Daily Readings - Sun Jan 05 2020

¹Rise up to be illuminated, O Jerusalem! For your light has arrived, and the glory of the Lord has risen over you²For behold, darkness will cover the earth, and thick darkness will cover the peoples. Then the Lord will rise above you, and his glory will be seen in you³And the nations will walk in your light, and the kings will walk by the splendor of your rising⁴Lift up your eyes all around and see! All these have been gathered together; they have arrived before you. Your sons will arrive from far away, and your daughters will rise up from your side⁵Then you will see, and you will overflow, and your heart will be amazed and expanded. When the multitude of the sea will have been converted to you, the strength of the nations will approach you⁶A multitude of camels will inundate you: the dromedaries from Midian and Ephah. All those from Sheba will arrive, carrying gold and frankincense, and announcing praise to the Lord

Ephesians

Chapter 3

²Now certainly, you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God, which has been given to me among you³that, by means of revelation, the mystery was made known to me, just as I have written above in a few words⁵In other generations, this was unknown to the sons of men, even as it has now been revealed to his holy Apostles and Prophets in the Spirit⁶so that the Gentiles would be co-heirs, and of the same body, and partners together, by his promise in Christ Jesus, through the Gospel

Matthew

Chapter 2

¹And so, when Jesus had been born in Bethlehem of Judah, in the days of king Herod, behold, Magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem²saying: "Where is he who was born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east, and we have come to adore him.³Now king Herod, hearing this, was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him⁴And gathering together all the leaders of the priests, and the scribes of the people, he consulted with them as to where the Christ would be born⁵And they said to him: "In Bethlehem of Judea. For so it has been written by the prophet⁶‘And you, Bethlehem, the land of Judah, are by no means least among the leaders of Judah. For from you shall go forth the ruler who shall guide my people Israel.’ ⁷Then Herod, quietly calling the Magi, diligently learned from them the time when the star appeared to them⁸And sending them into Bethlehem, he said: "Go and diligently ask questions about the boy. And when you have found him, report back to me, so that I, too, may come and adore him.⁹And when they had heard the king, they went away. And behold, the star that they had seen in the east went before them, even until, arriving, it stood still above the place where the child was¹⁰Then, seeing the star, they were gladdened by a very great joy¹¹And entering the home, they found the boy with his mother Mary. And so, falling prostrate, they adored him. And opening their treasures, they offered him gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh¹²And having received a response in sleep that they should not return to Herod, they went back by another way to their own region

Sermon

In today's readings, we encounter a powerful narrative of light, prophecy, and the universal embrace of God's love. The first reading from Isaiah paints a vivid picture of Jerusalem rising in the light of the Lord, with nations drawn to this radiance, bearing gifts of gold and frankincense. This prophecy speaks of a time when God's glory would extend beyond Israel, reaching all people. The second reading from Ephesians reveals the mystery of this inclusion, as Paul explains that through Christ, Gentiles are now co-heirs of God's promise. This was a profound revelation, emphasizing that God's plan is not limited to one people but encompasses all humanity. The Gospel from Matthew brings this prophecy and revelation to life through the Magi, Gentile wise men who, guided by a star, seek out the newborn King. Their journey, despite the deceit of Herod, culminates in worship and the offering of gifts, symbolizing the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy and the reality of Paul's revelation. As we reflect on these readings, we are reminded that God's light is not confined to any one group but shines for all. In our daily lives, this calls us to embrace diversity and welcome others with openness and love. Just as the Magi followed the star with perseverance and faith, we too are called to seek out the light of Christ in every person we meet. Let us strive to be beacons of this light, reflecting God's universal love and fostering unity in our fragmented world. May we, like the Magi, find joy in worshiping the Christ who unites us all.