Daily Gospel Reflection
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January 7, 2024
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.
Magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews?” I have asked a version of this question many times—particularly over the past 12 months.
When inundated with horrific images from Ukraine, Sudan, and the Holy Land; where is the newborn king of the Jews? When confronted by the many crises in our own country and trying to wade through the violence, poverty, and injustice; where is the newborn king of the Jews? When a neighbor, a friend, or a child suffers a terrible accident or receives a terminal diagnosis; where is the newborn king of the Jews? At times, we seem surrounded by pain and stuck in unending, enveloping darkness.
And yet, that darkness is not new. The world was just as cold, uncertain, and dangerous 2,000 years ago. So imagine the Magis’ excitement when they first saw the star rising. At last, the Lord was near to break through the bleakness, give hope to the hopeless, conquer cruelty and death, and give life everlasting.
But he lay hundreds of miles away, in complete vulnerability, past deserts and mountains, through thieves and soldiers and an evil king—a newborn baby, sleeping in the hay.
Epiphany is a celebration of the manifestation of Christ, where he quite literally shows himself to us. As Catholics, we are called to see him—even when our humanity inhibits understanding, despair clouds the way, or a journey is required.
The Magi rode and walked for days to see Jesus. They traveled to kneel before him, pay him homage, and rejoice in his presence. We are called to do the same—to follow the star, to center ourselves in faith, and to see the Lord, even in the midst of terror and heartache. Where is the newborn king of the Jews? He is here in our triumphs and tears, shining through the darkness and sheltering us in grace. Let us see him.
Prayer
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 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 (such as the one pictured below), 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.