Today’s Epistle Reading is from St. Paul’s letter to the Galatians.  Chapter four, verses four through seven.

“But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son—born of a women, born under the Law—to redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoptions as sons.  And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts crying out, ‘Abba, Father.’  Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.”

About today’s Epistle reading, Ambrosiaster writes:

“He says of the gentiles who believed in Christ, ‘You are sons,’ having previously been enemies.  There can be no doubt that believing Jews were also said to be sons of God, since they had long been called by that name.  They had received the name of sons at one time as though by anticipation in order that the sonship might subsequently be understood in Christ, being incomplete without the Spirit.  There is no doubt that one adopts a son in order to leave him an heir.  But inheritance depends on the death of someone.  How then can mortals be called the heirs of Him who lives forever?  The fact is that Scripture speaks in our own manner so that we man understand, in order to show that the Father will give from His goods those things that He is going to give His sons.  He calls this inheritance.”

Today’s Gospel reading is from St. Matthew, chapter two, verses one through twelve:

“Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?  For we have seen His star in the east and have come to worship Him.’

When Herod the kind heard this, he was troubled and all Jerusalem with him.  And when he had gathered all the chief priests and the scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.  So they said to him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus is it written by the prophet, “But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are not the least among the rulers of Judah, for out of you shall come a ruler who will shepherd My people, Israel.”’

Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared.  And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, ‘Go and search carefully for the young child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.’  When they heard the king, they departed, and behold, the star which they had seen in the east went before them ‘til it came and stood over where the young child was.

When they saw the star they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy, and when they had come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary, His mother, and fell down and worshipped Him.  And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him; gold, frankincense and myrrh.  Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.

About today’s Gospel reading, St. John Chrysostom writes:

“In this way, marvel was linked to marvel.  The magi were worshipping.  The star was going before them.  All this was enough to captivate a heart of stone.  If it had been only the wise men, or only the prophets, or only the angels who had said these things, they might have been disbelieved.  But now with all this confluence of varied evidence, even the most skeptical mouths are stopped.  Moreover, the star, when it stood over the child, held still.  This itself demonstrates a power greater than any star; first to hide itself, then to appear, then to stand still.  From this, all who beheld were encouraged to believe.  This is why the magi rejoiced.  They found what they were seeking.  They had proved to be messengers of truth.  Their long journey was not without fruit.  Their longing for the anointed one was fulfilled.  He who was born was divine.  They recognized this in their worship.”

Announcer:  Now, here with some final thoughts is Father Tom.

Fr. Tom:  May the light and the joy of this feast of the Nativity of Christ be with you always.  Now, to Him who is able to do exceedingly, abundantly, above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory, in the Church, by Christ Jesus, to all generations forever and ever.  Amen.