Reading 1
Is 60:1-6

Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem! Your light has come,
the glory of the Lord shines upon you.
See, darkness covers the earth,
and thick clouds cover the peoples;
but upon you the LORD shines,
and over you appears his glory.
Nations shall walk by your light,
and kings by your shining radiance.
Raise your eyes and look about;
they all gather and come to you:
your sons come from afar,
and your daughters in the arms of their nurses.

Then you shall be radiant at what you see,
your heart shall throb and overflow,
for the riches of the sea shall be emptied out before you,
the wealth of nations shall be brought to you.
Caravans of camels shall fill you,
dromedaries from Midian and Ephah;
all from Sheba shall come
bearing gold and frankincense,
and proclaiming the praises of the LORD.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13

R. (cf. 11) Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
O God, with your judgment endow the king,
and with your justice, the king’s son;
He shall govern your people with justice
and your afflicted ones with judgment.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
Justice shall flower in his days,
and profound peace, till the moon be no more.
May he rule from sea to sea,

and from the River to the ends of the earth.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
The kings of Tarshish and the Isles shall offer gifts;
the kings of Arabia and Seba shall bring tribute.
All kings shall pay him homage,
all nations shall serve him.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
For he shall rescue the poor when he cries out,
and the afflicted when he has no one to help him.
He shall have pity for the lowly and the poor;
the lives of the poor he shall save.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

Reading II
Eph 3:2-3a, 5-6

Brothers and sisters:
You have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace
that was given to me for your benefit,
namely, that the mystery was made known to me by revelation.
It was not made known to people in other generations
as it has now been revealed
to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit:
that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body,
and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

Gospel
Mt 2:1-12

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.

Blessed be the most holy Name of Jesus without end!

January Devotion: The Holy Name of Jesus

The month of January is traditionally dedicated to the Holy Name of Jesus. This feast is also celebrated on January 3. Here is an explanation of the devotion.

Since the 16th century Catholic piety has associated entire months to special devotions. The devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus has been traditionally associated with the month of January, due to its celebration on January 3. The name Jesus was given to the Holy Child at God's command (Luke 1:31). The Holy Name is all-powerful because of the Person who bears it; we honor it because of the command of Christ, that we should pray in His Name and because it reminds us of all the blessings we receive through our Holy Redeemer. Hence St. Paul was able to write to the Philippians: ". . . at the name of Jesus every knee should bend of those in heaven, on earth, and under the earth" (Phil. 2:10). By means of this devotion we also make amends for improper use of the Holy Name.

Prayer Source: Prayer Book, The by Reverend John P. O'Connell, M.A., S.T.D. and Jex Martin, M.A., The Catholic Press, Inc., Chicago, Illinois, 1954

Prayer/Hymn in Honor of the Most Holy Name of Jesus - Iesu, Dulcis Memoria

Iesu, Dulcis Memoria is a celebrated 12th century hymn attributed to St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153), Doctor Mellifluus. The entire hymn has some 42 to 53 stanzas depending upon the manuscript. Parts of this hymn were used for the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus, which was formerly celebrated on the Sunday between the Circumcision and Epiphany, or failing such a Sunday, on January 2. The part below was used at Vespers. In the liturgical revisions of Vatican II, the feast was deleted, though a votive Mass to the Holy Name of Jesus had been retained for devotional use. With the release of the revised Roman Missal in March 2002, the feast was restored as an optional memorial on January 3.

Jesus, the very thought of Thee
With sweetness fills the breast!
Yet sweeter far Thy face to see
And in Thy presence rest.

No voice can sing, no heart can frame,
Nor can the memory find,
A sweeter sound than Jesus' name,
The Savior of mankind.

O hope of every contrite heart!
0 joy of all the meek!
To those who fall, how kind Thou art!
How good to those who seek!

But what to those who find? Ah! this
Nor tongue nor pen can show
The love of Jesus, what it is,
None but His loved ones know.

Jesus! our only hope be Thou,
As Thou our prize shalt be;
In Thee be all our glory now,
And through eternity. Amen.

---Roman Breviary

Prayer Source: Prayer Book, The by Reverend John P. O'Connell, M.A., S.T.D. and Jex Martin, M.A., The Catholic Press, Inc., Chicago, Illinois, 1954

O Divine Jesus, Thou hast promised that anything we ask of the Eternal Father in Thy name shall be granted.

