[Propertalk] READINGS for CHRISTMAS DAY II

[Charles Wohlers]

The following are the readings for Christmas Day, Proper II, according to 
the Revised Common (RCL), Episcopal (ECUSA), Roman Catholic, Canadian BAS, 
and the Church of England (Common Worship) lectionaries. All readings are 
taken from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) of the Bible. Unless 
noted otherwise, the ECUSA, Canadian and C of E lectionaries are identical 
to the RCL for this day. The Canadian BAS allows any of the three propers to 
be used at any time on Christmas Day.
The Christmas Dawn readings for the Roman Catholic lectionary correspond to 
the Proper II readings, except as noted.


OLD TESTAMENT:  Isaiah 62: 6 - 12   (RCL)
                                    Isaiah 62: 6 - 7, 10 - 12   (Canadian 
BAS)
                                    Isaiah 62: 11 - 12   (Roman Catholic)

Isai 62:6 (NRSV) Upon your walls, O Jerusalem,
I have posted sentinels;
all day and all night
they shall never be silent.
You who remind the LORD,
take no rest,
7 and give him no rest
until he establishes Jerusalem
and makes it renowned throughout the earth.
8 The LORD has sworn by his right hand
and by his mighty arm:
I will not again give your grain
to be food for your enemies,
and foreigners shall not drink the wine
for which you have labored;
9 but those who garner it shall eat it
and praise the LORD,
and those who gather it shall drink it
in my holy courts.
10 Go through, go through the gates,
prepare the way for the people;
build up, build up the highway,
clear it of stones,
lift up an ensign over the peoples.
11 The LORD has proclaimed
to the end of the earth:
Say to daughter Zion,
"See, your salvation comes;
his reward is with him,
and his recompense before him."
12 They shall be called, "The Holy People,
The Redeemed of the LORD";
and you shall be called, "Sought Out,
A City Not Forsaken."


PSALM 97   (RCL)
Psalm 97: 1, 6, 11 - 12   (Roman Catholic)

Psal 97:1 (NRSV) The LORD is king! Let the earth rejoice;
let the many coastlands be glad!
2 Clouds and thick darkness are all around him;
righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
3 Fire goes before him,
and consumes his adversaries on every side.
4 His lightnings light up the world;
the earth sees and trembles.
5 The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,
before the Lord of all the earth.
6 The heavens proclaim his righteousness;
and all the peoples behold his glory.
7 All worshipers of images are put to shame,
those who make their boast in worthless idols;
all gods bow down before him.
8 Zion hears and is glad,
and the towns of Judah rejoice,
because of your judgments, O God.
9 For you, O LORD, are most high over all the earth;
you are exalted far above all gods.
10 The LORD loves those who hate evil;
he guards the lives of his faithful;
he rescues them from the hand of the wicked.
11 Light dawns for the righteous,
and joy for the upright in heart.
12 Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous,
and give thanks to his holy name!


NEW TESTAMENT:  Titus 3: 4 - 7   (all)

Titu 3:4 (NRSV) But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior 
appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we 
had done, but according to his mercy, through the water of rebirth and 
renewal by the Holy Spirit. 6 This Spirit he poured out on us richly through
Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we 
might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.


GOSPEL:  Luke 2: (1 - 7) 8 - 20   (RCL)
                   Luke 2: 8 - 20   (Canadian BAS)
                   Luke 2: 15 - 20   (Roman Catholic)

Luke 2:1 (NRSV) In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that 
all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration and 
was taken while Quirin'ius was governor of Syria. 3 All  went to their own 
towns to be registered. 4 Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in 
Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was 
descended from the house and family of David. 5 He went to be registered 
with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. 6 While 
they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. 7 And she gave 
birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him 
in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
8 In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch 
over their flock by night. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, 
and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But 
the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for see--I am bringing you good 
news of great joy for all the people: 11 to you is born this day in the city 
of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for 
you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger."
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, 
praising God and saying, 14 "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on 
earth peace among those whom he favors!" 15 When the angels had left them 
and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go now to 
Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made 
known to us." 16 So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the 
child lying in the manger. 17 When they saw this, they made known what had 
been told them about this child; 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what 
the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured all these words and pondered 
them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God 
for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.