29 December 2024
10:30 | 
Posted by
Dr Platts |
1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26
A reading from the first book of Samuel.
Samuel was ministering before the Lord,
a boy wearing a linen ephod.
His mother used to make for him a little robe
and take it to him each year,
when she went up with her husband
to offer the yearly sacrifice.
Then Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, and say,
‘May the Lord repay you with children by this woman
for the gift that she made to the Lord’;
and then they would return to their home.
Now the boy Samuel continued to grow
both in stature and in favour with the Lord and with the people.
Colossians 3:12-17
A reading from the letter of Paul to the Colossians.
As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved,
clothe yourselves with compassion,
kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.
Bear with one another and,
if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other;
just as the Lord has forgiven you,
so you also must forgive.
Above all, clothe yourselves with love,
which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts,
to which indeed you were called in the one body.
And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly;
teach and admonish one another in all wisdom;
and with gratitude in your hearts
sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God.
And whatever you do, in word or deed,
do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Luke 2:41-52
Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.
Now every year the parents of Jesus went to Jerusalem
for the festival of the Passover.
And when he was twelve years old,
they went up as usual for the festival.
When the festival was ended and they started to return,
the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem,
but his parents did not know it.
Assuming that he was in the group of travellers,
they went a day’s journey.
Then they started to look for him
among their relatives and friends.
When they did not find him,
they returned to Jerusalem to search for him.
After three days they found him in the temple,
sitting among the teachers,
listening to them and asking them questions.
And all who heard him were amazed
at his understanding and his answers.
When his parents saw him they were astonished;
and his mother said to him,
‘Child, why have you treated us like this?
Look, your father and I have been searching for you
in great anxiety.’
He said to them, ‘Why were you searching for me?
Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?’
But they did not understand what he said to them.
Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth,
and was obedient to them.
His mother treasured all these things in her heart.
And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years,
and in divine and human favour.
