Daily Readings - Sun Jan 06 2019
Isaiah
1Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.2For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.3And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.4Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side.5Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee.6The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense; and they shall shew forth the praises of the LORD.
Ephesians
2If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:3How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,5Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;6That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
Matthew
1Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,2Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.3When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.4And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.5And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,6And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.7Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.8And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.9When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.10When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.11And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.12And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country 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.