January 3, 2021

The Epiphany of the Lord

Isaiah 60: 1- 6

60:1Rise up to be illuminated, O Jerusalem! For your light has arrived, and the glory of the Lord has risen over you.
60:2For behold, darkness will cover the earth, and thick darkness will cover the peoples. Then the Lord will rise above you, and his glory will be seen in you.
60:3And the nations will walk in your light, and the kings will walk by the splendor of your rising.
60:4Lift up your eyes all around and see! All these have been gathered together; they have arrived before you. Your sons will arrive from far away, and your daughters will rise up from your side.
60:5Then you will see, and you will overflow, and your heart will be amazed and expanded. When the multitude of the sea will have been converted to you, the strength of the nations will approach you.
60:6A multitude of camels will inundate you: the dromedaries from Midian and Ephah. All those from Sheba will arrive, carrying gold and frankincense, and announcing praise to the Lord.

Ephesians 3: 2- 3, 5- 6

3:2Now certainly, you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God, which has been given to me among you:
3:3that, by means of revelation, the mystery was made known to me, just as I have written above in a few words.
3:5In other generations, this was unknown to the sons of men, even as it has now been revealed to his holy Apostles and Prophets in the Spirit,
3:6so that the Gentiles would be co-heirs, and of the same body, and partners together, by his promise in Christ Jesus, through the Gospel.

Matthew 2: 1- 12

2:1And so, when Jesus had been born in Bethlehem of Judah, in the days of king Herod, behold, Magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem,
2:2saying: “Where is he who was born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east, and we have come to adore him.”
2:3Now king Herod, hearing this, was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.
2:4And gathering together all the leaders of the priests, and the scribes of the people, he consulted with them as to where the Christ would be born.
2:5And they said to him: “In Bethlehem of Judea. For so it has been written by the prophet:
2:6‘And you, Bethlehem, the land of Judah, are by no means least among the leaders of Judah. For from you shall go forth the ruler who shall guide my people Israel.’ ”
2:7Then Herod, quietly calling the Magi, diligently learned from them the time when the star appeared to them.
2:8And sending them into Bethlehem, he said: “Go and diligently ask questions about the boy. And when you have found him, report back to me, so that I, too, may come and adore him.”
2:9And when they had heard the king, they went away. And behold, the star that they had seen in the east went before them, even until, arriving, it stood still above the place where the child was.
2:10Then, seeing the star, they were gladdened by a very great joy.
2:11And entering the home, they found the boy with his mother Mary. And so, falling prostrate, they adored him. And opening their treasures, they offered him gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
2:12And having received a response in sleep that they should not return to Herod, they went back by another way to their own region.