Reading I
Is 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.
Reading II
Eph 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
Mt 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.
Meditation: Isaiah 60:1-6
The Epiphany of the Lord
Can you recall the feeling of an epiphany, or sudden insight, allowing you to grasp in an instant what you couldn’t before? Today’s feast is about the Epiphany: the revelation of Jesus to all those lost in darkness. The coming of the Magi from the East foreshadowed how nations from around the world would be drawn to Jesus. It tells us that just as these men followed a star and found the king of the Jews, so too will all people from all nations see Jesus’ light shining in the world and come to him.
No doubt the home where the Magi found the Lord was a place of welcome, hospitality, and love for those around it—a small fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy. You can just imagine how Mary and Joseph’s home cast a warm glow on their neighbors, radiating the peace and contentment that everyone longs for. Surely everyone in their neighborhood respected this family deeply for the way they related to each other and to those around them!
The good news of today’s readings is that our homes can be like that place of blessing. While darkness covers the earth, our homes can be beacons of light, places of welcome where the weary, the lonely, and the anxious can feel God’s love and receive his encouragement.
There are countless ways you can fulfill this call. In fact, no two homes will be the same, because no two families are the same. You don’t even have to try to figure out how you’re going to shine the light of Christ. Instead, ask how your family can receive his light. For anyone who is being touched by its warmth and glow will naturally begin reflecting it to everyone around them. So let the light of Christ shine on you today! Ask him for a new epiphany for yourself and your whole family. Then, even the slightest acts of love, generosity, and hospitality will be filled with divine light!
“Lord Jesus, come into my heart and home. Shine your light through me onto the world, especially those longing for rays of your love.”
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