Nativity

We have arrived at the Sunday of Zacchaeus in which we hear the reading from the Gospel of Luke 19:1-10. We know that Zacchaeus, although a Jew, was a tax collector for the hated Roman state, which practiced oppressive taxation during the times of Jesus.

Today we hear the story of the blind beggar, Bartimaeus, from the Gospel of Luke 18:35-43. Jesus met Bartimaeus while coming to Jericho. It seems Bartimaeus had already heard stories about Jesus and his healing and believed in His royal kingship.

Today we hear the Gospel from Luke 18:18-27, the story of the Rich Ruler who asked Jesus, “What can I do to inherit eternal life?”. This same story is read in late August/September, but from the account as written in Matthew.

We have arrived at the Sunday After Theophany, where we hear about the beginning of Jesus’ work in Galilee, describing it as a “great light that began to shine on all”.

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Circumcision of Our Lord and New Year’s. This is the season of Feasts concerning the early life of Jesus Christ. The Feast of the Nativity, the Feast of the Circumcision (Jan.1), the Feast of Theophany (Jan.6,) the baptism of our Lord, culminating in the Feast of the Meeting of Our Lord into the Temple. (Feb. 2).

Today we celebrate the Sunday Before the Nativity of Christ, in which we commemorate the human ancestors of Jesus, all those from Adam to Joseph who are part of the genealogy of Our Lord according to the Gospels. This Sunday increases in us the expectation of the coming birth of Christ, the fulfillment of humanity’s hopes.