Some Thoughts for the Second Sunday of Christmas
- Old Testament: Jeremiah 31:7-14 -or- Sirach 24:1-12
- Canticle: Psalm 147:12-120 -or- Wisdom of Solomon 10:15-21
- Epistle: Ephesians 1:3-14
- Holy Gospel: St. John 1:(1-9 optional), 10-18
Texts in Summary:
Well first, let’s get on the same page. What are we actually reading?
It’s complicated.
It’s not terribly common for there to be two Sundays between Christmas and Epiphany, and when it does happen, the various lectionaries tend to go a bit haywire. And so, according to the Revised Common Lectionary, we are reading the Prologue to St. John’s Gospel – but this was the appointed reading for Christmas Day. That is, unless your parish reads the Lukan texts on Christmas Eve and doesn’t gather for worship on the 25th. Or if you opt for the shortened Gospel text, which begins at v 10 and only overlaps with the Christmas reading for four verses before embarking into “new” territory. The 1979 Book of Common Prayer appoints a series of options for the Gospel reading, flipping the pattern of the RCL but maintaining the Old Testament and Epistle readings. Meanwhile, the Roman Catholic Church is marking Epiphany this Sunday. Alas, the Revised Common Lectionary is not so common as its framers hoped.
Continue reading “The Word Made Flesh: Christmas 2C”