What the new year brings to you

will depend a great deal on

what you bring to the new year.

~ Vern McLellan

 

 

 

 

What will I do with the piece of history in which I live?

Enable doors to be closed or opened?

… I am a “hinge of history.”

~ Emily Dickinson

First Reading Isaiah 61:10-62:3

61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, 
          my whole being shall exult in my God; 
     for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, 
          he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, 
     as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, 
          and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. 
11  For as the earth brings forth its shoots, 
          and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, 
     so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise 
          to spring up before all the nations.

62:1 For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, 
          and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, 
     until her vindication shines out like the dawn, 
          and her salvation like a burning torch. 
2   The nations shall see your vindication, 
          and all the kings your glory; 
     and you shall be called by a new name 
          that the mouth of the Lord will give. 
3   You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord, 
          and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.

Psalm 148:1-14

1   Praise the Lord! 
     Praise the Lord from the heavens; 
          praise him in the heights! 
2   Praise him, all his angels; 
          praise him, all his host!

3   Praise him, sun and moon; 
          praise him, all you shining stars! 
4   Praise him, you highest heavens, 
          and you waters above the heavens!

5   Let them praise the name of the Lord, 
          for he commanded and they were created. 
6   He established them forever and ever; 
          he fixed their bounds, which cannot be passed.

7   Praise the Lord from the earth, 
          you sea monsters and all deeps, 
8   fire and hail, snow and frost, 
          stormy wind fulfilling his command!

9   Mountains and all hills, 
          fruit trees and all cedars! 
10  Wild animals and all cattle, 
          creeping things and flying birds!

11  Kings of the earth and all peoples, 
          princes and all rulers of the earth! 
12  Young men and women alike, 
          old and young together!

13  Let them praise the name of the Lord, 
          for his name alone is exalted; 
          his glory is above earth and heaven. 
14  He has raised up a horn for his people, 
          praise for all his faithful, 
          for the people of Israel who are close to him. 
     Praise the Lord!

Second Reading Galatians 4:4-7

4But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,5in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children.6And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.

Gospel Luke 2:22-40

22When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23(as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord”), 24and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”

25Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. 26It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, 28Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying, 
29  “Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, 
          according to your word; 
30  for my eyes have seen your salvation, 
31       which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 
32   a light for revelation to the Gentiles 
          and for glory to your people Israel.”

33And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. 34Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, “This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed 35so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed — and a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

36There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day. 38At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.

39When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 40The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.