Day 1 (Monday)
Micah 1:1-5; 4:1-13; 5:1-4 (Prophecy against Samaria and Jerusalem, Consolation, Prophecy of a Ruler Born in Bethlehem)
This week of Christmas, we will read one of the prophecies of His birth, the one that is referenced in the gospel of Matthew, and that the scholars in Jerusalem referenced when the Magi came there asking where the Messiah was supposed to be born. This comes in the Prophecy of Micah, and we will read the introduction first, so that we understand that this prophecy is speaking primarily of the sins of the kingdoms of Israel and Judah, and of the coming judgment of God upon them. This is the content of the first three chapters, but in the fourth, the prophet begins also to speak of consolation, and in the fifth reaches the prophecy which is referenced to the Magi.
Prophecy of Micah (Excerpts)
1 The word of the Lord that came to Micah of Mo′resheth in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezeki′ah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning Samar′ia and Jerusalem.
Judgment Pronounced against Samaria & Jerusalem
2 Hear, you peoples, all of you;
hearken, O earth, and all that is in it;
and let the Lord God be a witness against you,
the Lord from his holy temple.
3 For behold, the Lord is coming forth out of his place,
and will come down and tread upon the high places of the earth.
4 And the mountains will melt under him
and the valleys will be cleft,
like wax before the fire,
like waters poured down a steep place.
5 All this is for the transgression of Jacob
and for the sins of the house of Israel.
What is the transgression of Jacob?
Is it not Samar′ia?
And what is the sin of the house of Judah?
Is it not Jerusalem?
Through chapter 3, the prophet then continues to outline the destruction that God is warning the people of Israel and Judah will come upon them, which is fulfilled soon after in the destruction of both kingdoms by the Assyrian and Babylonian Empires, respectively. Then, in chapter 4, the tone changes.
Peace and Security through Obedience
4 It shall come to pass in the latter days
that the mountain of the house of the Lord
shall be established as the highest of the mountains,
and shall be raised up above the hills;
and peoples shall flow to it,
2 and many nations shall come, and say:
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the house of the God of Jacob;
that he may teach us his ways
and we may walk in his paths.”
For out of Zion shall go forth the law,
and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
3 He shall judge between many peoples,
and shall decide for strong nations afar off;
and they shall beat their swords into plowshares,
and their spears into pruning hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war any more;
4 but they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree,
and none shall make them afraid;
for the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken.
5 For all the peoples walk
each in the name of its god,
but we will walk in the name of the Lord our God
for ever and ever.
Restoration Promised after Exile
6 In that day, says the Lord,
I will assemble the lame
and gather those who have been driven away,
and those whom I have afflicted;
7 and the lame I will make the remnant;
and those who were cast off, a strong nation;
and the Lord will reign over them in Mount Zion
from this time forth and for evermore.
8 And you, O tower of the flock,
hill of the daughter of Zion,
to you shall it come,
the former dominion shall come,
the kingdom of the daughter of Jerusalem.
9 Now why do you cry aloud?
Is there no king in you?
Has your counselor perished,
that pangs have seized you like a woman in travail?
10 Writhe and groan, O daughter of Zion,
like a woman in travail;
for now you shall go forth from the city
and dwell in the open country;
you shall go to Babylon.
There you shall be rescued,
there the Lord will redeem you
from the hand of your enemies.
11 Now many nations
are assembled against you,
saying, “Let her be profaned,
and let our eyes gaze upon Zion.”
12 But they do not know
the thoughts of the Lord,
they do not understand his plan,
that he has gathered them as sheaves to the threshing floor.
13 Arise and thresh,
O daughter of Zion,
for I will make your horn iron
and your hoofs bronze;
you shall beat in pieces many peoples,
and shall devote their gain to the Lord,
their wealth to the Lord of the whole earth.
5 Now you are walled about with a wall;
siege is laid against us;
with a rod they strike upon the cheek
the ruler of Israel.
The Ruler from Bethlehem
2 But you, O Bethlehem Eph′rathah,
who are little to be among the clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
one who is to be ruler in Israel,
whose origin is from of old,
from ancient days.
