The Twelve Days of Christmas: The Ninth Day

The Second Sunday after Christmas (Year C)

Scripture

Old Testament: Jeremiah 31:7-14 or Sirach 24:1-12

Psalter: Psalm 147:12-20 or Wisdom of Solomon 10:15-21

Epistle: Ephesians 1:3-14

Gospel: John 1:(1-9), 10-18

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Prayer

O Holy One, heavenly angels spoke to earthly shepherds and eternity entered time in the child of Bethlehem. Through the telling of the Christmas story, let our temporal lives be caught up in the eternal in that same child, that we might join shepherds and all the heavenly host in praising the coming of Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen.

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Reflection

The Ninth Day of Christmas falls on January 2nd. The nine ladies dancing represent the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit: Charity, Joy, Peace, Patience, Goodness, Mildness, Fidelity, Modesty, Chastity.

The church observes two feast days on January 2nd—St. Basil the Great and St. Gregory of Nazianzus (a.k.a. Gregory the Theologian), both of whom lived in the fourth century A.D. Basil was the bishop of Caesarea and Gregory, archbishop of Constantinople.

Gregory wrote many hymns, including one entitled, “Christ for Thee a Wreath Adorning,”

Christ, for Thee a wreath adorning

Weaves my raptured soul with glee,

For from death this glorious morning

Thou hast risen triumphantly.

From the tomb behold Him rising,

Christ our Lord whose praise is sung.

Death is slain; O power surprising!

Hades’ gates are open flung.

Thou for man to earth in meekness

Cam’st that he new born might be;

Thou upon the cross in weakness

Diedst that he might die with Thee.

Thou didst rise—we hail Thee, Jesus!

And we leave the tomb with Thee.

Victor, by the power that frees us,

Where Thou art, there we would be.

Hark! the highest heavens are ringing,

Choirs angelic lead the strain,

And my opened lips in singing

Tell the praises forth again.

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