Today is the eleventh day of Christmas. But even the readings in these twelve days of joy don’t let us get too comfortable. The birth of Jesus causes Herod’s horrific malice to explode. This malice is a power at work in the world, malice which will never end and never weaken until the day of judgment [Schmemann].

The Epistle for the Second Sunday after Christmas prepares the disciple of Jesus to face this malice. “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.” St. Peter is writing to the newly baptized. He’s saying, “Don’t be surprised when trouble comes! The demons, and those captive to demonic desires, hate Jesus, and they hate those who follow Him.” …

“An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream.” It’s not an example. Many of our dreams are the fruits of anxiety or indigestion. I once had a dream that Fritz Pauling and I were in Italy stealing a pipe organ. I don’t plan to do what I dreamed. (Although it might make a pretty good buddy caper movie.) The kind of dream Joseph has is extremely rare. But it should remind us of another Joseph: the son of Jacob who had that amazing technicolor dreamcoat. His dreams got him thrown into a pit, then sold into slavery. To where? Egypt. See the similarities? With this new Joseph, and the Mother and Child, God is going to redo the Exodus.

So the “Angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying.…” Angel means messenger. An angel speaks; that is his purpose: he brings God’s Word to particular people. What’s the message?

Second Sunday after Christmas 2026

The Second Sunday after Christmas 2022