O Eternal Father. In the name of Jesus, for the love of Jesus, in fulfillment of this promise, and because Jesus has said it, grant us our petitions for the sake of Jesus, Thy Divine Son. Amen.

Prayer Source: Prayer Book, The by Reverend John P. O'Connell, M.A., S.T.D. and Jex Martin, M.A., The Catholic Press, Inc., Chicago, Illinois, 1954

The Holy Name of Jesus

Devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus

The Holy Name of Jesus

From: Isaiah 60:1-6

A Radiant New Jerusalem

[1] Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has
risen upon you. [2] For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and
thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his
glory will be seen upon you. [3] And nations shall come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your rising.

[4] Lift up your eyes round about, and see; they all gather together,
they come to you; your sons shall come from far, and your daughters
shall be carried in the arms. [5] Then you shall see and be radiant,
your heart shall thrill and rejoice; because the abundance of the sea
shall be turned to you, the wealth of the nations shall come to you.
[6] A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian
and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come.

Commentary:

60:1-64:11 In the central section of Third Isaiah, the restored Jerusalem
has a wonderful radiance; it is the dwelling place of the glory of the Lord,
and from it all the nations will hear about God's salvation. These are
chapters that shine with hope and joy. In the opening verses, Jerusalem,
the Lord's spouse, is invited to leap with joy, for the glory of the Lord will
light up the holy city, which will become a beacon for the nations
(60:1-22). From there, too, the Lord's herald proclaims the good news of
salvation to the poor, the oppressed and all who labor under some burden
(61:1-11). The holy city will radiate righteousness for all the nations to
see (62:1-12). Finally, the Lord, depicted as a conqueror, enthroned in
a glorious Jerusalem, is proclaimed as the sovereign lord who wilt judge
and reward and punish (63:1-64:11).

60:1-22. These verses are a magnificent hymn to Jerusalem, complete-
ly restored, idealized; the prophet does not need to identify it by name.
The most remarkable feature of the city is its radiance, mentioned at
the start and end of the poem (vv. 1-3 and 19-22): it stems from the
glory of the Lord, who has made the city's temple his dwelling-place.
The city acts as a magnet for all the nations, not only because it ins-
tructs them by means of the Law and by the word of God, as we heard
at the start of the book (2:2-4; cf. Mic 4:1-3) but also because they are
in awe of its splendor. The central verses of the poem rejoice in the pil-
grimages that make their way to the holy city: first, those of Israelites,
who had been scattered across the world: the pilgrims are most happy
and they bear rich gifts for the Lord (vv. 4-9). Foreigners will come, too,
and they will bring precious materials to reconstruct and embellish the
city they previously destroyed. The obeisance they must do corres-
ponds to the harm they did earlier (vv. 10-14). But the most important
event is the arrival of the Lord who will bring gifts in abundance, the
most precious being peace (vv. 15-10) and light (vv. 19-22). This picture
of the new Jerusalem (one would expect) must have raised the spirits
of those engaged in the final stages of the rebuilding of the temple.

This poem clearly has resonances with the eschatological description
of the heavenly Jerusalem in the Revelation to John (cf. Rev 21:9-27).
Some of the wording is virtually the same: cf. v. 3 with Rev 21:24 ("By
its light shall the nations work; and the kings of the earth shall bring
their glory into it"); v. 11 with Rev 21:25-26 ("its gates shall never be
shut by day--and there will be no night there"); v. 14 with Rev 3:9 ("I
will make them come and bow down before your feet"); v. 19 with Rev
21:23 ("the city has no need of sun or moon to shine upon it, for the
glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb") and 22:5 ("night
shall be no more; they need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God
will be their light, and they shall reign for ever and ever"). The hopes
harbored by the early Christians (and the consolation to which the
new people of God look forward) are in continuity with the hope felt
by the ancient people of Israel. The message of Isaiah and that of
the book of Revelation were each (in different historical contexts)
calling for firm faith in the Savior of all. The New Testament fills out
the Old by openly declaring that God saves us through his Son,
Jesus Christ.

