From antiochan.org, rongolini.com and dynakispublications.org:
Daily Readings:
Saints/Martyrs/Feasts/Fasts to be observed/commemmorated/celebrated: the Fast of the Nativity
Scriptural Readings:
Exodus 6:16, 18-20, 23-7:6 (12/20-1/2) First Reading in Kellia: Moses as a Type of Christ
Foreshadows I ~ Deliverance: Exodus 6:16, 18-20, 23-7:6, especially vs. 27: “These are the ones who spoke to Pharaoh king of Egypt to bring out the children of Israel from Egypt. These are the same Moses and Aaron.” After the Gospel reading from Saint Luke at the Third Royal Hour of the Nativity, the exclamation is offered: “Blessed is the Lord God, blessed is the Lord day by day; the God of our salvation. Our God is the God of salvation” (Ps. 67:20,21). The record of His saving extends through all history. Two of His redemptive acts are the Exodus and the Passion of Christ, the deliverance of His ancient People from slavery in Egypt, and the salvation of mankind from bondage to sin, Satan and death. As man, Christ our God achieved the second and great deliverance, which is why, at His birth, “...a multitude of the heavenly host” sang: “Glory to God in the highest; and on earth peace, goodwill toward men” (Lk. 2:13,14).
Although God delivered men in both these events, may the two acts rightfully be compared? In the first, God brought out a single, specifically chosen People, Israel. But, in the latter, the whole of benighted mankind received salvation “...that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (Jn. 3:16). In the first, the Lord raised up spokesmen, Moses and Aaron. At the Incarnation of God the Word, the angels heralded the Saving God-Man Who spoke and acted with the entire Godhead in the Passion that has saved and is saving many.
In both of God’s mighty acts, He drew upon members of the tribe of Levi. Today’s Exodus reading details the genealogy of Moses and Aaron from Levi (Ex. 6:16-20). The lineage of the Most Pure Theotokos, the Birthgiver of God the Word in the flesh, was from both the tribe of Judah and the tribe of Levi. Saint Demetrius of Rostov reports that Joachim, the father of the Virgin Mary, was from Judah, while “...her mother, the holy righteous Anna, was the daughter of Matthan the priest, who was of the line of Aaron. Thus, the most pure Virgin was by her father of royal descent, and by her mother, of high-priestly lineage,” that is from the tribe of Levi.
God raised up spokesmen in both instances to declare freedom for His People before a tyrant: “Lord said to [Moses], ‘I Am the Lord. Speak to Pharaoh king of Egypt everything I tell you’” (vs. 29). Christ our God Himself spoke directly to the greatest slave-master of men, the evil one who sought to tempt Him from His mission of salvation (Mt. 4:1-11).
God the Lord made His spokesmen “...a god to Pharaoh...” (Ex. 6:29), and Jesus told Pilate: “You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above (Jn. 19:11). In both cases, the goodness of God only hardened the heart of the tyrants. “I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and though I multiply My signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, Pharaoh will not listen to you” (Ex. 7:3,4). Though Satan left the Lord Jesus after he tempted Him, he returned with more sinister intent when he entered “...Judas surnamed Iscariot...” (Lk. 22:3).
Neither tyrant would listen to the word of the Lord. Pharaoh did not, and Judas, one of the Twelve, after receiving Life from Life Himself, yet gave his heart to Satan (Jn. 13:27).
God greatly judges all tyrants. The Egyptian slave-masters met God the Judge, for He stretched out His hand upon all of Egypt (Ex. 7:5). The Lord Jesus’ defeat of death by death was judgment upon Death and Satan, “...because the ruler of this world is judged” (Jn. 16:11).
What God did in Egypt foreshadowed the great Salvation He worked once and for all for His People in the coming of the God-Man Who brought all who will from death to life.
Let God arise and let His enemies be scattered, and let them that hate Him flee from before His face. As smoke vanisheth, so let them vanish; as wax melteth before the fire, so let sinners perish at the presence of God, and let the righteous be glad.
Hebrews 11:17-23, 27-31
King James Version (KJV)
Hebrews 11:17-23
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17By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
18Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:
19Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.
20By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
21By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.
22By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.
23By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.
King James Version (KJV)
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Hebrews 11:27-31
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27By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
28Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.
29By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.
30By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.
31By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.
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Mark 9:42-10:1
Mark 9:42-10:1 (King James Version)
42And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.
43And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
44Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
45And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
46Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
47And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:
48Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
49For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.
50Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.
Mark 10
1And he arose from thence, and cometh into the coasts of Judaea by the farther side of Jordan: and the people resort unto him again; and, as he was wont, he taught them again.
The Synaxarion:
December 20
The Pre-festive Period of the Nativity according to the Flesh of Our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ
Memory of the holy Hieromartyr Ignatius the God-bearer of Antioch (+107)
Saint Ignatius was the successor of the Apostles in the see of Antioch, and the second bishop of this city after Evodios. Sent to Rome, laden with chains, he confirmed in the faith the Churches of the cities which he passed through and wrote seven admirable letters to them. In his letter to the Romans, he gives himself the name of Theophorus to signify that he carried God in his soul. He was torn apart by the teeth of wild beasts in the ampitheater of Rome, under Emperor Trajan, on December 20, 107.
Fifth Class Feast.
Typika and Beatitudes. Troparia: of the Pre-festive Period of the Nativity according to the Flesh of Our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ, of the Saint, and of the Church Patron. Kondakion of the Pre-festive Period of the Nativity according to the Flesh of Our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ.
On the Sunday between December 20 and 23: Typika and Beatitudes. Isodikon of the Sunday. Troparia: of the Resurrection, of the Pre-festive Period of the Nativity according to the Flesh of Our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ, of the Fathers (see the Sunday before the Nativity according to the Flesh of our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ), and of the Church Patron. Kondakion of the Pre-festive Period of the Nativity according to the Flesh of our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ. Epistle and Gospel of the Sunday before the Nativity according to the Flesh of Our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ. Kinonikon of the Sunday. The memory of Saint Ignatius was anticipated on December 19.
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