Daily Gospel Reflection

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January 2, 2022

The Epiphany of the Lord
Mt 2:1-12
Listen to the Audio Version

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.

Reflection

Fr. Matt Kuczora, C.S.C. ’05, ’11 M.Div., ’23 JD
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At 8 p.m. on March 31, 1880, Wabash, Indiana became the first electrically lighted city in the world. As a Hoosier, I love this historical gem, and yet it also brings a challenge. Since 1880, we’ve had bright lights illuminate our sidewalks and roads to keep us safe and extend the day, but those artificial lights also block out the stars.

Every single human being until 1880 had the night sky glowing above them in a way most of us today will never experience. With all our technological advantages, digital resources, and light pollution, what are we missing? The Magi were watching the heavens when they saw the star of Bethlehem rising. Would we?

Fortunately, God finds ways to draw us near no matter what blinding lights or clanging noises might dull our senses. Like finding a dark, quiet place to gaze at the stars, we also have to step aside sometimes—away from the rush and the worries—to be with God.

Like the constellations, planets, and supernovae above the streetlights, God is always present. Though the brightness of midday blocks our view of the stars, neither our mistakes nor our sins can block out God or make him go away. Again, we’re grateful for these technologies, but we also need the quiet, the calm, and the stars as well. We need that time with God.

“They [the wisemen] were overjoyed at seeing the star.” Taking a quiet moment with God today, who knows what we’ll see or what joy we’ll find.

Prayer

Rev. Bob Loughery, C.S.C.

Almighty God, on this feast of Epiphany may all Christians remember their consecration to a life of holiness and so live their lives in imitation of your Son. May his light be revealed to every people and every nation. We ask this in his name. Amen.

Saint of the Day

The Epiphany of the Lord

The Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord is celebrated today, but is traditionally marked on January 6. January 6 was one of the original dates of the Christian Christmas celebration, in which the Church celebrated Christ's epiphany, that is, his appearance to all nations. The feasts of Christ's origins—his Nativity, his Baptism, and his appearance to the Magi—were celebrated on January 6 and December 25 in differing combinations in the early centuries of Christianity.

Eventually, the Eastern Church developed a special emphasis on January 6 as the Feast of the Theophany, that is Christ's baptism. (Scholars believe that Advent itself, like Lent, was a time of catechesis and preparation of catechumens for Baptism, which would occur on January 6.) As a hymn used during the celebration of the Liturgy of John Chrysostom on today's feast declares:

"Lord, when You were baptized in the Jordan, the worship of the Trinity was made manifest. For the voice of the Father gave witness to You, calling You Beloved; and the Spirit, in the form of a dove, confirmed the certainty of His words. Glory to You, Christ our God, who appeared and enlightened the world."

The Eastern tradition echoes the Western traditions theme of light for the feast of the Epiphany, except in the Western or Roman tradition, the light comes not from the Spirit at the Jordan, but from the star that lit the way of the Magi, leading them to Christ. The Western tradition celebrates, these next three Sundays three "epiphanies" of Christ into the world. First, today, the celebration of Christ's birth proclaimed in the star to all the nations. Next Sunday, we celebrate Christ's baptism, where the Spirit descends upon Christ, lighting up the waters of the Jordan and revealing Christ as the Son of God. Finally, the Sunday after the Baptism of Christ has as its Gospel the story from the Gospel of John of the wedding feast at Cana, in which Christ's power to work signs and wonders is revealed publicly.

Traditionally, in the Roman tradition, Epiphany has always celebrated the revelation of Christ to the Gentiles, represented by the worship of the Magi. The first reading today at Mass from the prophet Isaiah joyfully calls to Jerusalem: rise up! "Your light has come." All the nations of the world will come to Jerusalem. The second reading from Paul, the great Apostle to the Gentiles, features a portion of his letter to the Ephesians, in which he assures them that the Gentiles have been included in the promise of God's salvation, that they are, "coheirs, members of the same body."

The Church's Liturgy of the Hours emphasizes in its psalms and readings for today's feast this inclusion of the Gentiles—of all nations—into the promise of God's salvation:

May the kings of Tarshish and of the isles
render him tribute,
may the kings of Sheba and Seba
bring gifts.

— PSALM 72:10

January 6, the feast of the Three Kings, is celebrated in many Hispanic and Latin cultures with gift-giving, in commemoration of the kings who first brought gifts to baby Jesus, and with parades commemorating the journey of the three kings to Bethlehem.

On today's feast of the Epiphany of the Lord, may we learn to see Christ's presence radiate through our lives!


Image Credit: Jacopo Amigoni (Italian, ca. 1685 - 1752), Adoration of the Magi, first half of the 18th century, Oil on canvas. Raclin Murphy Museum of Art, University of Notre Dame. Gift of Mr. Fred B. Snite Sr., 1957.053.001.