60:4-9. The pilgrimage described here comes from all corners of the
earth, and yet it is a familial one. It is made up of people who were
scattered throughout the known world, and not just those exiled in
Babylon. Those from the west come by sea (v. 5), bearing the sort of
goods normally transported by sea, particularly by Greek and Phoeni-
cian merchants. Those from the east, from the Arabian peninsula (Ke-
dar and Nebaioth) and further afield will travel in caravans bringing
precious commodities typical of the area--silver, gold etc. (v. 6).

The visit of the Magi, who came bearing presents to adore Jesus, is
in line with the sort of commerce that was current at the time, and it
is probably connected with this text of Isaiah. Certainly, when this pas-
sage is read in the liturgy on the Solemnity of the Epiphany, the impli-
cation is that those rich gifts brought to the temple in honor of the Lord
prefigure those that the Magi offered to him who is truly the "Lord your
God", "the Holy One of Israel" (v. 9). "Today, the wiseman finds lying
in a manger the One he had searched for as a brilliant light shining
among the stars. Today, the wise man sees wrapped in swaddling
clothes the One he long sought to find, unveiled, in the heavens. Today,
to his great surprise, the wise man discerns in what he studies: heaven
on earth, earth in the heavens, man in God, and God in man; what the
whole universe could not contain inhabits the body of a child. And
seeing all this, he believes and doubts no more; and he announces it
to all, using his mystical powers: incense for God, gold for the King,
and myrrh for the One who will die. Today, the Gentile who was once
last is first, because the faith of the wise man sanctifies the belief of
all the peoples" (St Peter Chrysologus, "Semones", 160).

And Eusebius of Caesarea comments: "The conversion of the Gentiles
glorifies the Church of God in a special way. The prophecy, 'I will glorify
my glorious house' [60:7], is fulfilled. This promise was made to the old
Jerusalem, the mother of the new city, who, as has already been said,
was the community of all among the ancient people who lived righteous
lives--the prophets and patriarchs, all just men, those to whom the co-
ming of Christ was first proclaimed" ("Commentaria in Isaiam", 60, 6-7).

Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.

Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland.
Reprinted with permission from from Four Courts Press and Scepter Publishers,
the U.S. publishers.

From: Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6

St Paul's Mission

(I am) [2] Assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God's
grace that was given to me for you, [3a] how the mystery was made
known to me by revelation, [5] which was not made known to the sons
of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy
apostles and prophets by the Spirit; [6] that is, how the Gentiles are
fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise
in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

Commentary:

1-21. Christ's saving work on behalf of the Gentiles, calling them to be,
with the Jews, living stones in the edifice of the Church, leads the Apos-
tle once again to overflow in prayer (vv. 14-21). But first he considers
his own position and what Christ has done in him by making him a mini-
ster or servant of the Mystery of Christ (vv. 2-13). He witnesses to the
revelation he himself has received, which made this Mystery known to
him (vv. 2-5); and he goes on to give a summary of the Mystery, empha-
sizing the call of the Gentiles to the Church through the preaching of the
Gospel (v. 6); he then explains that his mission is precisely to preach
the Mystery of Christ to the Gentiles (vv. 7-13).

1-4. What led to St Paul's imprisonment was Jewish charges that he had
preached against the Law and had brought Gentiles into the temple (they
thought Trophimus, a citizen of Ephesus, was a Gentile: cf. Acts 21:28f).
He did not mind so much the chains or the imprisonment or the Romans
being his judges and jailers: what he wanted to make clear was that he
was imprisoned for preaching to the Gentiles the salvation won by Jesus
Christ.

He is very conscious of being an instrument specially chosen by God:
he has been given the grace to reveal the "Mystery" (cf. Rom 1:15; 2
Cor 12:2f). He is clearly referring to the vision he had on the road to
Damascus (cf. Acts 9:2) and possibly to later revelations as well. His
encounter with the risen Christ, who identifies himself with his Church
(cf. Acts 9:5), is the origin and basis of his grasp of God's eternal plan,
the "Mystery", which is one of the central teachings in this letter. The
fact that Christ revealed himself to Paul and chose him to be the prea-
cher of the Gospel to the Gentiles is something which Paul sees as
part of the systematic implementation--the "oikonomia"--of God's plan.

