January 5, 2014

Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord 
Lectionary: 20
Reading 1 IS 60:1-6

Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem! Your light has come,
the glory of the Lord shines upon you.

Isaiah comforts Jerusalem reminding them that they are God's chosen. This can also be understood as a prophecy of the coming of Jesus Christ to his people, the Israelites.

See, darkness covers the earth,
and thick clouds cover the peoples;
but upon you the LORD shines,
and over you appears his glory.

Although the darkness of sin covered the entire world, the Israelites walked in the light. They walk in the light of the Commandments, in the light of the word of God, in the light of his love.

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.

God led the Israelites and taught them his laws. The Israelites in turn were supposed to behave in a manner that would attract the entire world to God.   This finally happened when Jesus Christ came in the flesh and was sacrificed upon the cross.

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.

This happened to the new Jerusalem, the Catholic Church. The riches of the world have been poured into the Catholic Church's coffers. Those who have converted to the faith of Jesus Christ have gladly given their wealth to his church.

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.

Our Lord Jesus Christ has been revealed to the world. He is King of Kings and Lord of lords. In the end, the entire world will give him homage.

Reading 2 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.

I think St. Paul is here speaking of the sacrament of the Eucharist. He refers to his priesthood as the, "stewardship of God's grace". By the stewardship, he is empowered to call out God's grace through the sacraments. He makes reference to this mystery in another place,

1 Corinthians 11:23-26 (RSVCE)

The Institution of the Lord’s Supper

23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body which is for[a] you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

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.

I think St. Paul is here referring to Malachi. The prophet Malachi (as opposed to the St.) wrote a prophecy of the Eucharist in the Old Testament book by his name. He said,

Malachi 1:11

Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

11 For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name is great among the nations, and in every place incense is offered to my name, and a pure offering; for my name is great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts.

So St. Paul is saying that the prophecy was made known in the Old Testament. But it was not widely understood. Now, however, God has revealed this mystery in the person of Jesus Christ who died for the salvation of the entire world, including the Gentiles.

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.”

This is the beginning of the fulfillment of the prophecy that Jesus Christ would draw all men to himself. The Magi were wise men from the East. They were not Jewish.

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.

All Jerusalem with him – is a reference to all the Jews who were with King Herod. All these Jews were as troubled as King Herod because they did not want another King.

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.”

These Jews were learned men who knew the Scriptures. And they knew of the prophecy that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem.

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.”

King Herod tried to trick the Magi into leading him to the Christ child.

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.

After the Magi left King Herod, a star appeared before them and led them to the child.

Angels are frequently referred to as stars.

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.

It is widely known that Jesus Christ was born in a manger, which was in a stable, which was in a cave. However, the Magi found Jesus Christ in a house. This would indicate that the holy family had moved from the stable into a home or into the Inn which was attached to that stable.

The gift of gold represents Christ's kingship. The gift of frankincense represents his priesthood. The gift of myrrh anticipates his death and burial.

And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod,
they departed for their country by another way.

An angel appeared to the Magi in the dream and warned them to avoid Herod.