http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massacre_of_the_Innocents
Childermas is usually
celebrated on the 28th of December and commemorates the murder of
the children of Bethlehem,
usually called the Holy Innocents.
According to the Bible, these would have been all the children of Bethlehem of two years and
under, probably two dozen or less children.
. While there are no independent
sources of this event, it is highly consistent with King Herod’s actions, who
was quite prepared to kill anyone including relatives who were a threat to his
sitting on the throne.
In this day, we
remember not only those innocents who died after the first Christmas, but also
all Holy Innocents killed for political expediency, especially today the
children who died from AIDS in Rumania in the 1990’s and the street children
murdered by police in Latin America, and the millions of children killed
through abortion. .
In an English
tradition, in many Cathedrals, a boy bishop was elected on St. Nicholas Day and
continued in office until Childermas, conducting all the minor offices of the
Cathedral, and often preaching.
Collect: Emmanuel, as we remember the lives and deaths
of those who died when Herod was attempting to kill you, help us to resist
tyrants, and to stand strong against those forces today which would destroy
innocent lives, whether through neglect or intent: this we ask in the name of Yeshua haMoshiach,
who took our nature upon himself to redeem it.
Amen. (red)
Eucharistic Readings:
Psalm 124;Jeremiah 31:15-17;
Revelation 21:1-7;
Matthew 2:13-18
Daily Office Readings:
AM Psalm 2, 26; Isaiah 49:13-23; Matthew 18:1-14PM Psalm 19, 126; Isaiah 54:1-13; Mark 10:13-16
Note: If there is no celebration of the Eucharist, the Eucharistic reading of the Gospel is to be used for Matins. At the discretion of the celebrant other Eucharistic readings may be used for Matins.
Yesterday we did remember St. John the Evangelist:
St.
John the Evangelist is
believed to be the beloved disciple mentioned in the Gospel of St. John. He and
his brother were disciples of John the Baptist before becoming disciples of
Jesus. He is believed to have been the
author of the Gospel of St. John, the three Epistles of St. John, and the book
of Revelations. It is almost certain
that the Gospel was edited during his life or after his death in Ephesus, where he served
as Bishop. John served in Judea and Galilee some twelve years before Herod Agrippa’s
persecution drove him out. He ended up
in Ephesus,
where he served many years, dying at the age of ninety-eight. He suffered in various persecutions and was
imprisoned for a while on the island
of Patmos. There were several attempts on his life
including poison and being boiled in oil which he survived. There are also several stories of the lengths
he would go to in order to bring lapsed Christians back to the faith.
Collect:
Emanuel, you raised up John to
proclaim the Gospel, to reveal that you are love, and to be Bishop of
Ephesus. Help us to so love one another
that the world would see you in us and our behaviour and come to know you as
Lord, and Saviour: this we ask in the
name of Yeshua haMoshiach, who took our nature upon himself to redeem it. Amen. (white)
Eucharistic Readings:
Psalm 92 or 92:1-4,11-14;Exodus 33:18-23; 1 John 1:1-9; John 21:9b-24
Daily Office Readings:
AM: Psalm 97, 98; Proverbs 8:22-30; John 13:20-35PM: Psalm 145; Isaiah 44:1-8; 1 John 5:1-12
Note: If there is no celebration of the Eucharist, the Eucharistic reading for the Gospel is to be used for Matins. At the discretion of the celebrant other Eucharistic readings may be used for Matins.
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