5. In the Old Testament the promise made to Abraham revealed that
in his offspring all the nations of the earth would be blessed (cf. Gen
12:3; Sir 44:21); but how this would happen was not revealed. The Jews
always thought that it would come about through their exaltation over
other nations. Through the revelation Jesus made to him, St Paul has
discovered that God has chosen another way--that of bringing the Gen-
tiles into the Church, the body of Christ, on equal terms with the Jews.
This is the "Mystery", the plan of God as revealed by the mission Christ
gave his apostles or envoys (cf. Mt 28:19), of whom St Paul is one (cf.
3:8). Once again, as in 2:20, prophets are mentioned together with apos-
tles; this may mean either the Old Testament prophets who announced
the coming Messiah, or the New Testament prophets, that is, the Apos-
tles themselves and other Christians who had insight, through revelation,
into God's saving plans for the Gentiles and who proclaimed them under
the inspiration of the Spirit. The context and other passages in Ephe-
sians and elsewhere in the New Testament (cf. Eph 4:11; 1 Cor 12:28f;
Acts 11:27; etc.) would suggest that he is re- ferring to New Testament
prophets. The Holy Spirit has revealed the Mystery to them "that they
might preach the Gospel, stir up faith in Jesus the Messiah and Lord,
and bring together the Church" (Vatican II, "Dei Verbum", 17). St Paul
does not see himself as the only person to whom it has been given to
know the Mystery revealed in Jesus Christ. All that he is saying is that,
by the grace of God, it has been made known to him and that its prea-
ching has been entrusted to him in a special way, just as it was given
to St Peter to preach it to the Jews cf. Gal 2:7).

St Paul attributes to the Holy Spirit the revelation of the Mystery, recal-
ling, no doubt, how he himself came to know it after his meeting with
Jesus on the road to Damascus (cf. Acts 9:17). It is the Spirit also who
acts in the apostles and prophets (cf. Acts 2:17), and it is he who on
an on-going basis vivifies the Church, enabling it to proclaim the Gospel.
"The Holy Spirit is the soul of the Church. It is he who explains to the
faithful the deep meaning of the teaching of Jesus and of his mystery.
It is the Holy Spirit who, today just as at the beginning of the Church,
acts in every evangelizer who allows himself to be possessed and led
by him. The Holy Spirit places on his lips the words which he could not
find himself, and at the same time the Holy Spirit predisposes the soul
of the hearer to be open and receptive to the Good News and to the
Kingdom being proclaimed" (Paul VI, "Evangelii Nuntiandi", 75).

From: Matthew 2:1-12

The Adoration of the Magi

[1] Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of
Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem,
saying, [2] "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For
we have seen His star in the East, and have come to worship Him."
[3] When Herod the kind heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem
with him; [4] and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the peo-
ple, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. [5] They told
him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it is written by the prophet: [6] `And
you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among
the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will govern my
people Israel.'"

[7] Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from
them what time the star appeared; [8] and he sent them to Bethlehem,
saying, "Go and search diligently for the Child, and when you have found
Him bring me word, that I too may come and worship Him." [9] When
they had heard the king they went their way; and lo, the star which they
had seen in the East went before them, till it came to rest over the place
where the child was. [10] When they saw the star, they rejoiced excee-
dingly with great joy; [11] and going into the house they saw the Child
with Mary His mother, and they fell down and worshipped Him. Then,
opening their treasures, they offered Him gifts, gold and frankincense
and myrrh. [12] And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod,
they departed to their own country by another way.

Commentary:

1. "King Herod": four different Herods are mentioned in the New Testa-
ment. The first is Herod the Great, referred to in this passage and in
the next; the second, his son, Herod Antipas, who had St. John the
Baptist beheaded (Matthew 14:1-12) and who abused our Lord during
His passion (Luke 23:7-11); the third, Herod Agrippa I, a nephew of
Herod the Great, who executed the Apostle St. James the Greater
(Acts 12:1-3), imprisoned St. Peter (Acts 12:4-7), and died suddenly
and mysteriously (Acts 12:20-23). The fourth, Herod Agrippa II, was
Herod Agrippa's son. It was before him that St. Paul answered Jewish
accusations when he was a prisoner in Caesarea (Acts 25:23).

Herod the Great, who appears here, was the son of non-Jewish parents.
He came to power with the aid and as a vassal of the Romans. He was
a consummate politician and among other things he rebuilt the temple
in Jerusalem on a lavish scale. Herod the Great had a persecution com-
plex; everywhere he saw rivals to his throne. He was notorious for his
cruelty: he killed over half of his ten wives, some of his children and
many people of standing. This information derives largely from the
Jewish historian Flavius Josephus, who wrote towards the end of the
first century, and it confirms the cruel picture drawn in the Gospels.

