Sunday, January 06, 2019

Epiphany, Annotated (Readings for Jan. 6, 2019)

Key
What these readings tell us about God
What these readings tell us to do
Commentary
Hyperlinks

Reading 1 IS 60:1-6
Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem! Your light has come, the glory of the Lord shines upon you. See, darkness covers the earth, and thick clouds cover the peoples; but upon you the LORD shines, and over you appears his gloryNations shall walk by your light, and kings by your shining radianceRaise your eyes and look about; they all gather and come to you: your sons come from afar, and your daughters in the arms of their nurses.

This sounds a lot like the scriptures collected in Wisdom Principles: God-Light, Departure from God=Darkness

Then you shall be radiant at what you seeyour heart shall throb and overflow, for the riches of the seashall be emptied out before you, the wealth of nations shall be brought to you. Caravans of camels shall fill you, dromedaries from Midian and Ephah; all from Sheba shall come bearing gold and frankincense, and 
proclaiming the praises of the LORD.


Responsorial Psalm PS 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13.
R. (cf. 11)  Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
O God, with your judgment endow the king, and with your justice, the king's son; He shall 
govern your people with justice and your afflicted ones with judgment.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
Justice shall flower in his days, and profound peacetill the moon be no more.
May he rule from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
The kings of Tarshish and the Isles shall 
offer gifts; the kings of Arabia and Seba shall bring tribute. All kings shall pay him homage, all nations shallserve him.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
For he shall 
rescue the poorwhen he cries out, and the afflicted when he has no one to help himHe shall have pity for the lowly and the poorthe lives of the poor he shall save.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

Oh that we had earthly leaders like this now. We should pray for and about the leaders we have and want. See the scriptures collected and discussed in Praying for Leaders: Why, How & About What

Reading 2 EPH 3:2-3A, 5-6
You have heard of the stewardship of God's grace  that was given to me for your benefit,  namely, that the mystery was made known to me by revelation.
It was not made known to people in other generations  as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit:  that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

Alleluia MT 2:2
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
We saw his star at its rising and have come to 
do him homage.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel MT 2:1-12
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod,
behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have 
come to do him homage." When King Herod heard this, he was greatly troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 

Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it has been written through the prophet: And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; since from you shall come a ruler, who is to shepherd my people Israel."

Then Herod called the magi secretly and ascertained from them the time of the star's appearance. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search diligently for the child. When you have found him, bring me word, that I too may go and do him homage."

After their audience with the king they set out. And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way.

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