Daily Readings - Sun Jan 05 2020

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

Chapter 3

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

Chapter 2

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

In today's readings, we encounter a powerful narrative of light, prophecy, and the universal embrace of God's love. The first reading from Isaiah paints a vivid picture of Jerusalem rising in the light of the Lord, with nations drawn to this radiance, bearing gifts of gold and frankincense. This prophecy speaks of a time when God's glory would extend beyond Israel, reaching all people. The second reading from Ephesians reveals the mystery of this inclusion, as Paul explains that through Christ, Gentiles are now co-heirs of God's promise. This was a profound revelation, emphasizing that God's plan is not limited to one people but encompasses all humanity. The Gospel from Matthew brings this prophecy and revelation to life through the Magi, Gentile wise men who, guided by a star, seek out the newborn King. Their journey, despite the deceit of Herod, culminates in worship and the offering of gifts, symbolizing the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy and the reality of Paul's revelation. As we reflect on these readings, we are reminded that God's light is not confined to any one group but shines for all. In our daily lives, this calls us to embrace diversity and welcome others with openness and love. Just as the Magi followed the star with perseverance and faith, we too are called to seek out the light of Christ in every person we meet. Let us strive to be beacons of this light, reflecting God's universal love and fostering unity in our fragmented world. May we, like the Magi, find joy in worshiping the Christ who unites us all.