"Wise men": these were learned men, probably from Persia, who de-
voted themselves to the study of the stars. Since they were not Jews,
they can be considered to be the very first Gentiles to receive the call
to salvation in Christ. The adoration of the wise men forms part of the
very earliest documented tradition: the scene is already depicted at
the beginning of the second century in the paintings in the catacombs
of St. Priscilla in Rome.

2. The Jews had made known throughout the East their hope of a Mes-
siah. The wise men knew about this expected Messiah, king of the
Jews. According to ideas widely accepted at the time, this sort of
person, because of his significance in world history, would have a star
connected with his birth. God made use of these ideas to draw to
Christ these representatives of the Gentiles who would later be
converted.

"The star had been hidden from them so that, on finding themselves
without their guide, they would have no alternative but to consult the
Jews. In this way the birth of Jesus would be known to all" (St. John
Chrysostom, "Hom. on St. Matthew", 7).

St. John Chrysostom also points out that "God calls them by means of
the things they are most familiar with; and He shows them a large and
extraordinary star so that they would be impressed by its size and
beauty" ("Hom. on St. Matthew", 6). God called the wise men in the
midst of their ordinary occupations, and He still calls people in that way.
He called Moses when he was shepherding his flock (Exodus 3:1-3),
Elisha the prophet ploughing his land with oxen (1 Kings 19:19-20),
Amos looking after his herd (Amos 7:15).... "What amazes you seems
natural to me: that God has sought you out in the practice of your pro-
fession! That is how He sought the first, Peter and Andrew, James and
John, beside their nets, and Matthew, sitting in the custom-house. And
-- wonder of wonders! -- Paul, in his eagerness to destroy the seed of
the Christians" ([St] J. Escriva, "The Way", 799).

"Like the Magi we have discovered a star--a light and a guide in the sky
of our soul. `We have seen His star in the East and have come to wor-
ship Him.' We have had the same experience. We too noticed a new
light shining in our soul and growing increasingly brighter. It was a de-
sire to live a fully Christian life, a keenness to take God seriously" ([St]
J. Escriva, "Christ Is Passing By", 32).

4. In all Jewish circles at the time of Jesus, the hope was widespread
that the Messiah would come soon. The general idea was that he would
be a king, like a new and even greater David. Herod's worry is therefore
all the more understandable: he governed the Jews with the aid of the
Romans and cruelly and jealously guarded his crown. Due to his politi-
cal ambition and his lack of a religious sense, Herod saw a potential
King-Messiah as a dangerous rival to his own worldly power.

In the time of our Lord, both Herod's monarchy and the occupying Ro-
mans (through their procurators) recognized the Sanhedrin as the repre-
sentative body of the Jewish people. The Sanhedrin was, therefore, the
nation's supreme council which ruled on day-to-day affairs, both reli-
gious and civil. The handling of the more important questions needed
the approval of either the king (under Herod's monarchy) or the Roman
procurator (at the time of the direct Roman occupation of Palestine).
Following Exodus 24:1-9 and Numbers 11:16, the Sanhedrin was com-
posed of 71 members presided over by the high priest. The members
were elected from three groupings: 1) the chief priests, that is, the lea-
ders of the principal priestly families; it was these families who appoin-
ted the high priest (the chief priests also included anybody who had
formerly held the high priesthood); 2) the elders, or the leaders of the
most important families; 3) the scribes, who were teachers of the Law
or experts on legal and religious matters; the majority of these scribes
belonged to the party or school of the Pharisees.

In this passage of St. Matthew only the first and third of the above
groups are mentioned. This is understandable since the elders would
have no authority in the matter of the birth of the Messiah--a purely
religious question.

5-6. The prophecy referred to in this passage is Micah 5:1. It is worth
noting that Jewish tradition interpreted this prophecy as predicting the
Messiah's exact place of birth and as referring to a particular person.
The second text thus teaches us once more that the prophecies of the
Old Testament are fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

8. Herod tried to find out exactly where the Child was--not, of course, to
adore Him, as he said, but to dispose of Him. Such was Herod's exclu-
sively political view of things. Yet neither his shrewdness nor his wicked-
ness could prevent God's plans from being fulfilled. Despite Herod's am-
bition and his scheming, God's wisdom and power were going to bring
salvation about.

