace that God offers through Jesus Christ.

The Gospel from St. John 1:19-28, like the one for last Sunday, is another Advent reference to the message of John the Baptist. When asked who he is, John refuses the usual titles. He will only admit to being "the voice of one crying in the wilderness" (John 1:23; Isaiah 40:3). He makes the way ready for the Lord; he points to the One coming after him, the One who is much greater. 

John the Baptist reminds us that the way for the Messiah or Christ must be prepared. Because the One who is to come is so great and so holy, we must take His coming into our lives very seriously. Our preparations for Him should be greater than our preparations for any ordinary human guest.

Preparation is necessary, especially in spiritual matters. Thus, a genuine appreciation of Christmas requires thoughtful reflection. A religious Christmas does not happen by accident. Spiritual preparation is usually needed for a meaningful celebration of Christ's birth. We need to reflect and pray about the redemption He brings. And we should also remember that Christ continues to come to us. He comes to us each day and each week in Word and in Sacrament. He offers us His grace, mercy, and peace.

Advent Ember Days

 On traditional calendars of the Western church, including traditional Books of Common Prayer, the Wednesday, Friday and Saturday after St. Lucy's Day are Ember Days (see 1928 BCP p. li; 1662 BCP p. 31). St. Lucy (or Santa Lucia) was an early martyr. She was from Syracuse, Sicily and is commemorated on December 13. On the Ember Day four times a year, we are asked to pray for those about to be ordained as well as for an increase of the Ministry and for guidance upon those who already serve the Church in various callings. There is a set of propers for the Ember days in the 1928 BCP (p. 260), and there are selections for Morning and Evening Prayer in the 1943 lectionary for the third week of Advent. The Gospel for Advent III is about the ministry of John the Baptist and is also related to the Ember Day theme.

During the Advent season, we think of the ways all are believers called to prepare the way for the Lord. We pray for those already ordained and those soon to be ordained. May all of us, whether ordained and lay, seek to prepare the way as Christ comes into our hearts anew! May we be faithful witnesses to His living presence, and may we also prepare for our Lord's future coming in glory!

Advent III- Matthew 11:2-15

 The Gospel for the Third Sunday in Advent is from Matthew 11:2-15. In this selection, John the Baptist is in prison awaiting Herod Antipas' judgment. John sends two of his followers to meet Jesus. They ask if Jesus is the expected Messiah. 

Jesus replies to them with a two-fold proclamation. First, He points to the miraculous and redemptive acts taking place in His own ministry. These works fulfill the Messianic prophecies. Secondly, Jesus points to the purpose and value of John the Baptist's ministry. John is the prophetic forerunner of the messianic Redeemer. Finally, Jesus concludes with an exhortation. Those who have ears should hear; that means that they should be perceptive about the contemporary religious circumstances. They should realize what God is doing in the ministry of John the Baptist and in the ministry of Jesus. Jesus is the Christ who fulfills the ministry of John and all the biblical prophets. 

During Advent, we focus on the prophecies about the coming of the Christ. Among the Hebrew prophets, John the Baptist has a special role. We should honor him, but we should also look beyond him. We should look to Jesus, who gives meaning to the work of all the prophets. May we be sensitive and perceptive regarding God's redemptive work in the past and in our own lives!

Advent II- Romans 15:4; Luke 21:33- Scripture

In the Anglican tradition, the Second Sunday in Advent highlights the importance of Holy Scripture. We see this importance in two verses in the Scriptures for the day. Romans 15:4 says, "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope." In St. Luke 21:33, Jesus says, "Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away." 

In theory, all Christian groups maintain that the Bible is a foundational Christian authority, but Christians from varied backgrounds view this authority in distinctive ways. Traditional Anglicans do not read or understand Holy Scripture in isolation. The Bible is our primary doctrinal and moral authority, and it contains God's self-revelation for all generations of Christians.  However, Anglicans believe that Scripture should be understood within the community of faith, the Church. Thoughtful believers from different times and backgrounds have agreed on the basics, and they have summarized Scriptural beliefs in the ancient Creeds (Apostles, Nicene, Athanasian). In the sixteenth century, Anglicans called these biblical principles "things necessary to salvation" (Article of Religion VI).

The basic and necessary teachings of the Bible are clear and are expressed in the Creeds, the Commandments, the Lord's Prayer, and the two greatest Sacraments (Baptism and the Eucharist). Such Scriptural teachings are good and powerful. Yet, these Biblical teachings are not magical formulae. We cannot separate Scripture from the core historic interpretations of Christ's catholic and orthodox Church. A true understanding and application of Scripture is not an isolated individual experience; it comes through divine grace and the working of the Holy Spirit in the body of believers from all times and places. 

During Advent, we think about the coming of Christ, the incarnate Word. As we reflect, let us also meditate on the written Word in Holy Scripture. May we be open to reading, hearing, and learning from God's Word in the Bible throughout Advent and all the days of our lives!

St. Nicholas of Myra- 6 December- Hebrews 13:7-9; Matthew 25:14-23

 The commemoration of St. Nicholas occurs fairly early during Advent and has a close association with Advent and Christmas themes. Nicholas was a fourth-century Greek bishop from Asia Minor (or modern Turkey). Many legends developed about Bishop Nicholas, but historically, there were two important characteristics of his life and ministry. These two characteristics are reflected in the traditional Gospel and Epistle assigned for this feast.

First, Nicholas was noted for his generosity and charitable giving, especially for the young. This aspect of his ministry is related to the Gospel for the day. Matthew 25:14-23 is the positive portion of the Parable of the Talents, and Nicholas was a good and faithful servant who used his inherited wealth to help people.

Secondly, as an orthodox Christian bishop, Nicholas was a defender of the truth about Jesus Christ. This aspect of his life and ministry is reflected in the Epistle verses from Hebrews 13:7-9. Nicholas was a faithful believer and minister who believed in the word of God and was not carried away "with strange and diverse doctrines." He may have been present at the First Ecumenical Council at Nicea in 325 AD, and he certainly accepted the Nicene doctrine about the person of Christ.

St. Nicholas' feast day points us to two aspects of Advent preparation for Christmas. 1) Nicholas is an example of Christian stewardship and generosity. The stories about him remind us of the Christian significance of giving gifts. As God has given us His Son and many other blessings, we should give to those around us, especially those with the greatest needs. 2)  Advent and Christmas are about the identity of the Christ Child. Christmas is about the Incarnation. The child of the Virgin Mary is God the Son, who comes as a human being to save sinners. Just as St. Nicholas based his life and work on faith in Christ, so should we, during this season and always.