January 3rd, 2016 – Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord – Lectionary: 20
Reading 1 – Isaiah 60: 1-6
Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem! Your light has come,
the glory of the Lord shines upon you.
See, darkness covers the earth,
and thick clouds cover the peoples;
but upon you the LORD shines,
and over you appears his glory.
Nations shall walk by your light,
and kings by your shining radiance.
Raise your eyes and look about;
they all gather and come to you:
your sons come from afar,
and your daughters in the arms of their nurses.
Then you shall be radiant at what you see,
your heart shall throb and overflow,
for the riches of the sea shall be emptied out before you,
the wealth of nations shall be brought to you.
Caravans of camels shall fill you,
dromedaries from Midian and Ephah;
all from Sheba shall come
bearing gold and frankincense,
and proclaiming the praises of the LORD.
Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 72: 1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13
- Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
O God, with your judgment endow the king,
and with your justice, the king’s son;
He shall govern your people with justice
and your afflicted ones with judgment. -
Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
Justice shall flower in his days,
and profound peace, till the moon be no more.
May he rule from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth. -
Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
The kings of Tarshish and the Isles shall offer gifts;
the kings of Arabia and Seba shall bring tribute.
All kings shall pay him homage,
all nations shall serve him. -
Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
For he shall rescue the poor when he cries out,
and the afflicted when he has no one to help him.
He shall have pity for the lowly and the poor;
the lives of the poor he shall save.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
Second Reading – Ephesians 3: 2-3a, 5-6
Brothers and sisters:
You have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace
that was given to me for your benefit,
namely, that the mystery was made known to me by revelation.
It was not made known to people in other generations
as it has now been revealed
to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit:
that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body,
and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
Gospel – Matthew 2: 1-12
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea,
in the days of King Herod,
behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying,
“Where is the newborn king of the Jews?
We saw his star at its rising
and have come to do him homage.”
When King Herod heard this,
he was greatly troubled,
and all Jerusalem with him.
Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people,
He inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea,
for thus it has been written through the prophet:
And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
since from you shall come a ruler,
who is to shepherd my people Israel.”
Then Herod called the magi secretly
and ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearance.
He sent them to Bethlehem and said,
“Go and search diligently for the child.
When you have found him, bring me word,
that I too may go and do him homage.”
After their audience with the king they set out.
And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them,
until it came and stopped over the place where the child was.
They were overjoyed at seeing the star,
and on entering the house
they saw the child with Mary his mother.
They prostrated themselves and did him homage.
Then they opened their treasures
and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod,
they departed for their country by another way.
Listen to the Scriptures: click on the link below:
http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/16_01_03.mp3
FEAST OF THE EPIPHANY
Matthew’s story of the magi from the East is an account of a sacred journey, a search for hope, for salvation. As such, it is a paradigm (mirror – model – pattern) of our own faith journeys and their journeys help us to appreciate the fact that there are many others who are searching for truth, for what is right and good, and that there are many paths that lead to God.
All of us are searching for someone or something to enlighten us, to strengthen and sustain us, to bring hope and joy into our lives, to bring us together, to save us. Our various and different journeys have many ups and downs, numerous mysteries and loose ends. At times there are only glimmers of light and hope on an otherwise dark and often confusing horizon.
What stands out in the story of the magi is the quality of their journey. Their hearts are receptive, ready to respond when a revelation appears. They are faith searchers, sensitive to the fragile signals of God’s presence in all of life (however small, humble or insignificant or different). They do not place conditions on the revelations of God, but recognize God’s grace however it comes.
Today’s readings not only tell us about our own journeys; they challenge our attitude toward other searchers. All three readings repeat the same theme: all nations shall walk by God’s light and share in the promise. The magi of Matthew’s Gospel are Gentiles, and Paul reminds his hearers that Gentiles are co-heirs and members of the same body as Jews. We sometimes set boundaries to God’s love and salvation. The sincerity and genuine faith and goodness of outsiders challenge those of us who see salvation as confined to our ways of understanding and believing.
Today’s readings remind us that we cannot know with assurance how God acts in other people’s lives – but we do know he does. Salvation is open to all. Moreover, those we consider outsiders may see truths we have missed in our own sources of revelation, sending us back to them with a new receptivity and insight into the fullness of the truths about love and justice that they contain.
In our various faith journeys we believe in the midst of all that is happening we can see with our own eyes (though not always clearly) that the Lord God is creating a kingdom. We cannot always explain or understand “what is going on” except to this extent: “An almighty God is governing all things, powerfully and gently, and in His own mysterious way is shaping up a kingdom of justice and of love. In this season we are celebrating that Jesus, Son of Mary, Mighty God and Lord of all Creation, has been born among us. As we celebrate his presence in and among us we need in the midst of all to remember his words to us: Do not be afraid. I am with you always.
