2nd Sunday after Christmas 2026: January 3

The Christmas season continues as we gather to celebrate the 2nd Sunday after Christmas 2026. As we reflect on the mystery of the Incarnation, we rejoice that God has beautifully restored the dignity of human nature through Christ. Today, Rev. Loretta Mendoza will celebrate Mass with us as we explore themes of divine adoption, holy protection, and our calling to share in Christ’s divine life.

Join us for Mass in the way that suits you best! You can worship with us in person at 9 am on January 4, 2026. Or via Live Stream, Video Replay, or Podcast.

If You Cannot Join Us In Person for the 2nd Sunday after Christmas 2026!

We understand that you cannot always join us in person; that is why we offer you our:

Livestream/Playback

You can join us live or watch it anytime after the service. The livestream starts at 8:50 am with the organ prelude, and the service starts at 9 am.

Podcast

Did you know that we are available on all major platforms? Our podcast covers everything from the opening hymn to the sharing of the peace.

The Collect for the 2nd Sunday after Christmas 2026

O God, who wonderfully created, and yet more wonderfully restored, the dignity of human nature: Grant that we may share the divine life of him who humbled himself to share our humanity, your Son Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Readings for the 2nd Sunday after Christmas 2026

Old Testament: Jeremiah 31:7-14

7 For thus says the Lord: Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob, and raise shouts for the chief of the nations; proclaim, give praise, and say, “Save, O Lord, your people, the remnant of Israel.” 8 See, I am going to bring them from the land of the north, and gather them from the farthest parts of the earth, among them the blind and the lame, those with child and those in labor, together; a great company, they shall return here. 9 With weeping they shall come, and with consolations I will lead them back, I will let them walk by brooks of water, in a straight path in which they shall not stumble; for I have become a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn.

10 Hear the word of the Lord, O nations, and declare it in the coastlands far away; say, “He who scattered Israel will gather him, and will keep him as a shepherd a flock.” 11 For the Lord has ransomed Jacob, and has redeemed him from hands too strong for him. 12 They shall come and sing aloud on the height of Zion, and they shall be radiant over the goodness of the Lord, over the grain, the wine, and the oil, and over the young of the flock and the herd; their life shall become like a watered garden, and they shall never languish again. 13 Then shall the young women rejoice in the dance, and the young men and the old shall be merry. I will turn their mourning into joy, I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow. 14 I will give the priests their fill of fatness, and my people shall be satisfied with my bounty, says the Lord.

Psalm 84:1-8

The Epistle: Ephesians 1:3-6, 15-19a

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. 5 He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.

15 I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love towards all the saints, and for this reason 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. 17 I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, 18 so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe.

The Gospel: Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23

13 Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” 14 Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, 15 and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, “Out of Egypt I have called my son.”

19 When Herod died, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, 20 “Get up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the child’s life are dead.” 21 Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And after being warned in a dream, he went away to the district of Galilee. 23 There he made his home in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, “He will be called a Nazorean.”

Reflection on the Readings for the 2nd Sunday after Christmas 2026

Join us as we reflect on God’s restoration and protection!

Old Testament – Jeremiah 31:7-14

Jeremiah shares a message of joyful restoration and homecoming. God promises to gather His scattered people from the farthest corners of the earth—those who are blind, lame, pregnant, and in labor—bringing them back as a great community. Though they may come with tears, God will lead them with comfort beside streams of water along a straight path where they will not stumble. The Lord declares Himself a father to Israel and promises that their mourning will turn into joy and their sorrow into gladness. Their lives will be like a flourishing garden, radiant with God’s goodness, and they will never again experience despair.

Psalm 84:1-8

This psalm expresses a deep longing for God’s presence in His dwelling place. The psalmist envies the sparrow and swallow that make their homes near God’s altars. Those who dwell in God’s house are considered happy and continually praise Him. The psalm celebrates pilgrims who find their strength in the Lord and have their hearts set on the journey to His presence. Even the desolate valley becomes a place of springs for them, and they ascend from height to height until God reveals Himself in Zion. It is a song of yearning for intimacy with the living God.

Epistle – Ephesians 1:3-6, 15-19a

Paul starts with a tremendous blessing, praising God for every spiritual blessing found in Christ. Before the foundation of the world, God chose us to be holy and blameless in love, destined for adoption as His children through Jesus Christ. This adoption aligns with God’s good pleasure and brings praise to His glorious grace. Paul then shares his prayers for the Ephesians, asking that God would grant them a spirit of wisdom and revelation, enlighten the eyes of their hearts, and help them understand the hope of their calling, the riches of their inheritance as saints, and the immeasurable greatness of God’s power for those who believe.

Gospel – Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23

Matthew recounts the harrowing journey of the Holy Family’s flight to Egypt. After the Magi leave, an angel warns Joseph in a dream that Herod intends to destroy the child Jesus. Joseph promptly obeys the warning, taking Mary and Jesus by night to Egypt, where they remain until Herod’s death. This event fulfills the prophecy: “Out of Egypt, I have called my son.”

Once Herod dies, another angel appears to Joseph in a dream, instructing him to return to Israel. However, when Joseph learns that Archelaus is ruling Judea, he is cautioned in another dream to settle in Galilee instead. The family then makes their home in Nazareth, fulfilling the prophetic word that the Messiah would be called a Nazarene.

The central theme of these readings is God’s faithful protection and the restoration of human dignity through Christ. Just as God gathered the scattered exiles and led them home, He gathers us into His family through adoption in Christ. Just as God protected the infant Jesus from Herod’s violence, He guards and guides His people even during dangerous times. We are chosen, adopted, and called to share in Christ’s divine life—the One who humbled Himself to share in our humanity. As we continue our Christmas celebration with Rev. Loretta Mendoza, we rejoice that God has beautifully restored what was broken and invites us to dwell in His presence, finding our strength and joy in Him.