Daily Readings - Sun Jan 06 2019
Isaiah
1Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.2For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you.3And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.4Lift up your eyes all around, and see; they all gather together, they come to you; your sons shall come from afar, and your daughters shall be carried on the hip.5Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and exult, because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you, the wealth of the nations shall come to you.6A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall bring good news, the praises of the LORD.
Ephesians
2assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace that was given to me for you,3how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly.5which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.6This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
Matthew
1Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem,2saying, "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose 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 shepherd my people Israel.'"7Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had 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."9After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until 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.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the universal call to worship and the unity of God’s people. In the first reading from Isaiah, we hear a vision of Jerusalem’s glory, where nations from afar come to bask in the light of the Lord. The prophet describes a time when the scattered children of God will gather together, bringing gifts and praise to the Lord. This passage, written in the context of Israel’s hope for restoration after exile, points to a future where God’s light will shine for all people, transcending the boundaries of race and nation.
The Gospel reading from Matthew brings this vision to life in the story of the Magi, wise men from the East who followed a star to find the newborn King of the Jews. These Gentiles, guided by faith and curiosity, represent the nations Isaiah spoke of, coming to worship the Messiah. Their journey symbolizes the universal reach of God’s salvation, which is further explained in the second reading from Ephesians. Paul writes that the mystery of Christ, once hidden, has now been revealed: Gentiles are co-heirs with the Jews, united in the same body through Christ. This mystery is the heart of the Gospel, breaking down walls of division and creating one family in God.
As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: How do we embody this unity and welcome in our own lives? Like the Magi, we are called to seek Christ with open hearts and minds, even when the journey is uncertain. Like Isaiah, we are called to shine the light of God’s love in a world often shrouded in darkness. And like Paul, we are called to recognize and celebrate the diversity of God’s family, where all are equal in Christ. May we, like the Magi, fall prostrate in worship before the King, offering our gifts and our lives to the One who unites us all.