Sunday, January 5, Christmas Eve

Bible readings for Sunday, January 5, Christmas Eve, are: Genesis 1:1-3:24; Isaiah 7:10-17; Exodus 14:24-15:21; Micah 5:2-7; Proverbs 1:1-9; Isaiah 9:5-7; Isaiah 11:1-9; Isaiah 35:3-8; Isaiah 40:10-17; Isaiah 42:1-8; Daniel 3:1-90. Divine Liturgy: Titus 2:11-15; Matthew 2:1-12; Dismissal: Luke 2:8-14. Readings for Monday, January 6, Christmas and Epiphany, are: Titus 2:11-15; Matthew 1:18-25.  Blessing of Water: 1 Corinthians 10:1-4; Matthew 3:1-17. Readings for Sunday, January 7, Second Day of Nativity, are: Acts 6:8-8:2; John 12:24-26.  

Matthew 2:1-12 

In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, ‘Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.’ When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: 

“And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
    are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
    who is to shepherd my people Israel.”’ 

Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. 8 Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, ‘Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.’ When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure-chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road. 

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Titus 2:11-15  

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. 

Declare these things; exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one look down on you.