Third Sunday after Epiphany

For the Collect for Third Sunday after Epiphany, for the 1549 Book of Common Prayer, Archbishop Thomas Cranmer selected a short prayer adapted by fellow Englishman the Blessed Alcuin of York from an original in the Gelasian Sacramentary. Alcuin was the editor of the updated version of the Vulgate Bible during the adminstration of Holy Roman Emperor Charlemagne. The theme is that Almighty God is the source for any protection from the dangers of the world. In the Nicene Creed, Christ sits at the “right hand” of the Father.

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, mercifully look upon our infirmities, and in all our dangers and necessities,
stretch forth thy right hand to help and defend us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Epistle reading, Romans 12:16-21, takes up where St. Paul left off in verses 6-15 from the Second Sunday after Epiphany. He continues his version of one of earliest lists of Christian virtues, here adding humility, tolerance, forbearance agains the temptation to seek vengeance, and, finally, overcoming evil with good. As noted last week, the list of Christian virtues was fully developed in the Western Church tradition by the 7th and 8th C.

The Gospel reading, John 2:2-11, is the Evangelist’s unique account of the making of water into wine at the Wedding at Cana. St. John made this incident the first of seven “signs”in the Gospel of John of Jesus’ divinity (from the Greek semeion, Strong’s Greek Word # 4592, which is translated as “miracles” in the King James Version). In the miraculous conversion of water into wine, St. John observed that Jesus “manifested His glory; and his disciples believed in Him.”

The Collect, Epistle and Gospel readings for Third Sunday after Epiphany are discussed in Episode Three in the AIC Video series, Epiphany: the Manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles. The stained glass window book mentioned in the image credit is available through my Amazon Author Central page. Additional information about the book is found on the AIC Bookstore page. My Podcast Homily for Third Sunday after Epiphany is linked from the Podcast Homilies page.

I regret to note that I have fallen behind in the plan to complete the newest two episodes in our video series, The War on Christianity, during January. With good luck I will be able to complete the work during February. As always, thank you for your interest and support. Glory be to God for all things! Amen!