9. "It might happen at certain moments of our interior life--and we are
nearly always to blame--that the star disappears, just as it did to the
wise kings on their journey.... What should we do if this happens?
Follow the example of those wise men and ask. Herod used know-
ledge to act unjustly. The Magi used it to do good. But we Christians
have no need to go to Herod nor to the wise men of this world. Christ
has given His Church sureness of doctrine and a flow of grace in the
Sacraments. He has arranged things so that there will always be peo-
ple to guide and lead us, to remind us constantly of our way" ([St] J.
Escriva, "Christ Is Passing By", 34).

11. The gifts they offered--gold, frankincense and myrrh--were those
most valued in the East. People feel the need to give gifts to God to
show their respect and faith. Since they cannot give themselves as
a gift, which is what they would wish, they give instead what is most
valuable and dear to them.

The prophets and the psalmists foretold that the kings of the earth
would pay homage to God at the time of the Messiah (Isaiah 49:23).
They would offer Him their treasures (Isaiah 60:5) and adore Him
(Psalm 72:10-15). Through this action of the wise men and the offe-
ring of their gifts to Jesus, these prophecies begin to be fulfilled.

The Council of Trent expressly quotes this passage when it underlines
the veneration that ought to be given to Christ in the Eucharist: "The
faithful of Christ venerate this most holy Sacrament with the worship
of latria which is due to the true God.... For in this Sacrament we be-
lieve that the same God is present whom the eternal Father brought
into the world, saying of Him, `Let all God's angel worship Him' (He-
brews 1:6; cf. Psalm 97:7). It is the same God whom the Magi fell
down and worshipped (cf. Matthew 2:11) and, finally, the same God
whom the Apostles adored in Galilee as Scriptures says (Matthew
28:17)" (Decree, "De SS. Eucharista", Chapter 5).

St. Gregory of Nazianzen has also commented on this verse, as follows:
"Let us remain in adoration; and to Him, who, in order to save us,
humbled Himself to such a degree of poverty as to receive our body, let
us offer not only incense, gold and myrrh (the first as God, the second
as king, and the third as one who sought death for our sake), but also
spiritual gifts, more sublime than those which can be seen with the
eyes" ("Oratio", 19).

12. The involvement of the wise men in the events at Bethlehem ends
with yet another act of respectful obedience and cooperation with God's
plans. Christians also should be receptive to the specific grace and
mission God has given them. They should persevere in this even if it
means having to change any personal plans they may have made.

Mass Readings

First reading	Isaiah 40:1 - 11 ©
‘Console my people, console them’ says your God. ‘Speak to the heart of Jerusalem and call to her that her time of service is ended, that her sin is atoned for, that she has received from the hand of the Lord double punishment for all her crimes.’ A voice cries, ‘Prepare in the wilderness a way for the Lord. Make a straight highway for our God across the desert. Let every valley be filled in, every mountain and hill be laid low. let every cliff become a plain, and the ridges a valley; then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all mankind shall see it; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.’ Go up on a high mountain, joyful messenger to Zion. Shout with a loud voice, joyful messenger to Jerusalem. Shout without fear, say to the towns of Judah, ‘Here is your God’. Here is the Lord coming with power, his arm subduing all things to him. The prize of his victory is with him, his trophies all go before him. He is like a shepherd feeding his flock, gathering lambs in his arms, holding them against his breast and leading to their rest the mother ewes.

First reading

Isaiah 40:1 - 11 ©

‘Console my people, console them’
says your God.
‘Speak to the heart of Jerusalem
and call to her
that her time of service is ended,
that her sin is atoned for,
that she has received from the hand of the Lord
double punishment for all her crimes.’

A voice cries, ‘Prepare in the wilderness
a way for the Lord.
Make a straight highway for our God
across the desert.
Let every valley be filled in,
every mountain and hill be laid low.
let every cliff become a plain,
and the ridges a valley;
then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed
and all mankind shall see it;
for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.’

Go up on a high mountain,
joyful messenger to Zion.
Shout with a loud voice,
joyful messenger to Jerusalem.
Shout without fear,
say to the towns of Judah,
‘Here is your God’.

