Daily Readings - Sun Jan 02 2022
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 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.