In the latter part of Advent, in the early part of Christmas, we have a healthy dose of Christ’s coming through the lens of the blessed Virgin Mary.  In the Christmas season now, we pivot, as it were, to consider the miracle of the Incarnation through the lens of Joseph. 

This homily reflects on the transition from Christmas to Epiphany, highlighting the Magi's journey to worship Christ. Despite their pagan background, the Magi followed God’s signs with zeal, overcoming obstacles to find and honor the King of Kings. Their gifts—gold, frankincense, and myrrh—symbolize Christ’s kingship, divinity, and sacrifice. Let their devotion inspire us to seek Christ wholeheartedly and live as His faithful disciples

So, on this feast of Holy Innocents, let us remember that we are called to overcome evil with good.  Let us see abortion for the evil that it is and pray for its end.  Let us do all we can as Christians to affirm life.  We should encourage and pray for those mothers who are fearful to bring children to term. 

St. John whose feast we celebrate today penned the Epistle and Gospel appointed for today.  His first general epistle is most appropriate to Christmas when we celebrate Christ coming in the flesh, truly becoming man and dwelling among us.

On Christmas Eve and yesterday, we celebrated with great joy that God has forever united the second person of the Holy Trinity with our humanity.  Humanity brought death into the world through Adam’s sin.

God sent his Son into the world in humility, in lowliness, to take our nature upon him. Becoming human, being joined with our humanity through the blessed Virgin Mary.  

But we are reminded this evening of the beauty of the Good News of Jesus that is not content to make us better machines, to remain confined in our selfish desires of what we need, of what we believe is true success.

There is a certain sense of joy that marks this Sunday.  This is signified by the rose-colored candle in the Advent wreath.  There is a similar phenomenon during the Season of Lent, with the fourth Sunday marking the mid-point. 

Traditionally, the second Sunday in Advent is known as Bible Sunday; it derives its name from the focus of our collect today - where we praise God for the gift of the Holy Scriptures that are able to make us wise unto salvation.