Here is the Lord coming with power,
his arm subduing all things to him.
The prize of his victory is with him,
his trophies all go before him.
He is like a shepherd feeding his flock,
gathering lambs in his arms,
holding them against his breast
and leading to their rest the mother ewes.

Psalm or canticle: Psalm 103

Second reading	Titus 2:11 - 3:7 ©
You see, God’s grace has been revealed, and it has made salvation possible for the whole human race and taught us that what we have to do is to give up everything that does not lead to God, and all our worldly ambitions; we must be self-restrained and live good and religious lives here in this present world, while we are waiting in hope for the blessing which will come with the Appearing of the glory of our great God and saviour Christ Jesus. He sacrificed himself for us in order to set us free from all wickedness and to purify a people so that it could be his very own and would have no ambition except to do good. But when the kindness and love of God our saviour for mankind were revealed, it was not because he was concerned with any righteous actions we might have done ourselves; it was for no reason except his own compassion that he saved us, by means of the cleansing water of rebirth and by renewing us with the Holy Spirit which he has so generously poured over us through Jesus Christ our saviour. He did this so that we should be justified by his grace, to become heirs looking forward to inheriting eternal life.

Second reading

Titus 2:11 - 3:7 ©

You see, God’s grace has been revealed, and it has made salvation possible for the whole human race and taught us that what we have to do is to give up everything that does not lead to God, and all our worldly ambitions; we must be self-restrained and live good and religious lives here in this present world, while we are waiting in hope for the blessing which will come with the Appearing of the glory of our great God and saviour Christ Jesus. He sacrificed himself for us in order to set us free from all wickedness and to purify a people so that it could be his very own and would have no ambition except to do good.
But when the kindness and love of God our saviour for mankind were revealed, it was not because he was concerned with any righteous actions we might have done ourselves; it was for no reason except his own compassion that he saved us, by means of the cleansing water of rebirth and by renewing us with the Holy Spirit which he has so generously poured over us through Jesus Christ our saviour. He did this so that we should be justified by his grace, to become heirs looking forward to inheriting eternal life.

Gospel	Luke 3:15 - 22 ©
A feeling of expectancy had grown among the people, who were beginning to think that John might be the Christ, so John declared before them all, ‘I baptise you with water, but someone is coming, someone who is more powerful than I am, and I am not fit to undo the strap of his sandals; he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire. Now when all the people had been baptised and while Jesus after his own baptism was at prayer, heaven opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily shape, like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on you’.

Gospel

Luke 3:15 - 22 ©

A feeling of expectancy had grown among the people, who were beginning to think that John might be the Christ, so John declared before them all, ‘I baptise you with water, but someone is coming, someone who is more powerful than I am, and I am not fit to undo the strap of his sandals; he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire. Now when all the people had been baptised and while Jesus after his own baptism was at prayer, heaven opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily shape, like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on you’.

The Work of God

Year C

- The Epiphany of the Lord

Falling down they adored him; and opening their treasures, they offered him gifts; gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Matthew 2:1-12

1 WHEN Jesus therefore was born in Bethlehem of Juda, in the days of king Herod, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem.
2 Saying, Where is he that is born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east, and have come to adore him.
3 And king Herod hearing this, was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
4 And assembling together all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, he inquired of them where Christ should be born.
5 But they said to him: In Bethlehem of Juda. For so it is written by the prophet:
6 And you Bethlehem the land of Juda are not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of you shall come forth the captain that shall rule my people Israel.
7 Then Herod, privately calling the wise men, learned diligently of them the time of the star which appeared to them;
8 And sending them into Bethlehem, said: Go and diligently inquire after the child, and when you have found him, bring me word again, that I also may come to adore him.
9 Who having heard the king, went their way; and behold the star which they had seen in the east, went before them, until it came and stood over where the child was.
10 And seeing the star they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
11 And entering into the house, they found the child with Mary his mother, and falling down they adored him; and opening their treasures, they offered him gifts; gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
12 And having received an answer in sleep that they should not return to Herod, they went back another way into their country.

Inspiration of the Holy Spirit - From the Sacred Heart of Jesus

The Epiphany of the Lord - Falling down they adored him; and opening their treasures, they offered him gifts; gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

The Jewish people were expecting the Messiah for thousands of years.
However, my coming into the world was a humble event very obscure to them,
but for the light given off by a star.

