Daily Readings - 25/12/2026

^9:1 The people that walked in darkness has seen a great light; on those who live in a land of deep shadow a light has shone.

^9:2 You have made their gladness greater, you have made their joy increase; they rejoice in your presence as men rejoice at harvest time, as men are happy when they are dividing the spoils.

^9:3 For the yoke that was weighing on him, the bar across his shoulders, the rod of his oppressor, these you break as on the day of Midian.

^9:4 For all the footgear of battle, every cloak rolled in blood, is burnt, and consumed by fire.

^9:5 For there is a child born for us, a son given to us and dominion is laid on his shoulders; and this is the name they give him: Wonder-Counsellor, Mighty-God, Eternal-Father, Prince-of-Peace.

^9:6 Wide is his dominion in a peace that has no end, for the throne of David and for his royal power, which he establishes and makes secure in justice and integrity. From this time onwards and for ever, the jealous love of Yahweh Sabaoth will do this.

^95:1 Come, let us praise Yahweh joyfully, acclaiming the Rock of our safety;

^95:2 let us come into his presence with thanksgiving, acclaiming him with music.

^95:3 For Yahweh is a great God, a greater King than all other gods;

^95:4 from depths of earth to mountain top everything comes under his rule;

^95:5 the sea belongs to him, he made it, so does the land, he shaped this too.

^95:6 Come in, let us bow, prostrate ourselves, and kneel in front of Yahweh our maker,

^95:7 for this is our God, and we are the people he pastures, the flock that he guides. If only you would listen to him today,

^95:8 ‘Do not harden your hearts as at Meribah, as you did that day at Massah in the wilderness,[*a]

^95:9 when your ancestors challenged me, tested me, although they had seen what I could do.

^95:10 ‘For forty years that generation repelled me, until I said: How unreliable these people who refuse to grasp my ways!

^95:11 And so, in anger, I swore that not one would reach the place of rest I had for them.’

^2:1 Now at this time Caesar Augustus[*a] issued a decree for a census of the whole world to be taken.

^2:2 This census – the first[*b] – took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria,

^2:3 and everyone went to his own town to be registered.

^2:4 So Joseph set out from the town of Nazareth in Galilee and travelled up to Judaea, to the town of David called Bethlehem, since he was of David’s House and line,

^2:5 in order to be registered together with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.

^2:6 While they were there the time came for her have her child,

^2:7 and she birth to a son, her first born.[*c] She wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger because there was no room for them at the inn.

^2:8 In the countryside close by there were shepherds who lived in the fields and took it in turns to watch their flocks during the night.

^2:9 The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone round them. They were terrified,

^2:10 but the angel said, ‘Do not be afraid. Listen, I bring you news of great joy, a joy to be shared by the whole people.

^2:11 Today in the town of David a saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.

^2:12 And here is a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.’

^2:13 And suddenly with the angel there was a great throng of the heavenly host, praising God and singing:

^2:14 ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace to men who enjoy his favour’