Day 1 (Monday)
Isaiah 11:1-16 (A shoot shall come out from Jesse)
Last time we saw the ordination of Aaron and his sons from Leviticus 8. We will continue our readings from Leviticus and the rest of the Torah in the new year, but for now, as we celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, we will step away from the Sinai desert and jump forward in time to the later centuries of the kingdom of Judah, as the Prophet Isaiah proclaims of the long-awaited consolation that will come to the people of God after the judgment that he has been prophesying. This is one of the eight readings from the Old Testament that is read during the Vesperal Liturgy on Christmas Eve.
The Peaceful Kingdom
11 A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse,
and a branch shall grow out of his roots.
2 The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him,
the spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the spirit of counsel and might,
the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
3 His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.
He shall not judge by what his eyes see,
or decide by what his ears hear;
4 but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,
and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;
he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,
and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.
5 Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist,
and faithfulness the belt around his loins.
6 The wolf shall live with the lamb,
the leopard shall lie down with the kid,
the calf and the lion and the fatling together,
and a little child shall lead them.
7 The cow and the bear shall graze,
their young shall lie down together;
and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
8 The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp,
and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder’s den.
9 They will not hurt or destroy
on all my holy mountain;
for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord
as the waters cover the sea.
Return of the Remnant of Israel and Judah
10 On that day the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples; the nations shall inquire of him, and his dwelling shall be glorious.
11 On that day the Lord will extend his hand yet a second time to recover the remnant that is left of his people, from Assyria, from Egypt, from Pathros, from Ethiopia, from Elam, from Shinar, from Hamath, and from the coastlands of the sea.
12 He will raise a signal for the nations,
and will assemble the outcasts of Israel,
and gather the dispersed of Judah
from the four corners of the earth.
13 The jealousy of Ephraim shall depart,
the hostility of Judah shall be cut off;
Ephraim shall not be jealous of Judah,
and Judah shall not be hostile towards Ephraim.
14 But they shall swoop down on the backs of the Philistines in the west,
together they shall plunder the people of the east.
They shall put forth their hand against Edom and Moab,
and the Ammonites shall obey them.
15 And the Lord will utterly destroy
the tongue of the sea of Egypt;
and will wave his hand over the River
with his scorching wind;
and will split it into seven channels,
and make a way to cross on foot;
16 so there shall be a highway from Assyria
for the remnant that is left of his people,
as there was for Israel
when they came up from the land of Egypt.
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 this prophecy is comparing the Root of Jesse who is to come with other rulers and kings, contrasting the justice of the True Messiah with the injustice of the kings the people have known. The imagery of the stump of Jesse anticipates an end to the kingdom ruled by the sons of David, and yet expects nonetheless that from that dead stump a new shoot will sprint forth. I think that this image, of a new shoot coming out of dead wood, may be connect to the extension of this image in more recent Christmas carols, from a tree stump to a rose bush, as is seen in the carol “Lo how a rose e’er blooming.” The other point we should note is that the coming of the Root of Jesse is to be a sign that all the remnant of Israel is to be recovered from among the nations; this prophecy does not indicate the inclusion of those nations in the redemption, as such, but we know that Israel’s loss among the nations was so complete that the only way for Israel to return was for the nations in whom Israel had been lost to enter the Church, as we are about to see happen in our readings from the book of Acts.)
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 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.
Idiomelon 1 of the 3rd Hour
This is our God; no other shall be compared to Him, who was born of a Virgin, and who lived among men. The only-begotten Son is seen, as a mortal, lying in a spare manger; and He, the Lord of glory, is wrapped in swaddling clothes. A star signals the Magi, to come and adore Him. And we, for our part, sing our hymns: "O Holy Trinity, save our souls!"
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 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.
Doxastikon of the Aposticha
Rejoice, Jerusalem; and all you who love Zion, celebrate! Today the age old bond of the condemnation of Adam has been released. Paradise is opened to us; the serpent is neutralized. He deceived a woman in Paradise of old, but now he sees a woman become the Mother of the Creator. What profound riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! Woman, who became the instrument of sin, and who brought death to all flesh, has now through the Theotokos become the beginning of salvation for the world. For the all-perfect God is born as an infant from her, and in birth He preserves her virginity, and being wrapped in swaddling clothes He breaks the chains of sins. Becoming an infant, He heals the labor pains of Eve. Therefore, let all creation dance and leap for joy. For Christ came to recall it, and to save our souls.
