Daily Readings - Sun Jan 02 2022

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

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.