Daily Catholic Mass Readings for January 4, 2026
First Reading: Isaiah 60.1-6
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.
Psalm 72
1Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king's son.2He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment.3The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness.4He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor.5They shall fear thee as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations.6He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth.7In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth.8He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth.9They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him; and his enemies shall lick the dust.10The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts.11Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him.12For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper.13He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the needy.14He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence: and precious shall their blood be in his sight.15And he shall live, and to him shall be given of the gold of Sheba: prayer also shall be made for him continually; and daily shall he be praised.16There shall be an handful of corn in the earth upon the top of the mountains; the fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon: and they of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth.17His name shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun: and men shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed.18Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things.19And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen.20The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.
Second Reading: Ephesians 3.2-3a, 5-6
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:
Gospel: Matthew 2.1-12
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
Today's readings beautifully illuminate the profound truth of God's universal love and His plan for salvation, revealing how His light breaks through all darkness and draws all peoples to Himself. In the Gospel, we witness the Magi, wise men from the East, Gentile seekers, drawn by a mysterious star to worship the newborn King of the Jews, offering Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. This journey strikingly fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah, who spoke of Jerusalem's light drawing nations and kings, bringing tribute and seeking God's glory. Saint Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, articulates the divine "mystery" behind this unfolding, explaining that what was once hidden is now made manifest: the Gentiles are no longer outsiders but are "co-heirs, and of the same body, and partners together" in Christ Jesus through the Gospel.
This magnificent revelation of Christ to the nations shows us that God's light is truly meant for everyone, transcending all boundaries of nation or lineage. Just as the Magi sought the star, we too are called to follow the guiding light of Christ in our own lives, journeying through the darkness of our world to find Him. Their gifts – gold for kingship, frankincense for divinity, and myrrh for suffering and death – symbolize the complete offering of our lives and resources to Christ. We are invited to bring our own unique talents, our struggles, and our very selves, to the manger, recognizing Christ as our sovereign Lord, our divine presence, and the one who embraces our humanity in its fullness.
The profound encounter of the Magi with the Christ Child challenges us to live as true members of His universal body. We are called not only to receive His light but to become bearers of it, allowing His glory to shine through our lives, drawing others out of their own forms of darkness and into His marvelous light. Let us, like the Magi, be transformed by our encounter with Christ, resolved to live out the mystery of universal salvation, and ever ready to announce His praise to the world, making known the grace that has been given to us for the benefit of all.