THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD, CYCLE C

Open with a prayer: Father, you revealed your Son to the nations by the guidance of a star. Lead us to your glory in heaven by the light of faith. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. O light of Lights, you showed forth the light of God's love to all nations. In your coming, God's saving love is revealed from east to west. You have made us co-heirs and sharers in the promise of salvation. Illuminate our minds and hearts with your love. May we, as the Magi, always seek and search for you. Enlighten us as we contemplate your Word today. We pray in your light and in your love. Amen.

Sharing of life: What was the highlight of this past year? What do you hope for in the coming year?

Facilitator reads focus statement: Epiphany means manifestation. On this Sunday, the Church invites us to celebrate God's universal plan to save all people, Gentiles as well as Jews.

Read the readings, pausing briefly after each one. Consider reading the commentary after each reading if you have not already done so.

FIRST READING: Isaiah 60:1-6

This reading begins by announcing that Jerusalem's days of darkness are over (a reference to Israel's time in exile). God is about to bring a New Dawn to Israel. So great will the new light on Jerusalem be that all the Nations (a reference to the Gentiles) will be drawn to the city bearing all kinds of gifts. This prophecy will be fulfilled when Jesus invites all people to come into his light. The Magi are the first Gentiles to respond to Jesus' invitation.

PSALM 72

"Lord, every nation on earth will adore you" speaks of God's universal plan to save all people, thereby connecting this psalm to the overall theme of this Sunday's readings.

SECOND READING: Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6

In these verses, Paul speaks about his special mission to bring the Good News to the Gentiles -- thus connecting this reading with the general theme of the day. The "secret plan" of God now revealed by Jesus to Paul and the Apostles is the total equality of Jews and Gentiles in God's plan of salvation.

GOSPEL: Matthew 2:1-12

The Gospel is fulfillment of the first reading, which speaks of all the nations streaming to Jerusalem bearing gifts for the new King. The Magi represent the non-Jewish world; who are seekers of God, in their own way. The Magi's journey to Bethlehem in search of the new King is symbolic of the journey all seekers must take. So, Epiphany is not only a feast in which we celebrate God's manifestation of himself to the Gentile world, but also it celebrates our movement toward God.

When Matthew was writing his Gospel in 80 A.D., his own people had almost totally rejected Jesus and large groups of Gentiles were accepting him. This rejection/acceptance dynamic is present in today's Gospel. Herod's plot to kill Jesus symbolizes Israel's leaders' rejection of him and the Magi's acceptance of him symbolizes the Gentiles' movement toward Jesus. This rejection/acceptance dynamic will be played out many times in Matthew's Gospel. The Pharisees will close their hearts to Jesus and the Gentiles will open their hearts to him.

FAITH SHARING QUESTIONS

1. What verse or idea spoke to you and why?

2. In the first reading we hear these words: "See darkness covers the earth". What forms of darkness covers the earth today? What can we do to combat them?

3. In the second reading, Paul speaks about "stewardship that was given to me for your benefit." To what extent do you buy into the stewardship philosophy that tells us: "We own nothing. All belongs to God." If we really believed and acted on this belief, how would it change our lives?

4. In the gospel we hear the words: "we saw his star at its rising." What prompted your own early search for God?

RESPONDING TO THE WORD

Name one way you can act on this Sunday's readings. Suggestions: Invite a non-church-goer to church. Ask someone how they came to know Jesus.

CONCLUDE WITH PRAYERS OF PETITION AND INTERCESSION