Tahsas 28 — January 06

The Birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ

Today is a very happy day! It is the birthday of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, born from His holy mother, the Virgin Mary.

Long ago, the emperor said that all the people had to be counted, and each family had to write down their names in their own town. So Joseph and Mary traveled to a little town called Bethlehem, because that was the home of their family, the family of King David.

When they arrived, it was time for the baby to be born. Mary gave birth to her first Son, Jesus. She wrapped Him up snug and warm and laid Him in a manger, the box where animals are fed, because there was no room for them anywhere else.

Out in the fields nearby, some shepherds were staying awake, taking care of their sheep in the dark. All at once an angel of God stood near them, and a bright, shining light filled the sky. The shepherds were afraid. But the angel spoke kindly to them.

Then many more angels appeared, singing and praising God. After that, the angels went back up into heaven. The shepherds said to one another, "Let us go to Bethlehem and see this wonderful thing that God has told us about!"

They hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby Jesus lying in the manger, with the whole place shining around them. So the angel's words were true after all. They knelt down and worshiped the Child, and then they went home praising God and telling everyone the good news.

Glory to our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ forever and ever. Amen.

Do not be afraid! I bring you good news of great joy for you and for all people. Today a Savior is born for you, Who is Christ the Lord.— the angel to the shepherds

Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth to people of good will.— the song of the angels

The Brave Friends of Saint Paul

On this day we also remember a group of brave people: one hundred and fifty men and twenty-four women who became martyrs, holding onto God even when it cost them their lives. These people came from a city called Antinoe, and at first they did not yet know the true God.

There was a good and faithful man named Saint Paul the Syrian. Cruel people hurt Saint Paul because he loved God, and they took away his eyesight so he could no longer see. They put him in prison.

But God had not forgotten him. When the people came to visit Saint Paul, they saw that his eyes could see again. God had healed him completely, and he looked as if he had never been hurt at all.

The men and women could hardly believe their eyes. They understood that the statues they used to pray to could never do such a thing. Only the real God, the One who made everything, could heal Saint Paul's eyes like that.

So they all called out together with one voice, "We believe in the God of Saint Paul!" They came to Saint Paul, and he gently blessed them and told them God would keep them close to Him forever.

These brave men and women never stopped loving God, and they went home to be with Him in heaven, where He gave them shining crowns of joy.

Salutation to the feast when Christ was born. Salutation to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Salutation to the brave men and women who were friends of Paul the martyr.

We believe in the God of Saint Paul!— the brave men and women of Antinoe