December 24

Matthew 2:1-12

1 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, 2 saying, "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him." 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:

6 "'And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.'"

7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him." 9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

Grant, Almighty God,
as Thou hast appointed Thine only begotten Son
to be like a sun to us,
that we may not be blind, so as not to see His brightness,
And that since He is pleased to guide us daily
into the way of salvation, may we follow Him
and never be detained by any of the impediments
of this world, so as not to pursue after that celestial
life to which Thou invitest us.
And that as Thou hast promised that He is to come
and gather us into the eternal inheritance,
may we not in the meantime grow wanton,
but on the contrary watch with diligence and
be ever attentively looking for Him.
And may we not reject the favor Thou hast been
pleased to offer us in Him, and thus grow torpid
in our dregs, but on the contrary be stimulated
to fear Thy name and truly to worship Thee,
until we shall at length obtain the fruit of our faith
and piety, when He shall appear again for our
redemption, even that Sun that has already
appeared to us, in order that we might not remain
involved in darkness, but hold on our way
in the midst of darkness, even the way
us to heaven. Amen.