Daily Catholic Mass Readings for January 7, 2018
First Reading: Isaiah 60.1-6
1"Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.2See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the LORD rises upon you and his glory appears over you.3Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.4"Lift up your eyes and look about you: All assemble and come to you; your sons come from afar, and your daughters are carried on the arm.5Then you will look and be radiant, your heart will throb and swell with joy; the wealth on the seas will be brought to you, to you the riches of the nations will come.6Herds of camels will cover your land, young camels of Midian and Ephah. And all from Sheba will come, bearing gold and incense and proclaiming the praise of the LORD.
Psalm 72
1Endow the king with your justice, O God, the royal son with your righteousness.2He will judge your people in righteousness, your afflicted ones with justice.3The mountains will bring prosperity to the people, the hills the fruit of righteousness.4He will defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy; he will crush the oppressor.5He will endure as long as the sun, as long as the moon, through all generations.6He will be like rain falling on a mown field, like showers watering the earth.7In his days the righteous will flourish; prosperity will abound till the moon is no more.8He will rule from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth.9The desert tribes will bow before him and his enemies will lick the dust.10The kings of Tarshish and of distant shores will bring tribute to him; the kings of Sheba and Seba will present him gifts.11All kings will bow down to him and all nations will serve him.12For he will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help.13He will take pity on the weak and the needy and save the needy from death.14He will rescue them from oppression and violence, for precious is their blood in his sight.15Long may he live! May gold from Sheba be given him. May people ever pray for him and bless him all day long.16Let grain abound throughout the land; on the tops of the hills may it sway. Let its fruit flourish like Lebanon; let it thrive like the grass of the field.17May his name endure forever; may it continue as long as the sun. All nations will be blessed through him, and they will call him blessed.18Praise be to the LORD God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds.19Praise be to his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and Amen.20This concludes the prayers of David son of Jesse.
Second Reading: Ephesians 3.2-3a, 5-6
2Surely you have heard about the administration of God's grace that was given to me for you,3that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly.5which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God's holy apostles and prophets.6This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.
Gospel: Matthew 2.1-12
1After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem2and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."3When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.4When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born.5"In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written:6"'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.'"7Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared.8He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him."9After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was.10When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.11On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.12And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
Sermon
The readings today weave together a narrative of light, prophecy, and inclusion, inviting us to reflect on God's universal plan. Isaiah's prophecy in the first reading paints a vivid picture of Jerusalem illuminated by God's glory, attracting nations to its light. This vision is fulfilled in the Gospel as the Magi, Gentile wise men, follow a star to Bethlehem, recognizing Jesus as the King. Their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh symbolize homage to a ruler, highlighting Jesus' universal sovereignty. Paul's letter to the Ephesians bridges these narratives, explaining that the Gospel reveals the mystery of Gentiles as co-heirs with Jews in Christ, emphasizing unity and the body of Christ.
The context of these readings reveals a divine plan where light transcends borders. Isaiah's words, spoken to a people in exile, offer hope of restoration and universal recognition of God's presence. The Magi's journey from the East embodies this hope, as they seek the Messiah guided by a star. Paul's epistle underscores that this inclusion was part of God's plan, revealed through the Gospel, breaking down walls between Jews and Gentiles.
In our daily lives, these readings call us to embrace our role as bearers of God's light. Just as the Magi were open to guidance from a star, we must remain open to the Holy Spirit's leading. We are to welcome others into our communities, reflecting the unity Christ established. The moral lesson is clear: God's plan is one of inclusion and light for all nations. As we navigate our world, may we, like the Magi, seek Jesus with reverence and generosity, living as agents of unity and light in a diverse world.