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!
Troparion of Ode 6 of Canon 1 of the Feast
For a child was born, * a Son, from Adam's nature, and given unto those who believe in Him. * Of the age to come He is Father and Prince, and His name has been called * the Angel of Great Counsel. Mighty God is He; * wonderful Counselor, Prince of peace, * and He governs creation with authority.
Idiomelon 3 of the Praises of the Orthros
O Virgin Theotokos who gave birth to the Savior, you reversed the curse to which Eve once was subject. For you have become the Mother of the Father's good pleasure, and you hold in your embraces God the Logos incarnate. The mystery admits no inquiry; we all glorify it by faith alone, and with you we cry aloud and say, "O Lord incomprehensible, glory to You."
Troparion of Ode 8 of Canon 2 of the Feast
Turning away from the guilt of its vain attempt to become as God, ⁄ the whole creation sings, like the three Children, ⁄ in praise of the eternal Word, who now empties Himself: ⁄ yet in trembling, fearing in its corruption to bring a prayer unacceptable to God, ⁄⁄ although the divine wisdom ever maintains it in being.
Both now of Ode 8 of Canon 2 of the Feast
You have come, Resurrection of the nations, ⁄ to bring back the wandering nature of mankind, ⁄ leading it from the hills of the wilderness to a pasture rich in flowers. ⁄ As in Your providence You have appeared as Man and God, ⁄⁄ destroy the violent strength of the murderer of mankind.
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 how the themes in these hymns are very consistent, all focusing on the long waiting and anticipation of God’s people for Him to visit them, and on their wonder and ours at beholding and understanding that He has not simply appeared to us in a vision or a dream, but has come to us in the flesh, uniting Himself with our nature, and in that way He is healing our wounds and overthrowing the power of our enemies.)
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)
Acts 9:26-43 (Saul in Jerusalem, Peter Heals in Lydda & Joppa)
Last week, we saw Saul the persecutor confronted on the road to Damascus by the Risen Lord Jesus Christ, and through that revelation, we saw him brought to repentance, obedience, and baptism once he arrived in Damascus. He immediately began to preach that Jesus was the Messiah in the synagogues in the city, until the Jews there turned against him and sought to kill him. At that point he escaped from the city, being let down in a basket from the wall. This time, we will see where he goes from there.
Saul in Jerusalem
26 When he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples; and they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him, brought him to the apostles, and described for them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken boldly in the name of Jesus. 28 So he went in and out among them in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 He spoke and argued with the Hellenists; but they were attempting to kill him. 30 When the believers learned of it, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.
31 Meanwhile the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and was built up. Living in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.
The Healing of Aeneas
32 Now as Peter went here and there among all the believers, he came down also to the saints living in Lydda. 33 There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden for eight years, for he was paralyzed. 34 Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; get up and make your bed!” And immediately he got up. 35 And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.
Peter in Lydda and Joppa
36 Now in Joppa there was a disciple whose name was Tabitha, which in Greek is Dorcas. She was devoted to good works and acts of charity. 37 At that time she became ill and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in a room upstairs. 38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, who heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him with the request, “Please come to us without delay.” 39 So Peter got up and went with them; and when he arrived, they took him to the room upstairs. All the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing tunics and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was with them.
40 Peter put all of them outside, and then he knelt down and prayed. He turned to the body and said, “Tabitha, get up.” Then she opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up. 41 He gave her his hand and helped her up. Then calling the saints and widows, he showed her to be alive. 42 This became known throughout Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. 43 Meanwhile he stayed in Joppa for some time with a certain Simon, a tanner.
Reading 17 – 453 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 the group which Saul was disputing with in Jerusalem, the ones who ultimately sought to kill him, is the same group of which he was a member, and of which St. Stephen had been a member before they turned against him and sought to kill him. These are Greek-speaking Jews, as it seems, described as “Hellenists.” Many of these were members of the Church, and it was to care for them that Stephen and the others were first selected as Deacons. At any rate, the Church sends Saul away to his birth city of Tarsus, in order to protect him, and meanwhile, we see Peter preaching in the cities to the west of Jerusalem, in Lydda, which is toward the coast, and in Joppa, which is actually on the Mediterranean Sea. The reason that we are hearing about St. Peter’s preaching here is twofold, I think. First, it shows him engaged in what is effectively a traveling ministry, as opposed to a settled ministry in the city. Second, it establishes why he is in Joppa for the next event in the story, which is extremely important.)
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?