Reading I: Isaiah 60:1-6
Responsorial Psalm: 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13
Reading II: Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6
Gospel: Matthew 2:1-12
Questions to help us reflect and probe the meaning of the scriptures and what they say to us.
First Reading – Isaiah 60:1-6
- Though darkness covered the earth, light and glory had come to Jerusalem, says the First Reading. Are you always aware of God’s light and glory in your life?
- Did Jerusalem have any light of her own? Were nations coming to her or to the light? What do you think draws people to the Church today?
Second Reading – Ephesians 3:2-3a,5-6
- Just what was this mystery that brightened the whole world? Was a star an integral part of the story?
- A revelation was given to Paul by the Spirit, he says. It told him that Christ’s life was too great to be limited to its starting place. Not only the Jews but the Gentiles as well are “coheirs, members of the same body.” Have Christians always treated the Jewish peoples in the way Paul describes?
Gospel – Matthew 2:1-12
- God sent the Magi a message that made them ride camels across the known world. What would motivate you to put in this kind of effort? What was worth this kind of search for them?
- As the star led the Magi to Christ, what does Pope Francis say God gives us to guide our pilgrimage? What does he suggest we learn from the Magi about being “cunning”?
The star appearing in the sky kindled in their minds and in their hearts a light that moved them to seek the great Light of Christ. Every person has two great ‘books’ which provide the signs to guide this pilgrimage. These “books,” are “the book of creation and the book of sacred Scripture.” What is most important, is that we be attentive, alert, and listen to God who speaks to us, … listening to the Gospel, reading it, meditating on it and making it our spiritual nourishment especially enables us to encounter the living Jesus, to experience him and his love.
The Magi used this light of ‘cunning’ when, on the way back, they decided not to pass by the gloomy palace of Herod, but to take another route.
The wise men teach us how not to fall into the snares of darkness and how to defend ourselves from the shadows which seek to envelop our life.
From Pope Francis; homily on the Feast of
the Epiphany, Jan 6, 2014
Epiphany 2016
For the Church: we may faithfully follow where God leads us and be attentive to the deepest desires which God has placed in our hearts, let us pray to the Lord.
For this Christian Community: that we welcome all those whom God leads to us and be blest through the diverse gifts and talents which they bring, let us pray to the Lord.
For the grace to discernment: that we may recognize God in nature, in relationships, and in the events of our lives and deepen our relationship with God who makes all things work together for the good of God’s people, let us pray to the Lord.
For the gift of selfless sharing: that we may confidently do deeds of charity and compassion and so bring God’s light into the lives of all who are in need, let us pray to the Lord.
For the grace to be childlike: that we may learn how to trust and be vulnerable from children as we help them learn how to use their talents and abilities, let us pray to the Lord.
For a restoration of Jerusalem and the Holy Land: that God will renew the hopes and dreams of all who live in the Holy Land and lead them to a new day of peace, let us pray to the Lord.
For all who are searching for God or meaning in life: that the Good News may become real to them and be a light that leads them to wholeness, let us pray to the Lord.
For all who suffer from discrimination: that God’s Spirit will bring them healing and open new pathways of hope and possibility, let us pray to the Lord.
For leaders of the Church and for all who proclaim the gospel message: that they may untiringly bring the light of the Gospel to those who cling to darkness and selfishness, let us pray to the Lord.
For all parents who find it difficult to provide for their infants: that God will show them new directions to find the resources that they need and touch the hearts of many to assist them, let us pray to the Lord.
For all migrants and refugees: that God will lead them to safety, protect them from violence and help them to find new homes and supportive relationships, let us pray to the Lord.
For all who have dreams: that the Spirit of God will empower them to seek and search for the ways to fulfill and follow their dreams, let us pray to the Lord.
For the powerful in government and business: that they may realize that all power is from God and is given to be used for the good of all people, let us pray to the Lord.
For all victims of abuse and cruelty: that God will lead them to safety and heal the wounds to their bodies, minds, and spirits, let us pray to the Lord.
For the members of Parliament and Congress: that God will help them work effectively in facing the issues of greatest importance to our nation and the world, let us pray to the Lord.
For peace in the world: that the light of the God’s Word may lead the heads of nations to seek new paths for peace, let us pray to the Lord.
For all who are unemployed: that God will give them courage and stamina and lead them to new opportunities to use their gifts and talents for the good of all, let us pray to the Lord.