Stewardship of God’s grace

TODAY is Sunday, the 5th of January for the year 2010.

It is the first Sunday of the month as well as of the year.

This day the Catholic Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord.

The 1st Reading is from

Isaiah 60: 1-6. It says:

“Rise up in splendor!

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 median and Ephah all from Sheba shall come bearing gold and frankincense, and proclaiming the praises of the Lord.

Meanwhile, this Sunday’s Psalm is Ps No. 72, which says:

“Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.” Today’s 2nd Reading is from Eph 3:2-3a, 5-6. Brothers and sisters, you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to men for your benefit, namely, that the mystery was made known to me by revelation. It was not made known to human beings in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: that the Gentiles are co-heirs, members of the same body, and co-partners in the promise of Christ Jesus through the gospel.

This day’s Gospel is taken from Mathew 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 Messiah was to be born. They said to him: “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it has been written through the prophets. 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 beh0ld, 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 overwhelmed 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.

NB: Our thanks to St. Paul’s, the apostolate of priests and brothers of the Order of St. Paul. The ociety proclaims the Gospel of Christ through the media of social communications. We source the Word of God that we are sharing with our fellow faithful from their publication, 388 Days with the Lord 2020.