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First Sunday after Christmas • Year C
December 29, 2024
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Historical Collect
Almighty God, you have given us your only-begotten Son to take our nature and be born of the Virgin Mary. Grant that we, having been redeemed and made your children by grace, may daily be renewed by your Holy Spirit; through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer, 1549)
Thematic Collect
Steadfast God, grant patience and faithfulness to your servants as we bear witness to the incarnation of your Son. Teach us to clothe ourselves with love so that our lives will bear witness to your divine love for all creation; through your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
The Common Thread
It was the strong hand of God that brought us out of slavery to sin and death. He sent redemption through his Christ because we could never deliver ourselves. It is finished, so the peace of Christ may now rule our hearts. As the word of Christ inhabits the Church, we mature spiritually and learn to be thankful to God. For, like Simeon, we have seen his salvation.
First Reading • Exodus 13:1-3a, 11-15
The first commandment is first lived out through memory. Remember that the Lord is God—he who delivered us from slavery and oppression. It is also by his strong hand that we are delivered from the oppression of sin and death. The strength of the Lord is known to us in the Father keeping of his own command. His only begotten Son, the first and only born of his sons, was sacrificed to redeem us, the slaves of sin.
Psalm • Psalm 111:1-10
When one studies the great works of the Lord, a godly fear must result. This is the beginning of wisdom and leads to thanksgiving and joy for grace and mercy from such a majestic God. This leads to practice of faith, putting it into action with fear and trembling (Phil 2:12).
Second Reading • Colossians 3:12-17
Paul wants all Christians to be discipled, to be brought to maturity in Christ. This happens through teaching (Col 1:28; Matt 28:20). But how do we let the word of Christ live so richly in ourselves that we come to Christian maturity? We should surround ourselves with the word (Deut 6:5), teaching the word of God to others as often as possible (Deut 6:7), and even singing the word, making melody with the heart. This is very similar to listening to the radio and then having a particular song stuck in your head all day. We would be wise to have the same practice with God’s word.
Gospel • Luke 2:22-40
God’s exhortation to teach his word to one’s children is seen being lived out in the lives of Jesus’ parents. They took him on the annual Passover pilgrimage, showing him the importance of their faith. There, the angel’s visitation was confirmed through the testimony of Simeon and Anna. May our own children see the value we place on faith, and thereby grow in wisdom and favor with God.
Resources
Links to Worship Resources for this Service
