Daily Readings - Sun Jan 02 2022

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

The readings today invite us to reflect on the universal call to recognize and follow the light of God, which shines brightly in the person of Jesus Christ. In the first reading from Isaiah, we hear a prophetic vision of Jerusalem as a beacon of light, drawing nations and kings to its radiance. This light is not just for the chosen people but for all humanity, as the prophet declares that the glory of the Lord will be seen in Jerusalem and that people from far and wide will be drawn to it. This passage sets the stage for the Gospel, where we see the fulfillment of this prophecy in the visit of the Magi, wise men from the East who follow a star to find the newborn King of the Jews. The second reading from Ephesians deepens our understanding of this universal plan of salvation. Paul speaks of the mystery of God’s grace, which has been revealed in Christ Jesus. This mystery is that Gentiles—people from all nations—are now co-heirs with the Jewish people, united in the same body of Christ, and sharers in the promise of eternal life. This reading reminds us that the Good News of salvation is not limited to one group but is intended for all people. The Magi in today’s Gospel exemplify this truth. They are not Jews, yet they recognize the significance of the star and journey to Bethlehem to adore the newborn King, bringing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Their actions show that the light of Christ transcends cultural and religious boundaries, calling all people to worship and follow Him. As we reflect on these readings, we are challenged to live as children of light, recognizing that God’s plan of salvation is universal. Like the Magi, we are called to seek Christ with open hearts and minds, even when the journey is long or uncertain. We are also reminded to embrace the diversity of God’s people, welcoming others into the body of Christ without discrimination or exclusion. In our daily lives, this means living with humility, generosity, and a willingness to step out of our comfort zones to follow the light of Christ. May we, like the Magi, find joy in worshiping the Lord and may our lives reflect the light of His presence to a world in need of hope and guidance.