Readings here. For more on Matthew as the cousin of Jesus, see this video by Dr. John Bergsma

From Tuesday-Thursday of the First Week in OT. Readings from Hebrews: It was not to angels that God subjected the world to come,of which we are speaking.Instead, someone has testified somewhere:    What is man that you are mindful of him,        or the son of man that you care for him?    You made him for a little while lower than the angels;        you crowned him with glory and honor,        subjecting all things under his feet.In “subjecting” all things to him,he left nothing not “subject to him.”Yet at present we do not see “all things subject to him,” but we do see Jesus “crowned with glory and honor”because he suffered death,he who “for a little while” was made “lower than the angels,”that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.For it was fitting that he,for whom and through whom all things exist,in bringing many children to glory,should make the leader to their salvation perfect through suffering.He who consecratesand those who are being consecrated all have one origin.Therefore, he is not ashamed to call them “brothers” saying:     I will proclaim your name to my brethren,    in the midst of the assembly I will praise you.Since the children share in blood and Flesh,Jesus likewise shared in them,that through death he might destroy the onewho has the power of death, that is, the Devil,and free those who through fear of deathhad been subject to slavery all their life.Surely he did not help angelsbut rather the descendants of Abraham;therefore, he had to become like his brothers and sisters in every way,    that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest before Godto expiate the sins of the people.Because he himself was tested through what he suffered,he is able to help those who are being tested.The Holy Spirit says:    Oh, that today you would hear his voice,        “Harden not your hearts as at the rebellion        in the day of testing in the desert,    where your ancestors tested and tried me        and saw my works for forty years.    Because of this I was provoked with that generation        and I said, ‘They have always been of erring heart,        and they do not know my ways.’    As I swore in my wrath,        ‘They shall not enter into my rest.’”Take care, brothers and sisters,that none of you may have an evil and unfaithful heart,so as to forsake the living God.Encourage yourselves daily while it is still “today,”so that none of you may grow hardened by the deceit of sin.We have become partners of Christif only we hold the beginning of the reality firm until the end.

GospelMARK 2:1-121And when he returned to Caper'na-um after some days, it was reported that he was at home. 2And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room for them, not even about the door; and he was preaching the word to them. 3And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. 4And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and when they had made an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic lay. 5And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "My son, your sins are forgiven." 6Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, 7"Why does this man speak thus? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?" 8And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, "Why do you question thus in your hearts? 9Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, `Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, `Rise, take up your pallet and walk'? 10But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins" -- he said to the paralytic -- 11"I say to you, rise, take up your pallet and go home." 12And he rose, and immediately took up the pallet and went out before them all; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, "We never saw anything like this!"

GospelMARK 1:40-4540And a leper came to him beseeching him, and kneeling said to him, "If you will, you can make me clean." 41Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, "I will; be clean." 42And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. 43And he sternly charged him, and sent him away at once, 44and said to him, "See that you say nothing to any one; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to the people." 45But he went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in the country; and people came to him from every quarter.

GospelMARK 1:29-3929And immediately he left the synagogue, and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30Now Simon's mother-in-law lay sick with a fever, and immediately they told him of her. 31And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her; and she served them. 32That evening, at sundown, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. 33And the whole city was gathered together about the door. 34And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him. 35And in the morning, a great while before day, he rose and went out to a lonely place, and there he prayed. 36And Simon and those who were with him pursued him, 37and they found him and said to him, "Every one is searching for you." 38And he said to them, "Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also; for that is why I came out." 39And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.

GospelMARK 1:21-2821And they went into Caper'na-um; and immediately on the sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught. 22And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. 23And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; 24and he cried out, "What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God." 25But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent, and come out of him!" 26And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. 27And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, "What is this? A new teaching! With authority he commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him." 28And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee.

GospelMATTHEW 2:1-121Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, 2"Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East, and have come to worship him." 3When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it is written by the prophet: 6`And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will govern my people Israel.'" 7Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star appeared; 8and he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him bring me word, that I too may come and worship him." 9When they had heard the king they went their way; and lo, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy; 11and going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 12And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

How many wise men? Were they kings? Where did they come from? More importantly: how did they know to worship the newborn king of the Jews? These questions and many more are pondered, but the answer to them and every difficulty is JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD!

GospelLUKE 2:16-2116And they went with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. 17And when they saw it they made known the saying which had been told them concerning this child; 18and all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19But Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. 21And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/fromtheheartoftheshepherd/episodes/2022-12-31T17_05_53-08_00

GospelLUKE 2:16-2116And they went with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. 17And when they saw it they made known the saying which had been told them concerning this child; 18and all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19But Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. 21And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.