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Sunday After the Nativity
Prophet-King David
This Sunday after the Nativity commemorates three members of Christ’s earthly family: the Righteous Joseph
the Betrothed; David the King; and
the Apostle James, the Brother of the Lord.
The Epistle read
today seems to be chosen because of Paul’s statement that after his conversion, he “went up to Jerusalem to visit
Peter and remained with him fifteen days, but saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord’s brother.”
The Gospel reading
relates the flight into Egypt, in which Joseph plays a pivotal role.
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The readings below are Sunday, December 28, 2025
Today's Epistle reading: [Galatians 1.11-19]
For I would have you know, brethren, that
the gospel which was preached by me is not man's gospel. For I did not receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came
through a revelation of Jesus Christ. For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God
violently and tried to destroy it; and I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous
was I for the traditions of my fathers. But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and had called me through his
grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not confer with flesh
and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia; and again I returned
to Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas, and remained with him fifteen days. But I saw
none of the other apostles except James the Lord's brother.
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Today's Gospel reading: [Matthew 2.13-23]
Now when they had departed, behold, an
angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and
remain there till I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” And he rose and took the
child and his mother by night, and departed to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfil what
the Lord had spoken by the prophet, "Out of Egypt have I called my son.”
Then Herod, when
he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, was in a furious rage, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem
and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time which he had ascertained from the wise men.
Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah:
"A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they were
no more.”
But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph
in Egypt, saying, "Rise, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child's
life are dead.” And he rose and took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that
Archelaus reigned over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew
to the district of Galilee. And he went and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that what was spoken by the prophets might be
fulfilled, "He shall be called a Nazarene."
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