January 8 - Epiphany of the Lord

Published: Jan. 7, 2023, 5 a.m.

b'(Is.60:1-6;\\xa0\\xa0 Ps.72:1-2,7-8,10-13;\\xa0\\xa0 Eph.3:2-3a,5-6;\\xa0\\xa0 Mt.2:1-12) \\xa0 \\u201cThey were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary His Mother.\\u201d \\xa0 And so our prophecy of Isaiah and our psalm of David come to pass: \\u201cRaise your eyes and look about; they all gather and come to you\\u2026 the riches of the sea shall be emptied out before you, the wealth of nations shall be brought to you.\\u201d\\xa0 And \\u201cthe kings of Tarshish and the Isles shall offer gifts; the kings of Arabia and Seba shall bring tribute.\\xa0 All kings shall pay Him homage, all nations shall serve Him.\\u201d\\xa0 And so we have the revelation made known to the Apostle Paul and all His holy ones: \\u201cThe Gentiles are now coheirs, members of the same body, and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.\\u201d Yes, the Light of Jerusalem has come, and it draws the ends of the earth by its radiance.\\xa0\\xa0 Here is the star which rises in our midst; here is the true light which shines upon all men.\\xa0\\xa0 And all men are drawn to it \\u2013 none can deny its brightness before us, its truth and its glory.\\xa0 And who is this king but the One of \\u201cjustice\\u201d and \\u201cprofound peace\\u201d?\\xa0\\xa0 Who is He but the One who \\u201cshall have pity for the lowly and the poor; the lives of the poor He shall save.\\u201d\\xa0\\xa0 And so all must make themselves poor before Him, laying their gifts at His blessed feet. Today we celebrate the coming of Light to the nations, the manifestation of Jesus Christ to this world covered in darkness.\\xa0 And we find our hope and our joy in Him as did the magi two thousand years ago.\\xa0\\xa0 For He continues to reveal Himself to our hearts.\\xa0 He continues to show His peace and justice to all who look for His coming.\\xa0\\xa0 Let our eyes be raised to the heavens and our hearts be diligent in seeking Him, and we will be led to His crib.\\xa0\\xa0 There the Mother holds Him in her arms; there before such beauty we should empty our souls in adoration of His blessed presence, like these magi who \\u201cprostrated themselves and did Him homage.\\u201d\\xa0\\xa0 Then we shall rise fulfilled. \\xa0 Written, read & chanted by James Kurt; produced by Roger Fortney. \\xa0 Music by Roger Fortney; used by permission. \\xa0 ******* O LORD, lead us by your light to lay down our lives before you. YHWH, into this world of darkness you have sent a great light and now all nations desirous of truth, desirous of light, follow that light to find you, dear Father in Heaven.\\xa0 As the magi followed the star to find the Baby Jesus with Mary His Mother, so all poor souls follow your Son to find you who have created us all; for He is in you, and looking upon His innocent face we see you, our LORD and God, and the light is ours. There is no division in your House, O LORD; all souls are called into your presence.\\xa0 Your star you make obvious for all to see that none may be left by the wayside but all keep to the road that leads to life.\\xa0 Help us, O LORD, to empty ourselves of all that keeps us from gazing at your light, all that makes our eyes blind to your glory.\\xa0 May we with the magi prostrate ourselves before your Child, offering all we have to Him and so to you.\\xa0 He is the King that shall rule us all \\u2013 let us embrace His coming.'