3 Therefore he shall give them up until the time
when she who is in travail has brought forth;
then the rest of his brethren shall return
to the people of Israel.
4 And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the Lord,
in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.
And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great
to the ends of the earth.
Discussion questions:
1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (The Leader should point out how, in the prophecy of Micah, the prophecy begins with a promise that God will come down and tread the earth, and then proceeds to speak first of judgment…but then after judgment, restoration is promised, and with the restoration, this marvel, of the birth of the Messiah in the town of Bethlehem. We might note how Israel is delivered in what follows by being taken to Babylon, and then it is even promised that Israel will plunder the wealth of the nations from them. This might be read, and certainly was read by some when the Lord was preaching, as prophesying a war leader, but…for us as Christians, we may recognize that the wealth of the nations, the gain or produce of these peoples, is the people themselves, whom the Lord claims for Himself, sending out Israel to thresh and reap the harvest, which is to say, sending the Apostles and the Church out from the Promised Land to bring all nations into His inheritance. The Leader can also attend to the other discussion questions below.)
2) Where do we see Christ in this text; what is He saying or doing here?
3) Do we see ourselves and the Church in this text; what does it say about us?
4) What do you find difficult about this reading? Is there anything confusing about it, or anything that you dislike? (This is an open question, as always. )
5) Does this reading make you think that you need to change anything in your life?
Additional Discussion questions:
1) What does this reading have to do with Jesus and Christmas? (This is the prophecy that tells where the Messiah, the Christ, will be born. Bethlehem means “house of bread,” because it was a town in the farming area of Judaea, and Ephrathah refers to the man who founded the town. Bethlehem was the home town of King David, who was the ancestor of the Virgin Mary, and therefore the ancestor of Jesus, according to the flesh. This is why Joseph & Mary had to go back to Bethlehem to be registered. It was their ancestral home town.)
2) What sort of town is Bethlehem, according to the prophet Micah? Is it important or not? (Micah says it is not important, that it is “one of the little clans of Judah).
3) What does Micah say about the One Who is going to be born in Bethlehem? (He says that He will rule in Israel, and that His origin is from old, from ancient days).
4) What do you think it means, that Micah says someone will be born later, whose origin is from ancient days? (This is how the prophet talks about the fact that Jesus is God Himself, now born as a human being. He didn’t just come into existence, but has always been, and made all things, and will now become a human being, even though He is the One Who made human beings).
5) What else does this prophecy say about Jesus? (It says that when He comes, people who had wandered will come back, and that He will feed His flock, and will be great to the ends of the earth, and will bring peace).
6) Do you have any questions about this? (This is an open question, of course – it’s important for all of us to get comfortable with the way the Prophets talk. It’s often not obvious what it is talking about, and often we can’t immediately find answers to the questions that we ask. Sitting and reflecting on those questions, though, as we pray and worship and celebrate the Liturgy, often results in us finding answers after some time. It is a rare month that I don’t find an answer in the Liturgy or the Bible or my prayers to questions that I have been pondering for a long time. We can’t ever find answers if we aren’t comfortable asking questions for which we can’t find immediate, easy answers. The best answers are the ones that we have to work for and wait for.).
Day 2 (Wednesday)
Hymns from Christmas
Every year, on December 25th, we celebrate the Nativity, or Birth, of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In this feast, we see our Creator and God become human, born of the Virgin Mary, present in our midst for our salvation. The themes of this celebration are nothing less than the wonder and awe of beholding Emmanuel, God With Us, but this marvel has manifold facets, which the Church meditates upon in the hymns that accompany the Feast. The feast-day celebrations last two full days, not just one, and begin with the Royal Hours the morning of Christmas Eve, continuing with the Vesperal Liturgy that evening, and finishing with the Orthros and Liturgy on Christmas Day itself.
