Gospel: Matthew 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.
The Gospel of the Lord.
The Mass intention is for the Intentions of all in Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Academy
Reflection:
The Nativity scene we have in church features the characters making up that holy event. During the last weeks of Advent, we used to see a stable with Mary, Joseph, some animals, and an empty crib. During Christmas Eve Mass, the Christ Child as well as the angel and shepherds are added. In today’s solemnity, the Magi are added. The Magi came to see Jesus “to do him homage”. In doing homage (or worship), they brought the Lord gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. St Odilo of Cluny explains these gifts: “To offer gold is to proclaim Christ’s Kingship, to offer incense is to adore his Godhead, and to offer myrrh is to acknowledge his mortality.” Just as the shepherds “returned,
glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen” (Luke 2:20), the Magi “departed for their country by another way”. The Magi were the last characters added in the Nativity scene, but that is not the end of it. We too are called to be part of that beautiful Christmas story. Having worshipped the Lord, we too must leave by another way.
- If you were one of the Magi, what gift would you offer the Christ Child and why?
- How can you become part of the Christmas story?
- How can Jesus help you travel a new way this New Year?
Lord Jesus, thank You for Your Word today. Strengthen us in our search for You. Open our hearts that we may worship You in spirit and in truth. Guide us to walk in the way of peace. Amen.
The Epiphany is depicted in a mural titled “Adoration of the Magi” in the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception at Conception Abbey in Conception, Mo. Painted by Benedictine monks in the late 1800s, the artwork is the first appearance of the German Beuronese style in a U.S. church. Christians celebrate the incarnation of the divine word — the birth of Christ — Dec. 25. The feast of the Epiphany is Jan. 2. (CNS photo courtesy Conception Abbey) (Nov. 8, 2004)