I am the light of the world that came to give light to those in darkness. The people who had the light of God through the Holy Scriptures were living in darkness just as the rest of the world.

Only the humble servants of God and a few shepherds received the knowledge of my coming and participated in the coming of the great light that would overcome darkness.

In the same way three very special humble men were chosen from different cultures to perceive in wisdom the great event that was taking place, the coming of the Saviour of the world.

Just as the rain comes for the good and the bad, and the sun shines to virtuous and sinners alike, I have come for everyone. Every human being has been made in the image of God, but sin has destroyed that image. I am the Lord who forgives sins and restores the image of God in every person.

The enemy has always been around trying to destroy the work of God, Herod was preparing to destroy the New King, but the plan of God has always been superior to the plan of the wicked.

The three wise men represent all the peoples of the world, who live in darkness and need my light to survive spiritually. I accepted the homage of these three humble men who went out of their ways to give glory to God by accepting the coming of His Son into the world.

The offering of the incense represents faith in me, Jesus, the Son of the Living God.
This is the greatest gift any one can offer me. This I accept through your prayers and your acceptance of my Word and the Church I left to represent me.

The offering of myrrh represents the suffering that I endured and the sufferings that all those who believe in me must suffer for my sake. It is the cross, which is given to everyone of my followers and requires the acceptance of the Will of God.

The offering of gold represents the treasure of praise, adoration, honour and thanksgiving offered to me, your Lord, God and Saviour. It is the gift that I receive from every soul who appreciates that I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.

Author: Joseph of Jesus and Mary

Catholic homilies - gospel inspirations - list

The Faith and Reason of Truly Wise Men

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The Faith and Reason of Truly Wise Men

January 5, 2007

The term "epiphany" finds its roots in a word that means "manifestation." The Christ Child is manifested not only to Jewish shepherds, but to Gentile wise men, the Magi.

The story of the Magi reveals to us important symbolism, such as the significance of the gifts presented to Jesus, and God's desire to make Himself known not only to the Jews, but to all men. The Magi's quest to find our blessed Lord also demonstrates an often overlooked lesson: the importance of using one's faith and reason to know and love Jesus better.

The Magi probably weren't kings, but wise men trained in the science of the stars. They probably were persons of means, since they had time to study the stars and didn't have to concern themselves with the affairs of earning a daily wage. Their interest in the star that appeared in the East reveals to us the complementary nature of faith and reason. The Magi are drawn to Bethlehem in two ways. First, they are drawn by intellectual curiosity — they want to learn more about the star they had studied. Second, and more importantly, they are drawn by faith. Rather than simply study the star, they bring gifts to adore the newborn King in an act of faith.

This natural hierarchy that places faith above reason reminds us that objects of faith are more certain than objects of reason. That is why we can say that the articles of the Creed are even more certain than the simple proposition 2+2=4. Why?

Consider the source. God is the source and object of divine revelation, which the articles of the Catholic Faith express. Meanwhile, math equations are only propositions of the human mind, a far less reliable source of information and truth.

And yet the empiricist philosopher tells us to believe that x can only be true if it can be proven. Conversely, faith can't be true since it cannot be calculated. Thus, one's faith is no better than one's opinion — a merely private intellectual musing.

The classic Catholic position teaches the opposite. It says, "If God is the source of the proposition, then it must be true, and in fact more certain than anything the human mind can fathom on its own, because God can neither deceive nor be deceived."

Unfortunately, most persons in the West are taught to think, "If I can't prove it, it's probably not true" — or in moral terms, "If I don't understand or agree with the Church's teaching, the teaching is probably flawed and therefore does not bind me to obey."

St. Anselm contradicted this line of thought by asserting, "I believe so that I may understand." Keep in mind that for Catholics, faith and reason are not mutually exclusive. In fact, they should be thought of as two wings of the same bird lifting us up to discover and ponder the holy face of God.

In an age of skepticism, where the secularization of society makes faith and reason false opposites, the Magi teach us to appreciate the relationship between faith and reason. We have the capacity to use both gifts to understand better our God as He is, not who we want to make Him out to be so as to satisfy our curiosity or sense of security.

Let us heed the example of the Magi who, driven by faith and reason, were filled with joy when they discovered the Holy Family in Bethlehem.

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