Sunday, January
6, 2002
Solemnity of the Epiphany
1st
Reading: Is 60:1-6
Arise, shine, for your light has come.
The Glory of Yahweh rises upon you.
Night still covers the earth and gloomy clouds veil the peoples, but Yahweh
now rises and over you his glory appears.
Nations will come to your light and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
Lift up your eyes round about and see: they are all gathered and come
to you, your sons from afar, your daughters tenderly carried.
This sight will make your face radiant, your heart throbbing and full;
the riches of the sea will be turned to you, the wealth of the nations
will come to you.
A flood of camels will cover you, caravans from Midian and Ephah.
Those from Sheba will come, bringing with them gold and incense, all singing
in praise of Yahweh.
2nd Reading: Eph 3:2-3,
5-6
You may have heard of the graces God bestowed on me for your sake. By
a revelation he gave me the knowledge of his mysterious design, as I have
explained in a few words.
This mystery was not made known to past generations but only now, through
revelations given to holy apostles and prophets. Now the non-Jewish people
share the Inheritance; in Christ Jesus the non-Jews are incorporated and
are to enjoy the Promise.
Gospel:
Mt 2:1-12
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, in Judea, during the days of King Herod,
wise men from the east arrived in Jerusalem. They asked, "Where is
the newborn king of the Jews? We saw the rising of his star in the east
and have come to honor him." When Herod heard this he was greatly
disturbed and with him all Jerusalem. He immediately called a meeting
of all high-ranking priests and those who taught the people of God his
Law, and asked them where the Messiah was to be born.
"In the town of Bethlehem in Judea," they told him, "for
this is what the prophet wrote: And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
you are by no means the least among the clans of Judah, for from you will
come a leader, the one who is to shepherd my people Israel."
Then Herod secretly called the wise men and asked them the precise time
the star appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem with the instruction,
"Go and get precise information about the child. As soon as you have
found him, report to me, so that I too may go and honor him."
After the meeting with the king, they set out. The star that they had
seen in the East went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the
child was. The wise men were overjoyed on seeing the star again. They
went into the house and when they saw the child with Mary his mother,
they knelt and worshiped him. They opened their bags and offered him their
gifts of gold, incense and myrrh.
In a dream they were warned not to go back to Herod, so they returned
to their home country by another way.
Commentary
Jesus was born into the world in a silent and hidden manner, but God's
purpose is for Jesus to be made known so that we all may know and be united
with God in Jesus. Today's feast - Epiphany - celebrates Jesus' becoming
known by the nations. The theme is of light: a glorious star is rising
in the darkness. Jesus is becoming known, attracting us to himself. Today
we remember that Star which signaled the birth of Christ. It's shining
for us and inviting us, "Follow! Come and see!" We enter the
house where Jesus lies, and gaze upon him and his mother. We watch the
wise men offering gifts, and offer ourselves, our commitment to our work,
family, community, nation, in union with Jesus who is committing himself
to share our human journey.