Hymns sourced from dcs.goarch.org
Hymns from the Celebration of the Nativity of the Lord
Troparion of the Royal Hours
As she carried in her womb * what she conceived without seed, * Mary went to Bethlehem * with elder Joseph to enroll, * for they were of the house and the lineage of David. * The time arrived for her * to give birth to her Child; * but then there was no place * in the inn for them. * Therefore the grotto served as a luxurious * royal palace for the Queen. * And Christ the Lord is born, to raise the image * which was formerly fallen.
Idiomelon 2 of the 3rd Hour
Before Your Nativity, O Lord, the heavenly hosts trembled in amazement, as they watched the mystery unfold. For You, who adorned the sky with the stars, became a little baby, in Your good pleasure. You, who hold the whole world in Your hand, lay in a manger, a trough meant for beasts. Such was Your plan for our salvation, and thus was Your compassion made known. O Christ, the great mercy, glory to You!
Doxastikon of the 9th Hour
Today, He who holds the whole world in His hand is born from a Virgin. (3) He who is impalpable in essence is wrapped in swaddling clothes as a mortal. God, who in the beginning established the heavens of old, is lying in a manger as a newborn babe. He who rained down manna for the people in the wilderness is nursed by His mother. He who is the Bridegroom of the Church is summoning the Magi. And He is accepting their gifts, now as the Son of the Virgin. “We adore Your Nativity, O Christ. We adore Your Nativity, O Christ. We adore Your Nativity, O Christ. Also show us Your divine Epiphany.”
Doxastikon of the Vespers Kekragaria
When Augustus reigned alone on the earth, the many kingdoms of mankind came to an end; and when You became man from the pure Virgin, the many gods of idolatry were destroyed. The cities of the world passed under one single rule, and the nations came to believe in one God. The peoples were enrolled by decree of Caesar; we the faithful were enrolled in the name of the Godhead, when You became man, O our God. Great is your mercy. Lord, glory to you.
Doxastikion of the Liti
The Magi, kings of Persia, ⁄ know that You, the heavenly King, ⁄ were assuredly born on earth. ⁄ They came to Bethlehem, led by the light of a star, ⁄ and offered their chosen gifts: ⁄ Gold, and frankincense and myrrh! ⁄ Falling before You, they worshiped You: ⁄⁄ For they saw You, the timeless one, lying as a Babe in the cave.
Kathisma 1 of the Orthros
Come, believers, let us see the place where Christ has been born.* With the Magi, those three kings who from the orient are,* now let us follow to where the star is proceeding.* Ceaselessly do Angels sing praises there.* Shepherds in the field sing a worthy song,* saying: Glory in the highest be to Him who* was born today in the grotto* from the Virgin and Theotokos,* in Bethlehem of Judea.
Eirmos of Ode 1 of Canon 1 of the Feast
Christ is born; glorify Him! * Christ is come from heaven; go and meet Him. * Christ is on earth; arise to Him. * Sing to the Lord, all you who dwell on the earth; * and in merry spirits, O you peoples, praise His birth. * For He is glorified.
Troparion of Ode 1 of Canon 1 of the Feast
The Master Builder, seeing collapsed * the man whom He constructed with His own hands, * bowing the heavens now descends. * And through a pure and holy Virgin unites * wholly with his nature, having truly taken flesh. * For He is glorified.
Troparion of Ode 1 of Canon 2 of the Feast
Plainly foreshadowed by the burning bush that was not consumed, ⁄ a hallowed womb has borne the Word. ⁄ God is mingled with the form of mortal men, ⁄ and so He looses the unhappy womb of Eve from the ancient, bitter curse. ⁄⁄ Therefore we glorify Him!
Year 1
669 words
Discussion questions:
1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (The Leader should point out that what is happening at Christmas is the birth of God the Word/Logos Himself, the Son of God, through Whom the Father created all things, enters into His Creation, in order to raise us up, to restore in us His image in which we are created, to free us from sin and slavery to the demons, to heal and re-fashion and restore us. God becomes human, which is marvel enough; but He does it for us, in order to save us. The hymns which we sing each year are a master class in the Orthodox Christian understanding of the Lord’s Incarnation, and its place at the very center and foundation of not just human history, but the very existence of the cosmos.)
