Daily Readings - Sun Jan 06 2019
Isaiah
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.
Ephesians
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.
Matthew
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 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.