2) Where do we see Christ in this text; what is He saying or doing here?
3) Do we see ourselves and the Church in this text; what does it say about us?
4) What do you find difficult about this reading? Is there anything confusing about it, or anything that you dislike? (This is an open question, as always. )
5) Does this reading make you think that you need to change anything in your life?
Day 3 (Friday)
Luke 8:1-18 (Some Women Accompany Jesus; Parables of Sower & Lamp under Jar)
Last time, we saw the Lord speak about John the Baptist, and then encounter a sinful woman at the dinner which Simon the Pharisee had held for Him. She washed His feet with her tears and dried them with her hair, and although Simon judged her, and judged Jesus for not discerning that she was a sinful woman, the Lord was merciful to them both, granting to Simon the miracle of discerning his thoughts, and thus revealing His divinity to the Pharisee, even as He also forgave the sins of the woman. This time, we will see Him continue to preach, and will read one of the most famous parables from the New Testament.
Some Women Accompany Jesus
8 Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, preaching and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, 2 and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Mag′dalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, 3 and Jo-an′na, the wife of Chu′za, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means.
The Parable of the Sower
4 And when a great crowd came together and people from town after town came to him, he said in a parable: 5 “A sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell along the path, and was trodden under foot, and the birds of the air devoured it. 6 And some fell on the rock; and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. 7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns grew with it and choked it. 8 And some fell into good soil and grew, and yielded a hundredfold.” As he said this, he called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
The Purpose of the Parables
9 And when his disciples asked him what this parable meant, 10 he said, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God; but for others they are in parables, so that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand. 11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. 12 The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, that they may not believe and be saved.
13 And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy; but these have no root, they believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. 14 And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. 15 And as for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bring forth fruit with patience.
A Lamp under a Jar
16 “No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a vessel, or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a stand, that those who enter may see the light. 17 For nothing is hid that shall not be made manifest, nor anything secret that shall not be known and come to light. 18 Take heed then how you hear; for to him who has will more be given, and from him who has not, even what he thinks that he has will be taken away.”
Reading 17
500 words
Discussion questions:
1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (The Leader should note the resonance between this parable and the passage we highlighted with the Day 1 reading, from the prophecy of Micah, with the prophet speaking of Israel being sent out to thresh and harvest among the nations, to bring their gain, their fruit/produce as wealth to the Lord. He should also urge a discussion about why the Lord speaks in parables, purposely concealing the full truth of His coming from some of those who hear Him. The second parable, about the Lamp in the Jar, may shed some light on the subject; nothing that is hidden will not eventually be revealed, but the Lord is, perhaps granting time to those who hear for their hearts to soften, or even providing them with a puzzle on which to reflect, so that they may learn to seek the meaning, and from there may be trained toward seeking after Him. In any case, the truth of the Gospel is hidden from no one forever, and the Lord provides each human being with what is most needful for our salvation. In this, as in all things, we are called to trust Him and to seek Him earnestly.)
2) Where do we see Christ in this text; what is He saying or doing here?
3) Do we see ourselves and the Church in this text; what does it say about us?
4) What do you find difficult about this reading? Is there anything confusing about it, or anything that you dislike? (This is an open question, as always. )
5) Does this reading make you think that you need to change anything in your life?
Additional Discussion Questions
1) What happens in this reading? What are the main events? (1 – Jesus goes out preaching with the twelve and with some of the women disciples as well; 2 – He tells and explains the Parable of the Sower; 3 – He talks about the lamp and lamp stand, and his mother and brothers come to see Him. All three of these can bear more discussion.)
2) What do these things mean? Do any of them represent or tell a lesson beyond just telling what happened? (Obviously the parables of the sower and the lamp and the lamp stand mean something more…it would be good to see what everyone thinks they mean. The parable of the Sower is explained by Jesus, and it’s good to consider exactly how He explains it, but the small parable of the lamp and lamp stand is worth looking at again to see what Jesus is getting at. It may be important to think about whether the lamp on the lamp stand is connected with the good seed in the parable of the Sower.)
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