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Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord, Cycle B

04 Jan 2015

SUNDAY SUMMARY Isaiah 60:1-6 Jerusalem is imagined as the splendid center of hope for all peoples. Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13 The heads of every nation will come to bow before the true God. Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6 What was once concealed in the past is now revealed by the Spirit’s grace. Matthew 2:1-12 The birth of Jesus sends ripples of consequence throughout the known world.

Isaiah 60:1-6 Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13 Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6 Matthew 2:1-12 Epiphany Sunday

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Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord, Cycle A

05 Jan 2014

SUNDAY SUMMARY Isaiah 60:1-6 Jerusalem is the splendor of nations because the Lord is radiantly revealed there. Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13 Even foreign kings pay tribute to the God who governs with justice. Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6 In Christ Jesus the hidden unity of humanity is made known. Matthew 2:1-12 Through a star the cosmos conspires to reveal the birth of Jesus to the nations.

Isaiah 60:1-6 Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13 Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6 Matthew 2:1-12 Epiphany Sunday

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Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord, Cycle C

06 Jan 2013

SUNDAY SUMMARY Isaiah 60:1-6 The post-exilic prophet re-imagines the original Isaiah’s universal message Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13 Foreign rulers will come to serve the one God in the time of justice and peace. Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6 Paul reveals the mystery that Gentiles and Jews together share the hope of salvation. Matthew 2:1-12 Foreign holy men come to do homage to the newborn king of the Jews.

Isaiah 60:1-6 Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13 Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6 Matthew 2:1-12 Epiphany Sunday

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Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord, Cycle B

08 Jan 2012

SUNDAY SUMMARY Isaiah 60:1-6 The third generation of Isaiah-prophecies foresees an era of international unity and peace. Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13 Justice and peace arrive, along with the obedience and submission of the world’s rulers. Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6 Saint Paul declares the happy partnership of insiders and outsiders in the fellowship of Christ. Matthew 2:1-12 A new era dawns as the kings of prophecy arrive in Jerusalem.

Isaiah 60:1-6 Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13 Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6 Matthew 2:1-12 Epiphany Sunday

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Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord, Cycle A

02 Jan 2011

SUNDAY SUMMARY Isaiah 60:1-6 The Lord’s city of Jerusalem will become the light of the world. Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13 The king will illumine the world with right judgment and justice. Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6 The mystery now revealed is the unity of the body of Christ. Matthew 2:1-12 Magi from the East follow a star into an unknown future.

Isaiah 60:1-6 Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13 Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6 Matthew 2:1-12 Epiphany Sunday

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Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord, Cycle C

03 Jan 2010

SUNDAY SUMMARY Isaiah 60:1-6 The wealth of nations will be brought to the glorified city of Jerusalem. Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13 Justice and profound peace will rule, and kings will bring tribute to the one God favors. Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6 God's grace is a stewardship given to those to whom the mystery is made known. Matthew 2:1-12 A newborn king of the Jews is troubling news to the current King of Israel.

Isaiah 60:1-6 Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13 Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6 Matthew 2:1-12 Epiphany Sunday

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Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord, Cycle B

04 Jan 2009

SUNDAY SUMMARY Isaiah 60:1-6 The whole people of Israel will become like light to the nations. Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13 The just king will receive the homage of many nations and peoples. Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6 Here is the revealed mystery: Gentiles become partners with Israel in the divine promise. Matthew 2:1-12 While the magi do homage to the newborn king, the present king broods and schemes.

Isaiah 60:1-6 Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13 Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6 Matthew 2:1-12 Epiphany Sunday

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Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord, Cycle C

03 Jan 2016

SUNDAY SUMMARY Isaiah 60:1-6 The once humiliated city becomes the shining beacon on a hill. Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13 The rule of the new king will extend from sea to sea and all kings will pay homage. Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6 The mystery once hidden is now revealed: God’s inheritance is wider than imagined. Matthew 2:1-12 Persian astrologers once again predict the coming of a great king in the Near East.

Isaiah 60:1-6 Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13 Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6 Matthew 2:1-12 Epiphany Sunday

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Follow the call to find Christ

Funeral, Sacrament-based, Holy Day, Holiday, Special Occasion - Sample homilies to be adapted for your use

Occasion: Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord Readings: Isaiah 60:1-6; Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6; Matthew 2:1-12 EPIPHANY: It means a "manifestation of God." In today's language, we use this word to describe an "aha moment"—a fleeting glimpse of insight in the midst of the everyday thoughts that come and go. In Matthew's beloved tale of the three astrologers from the East, we travel to Bethlehem in search of the child who would save us all. The beautiful truth contained in this passage is that our entire lifetime is a series of "epiphanies"—a continuous flow of revelations strung together by grace. We literally spend our lives finding the Christ in the most unexpected places and allowing those encounters to shape us and lead us forward in the spiritual journey to God who is the fullness of love revealed in that stable so long ago. The saints among us have always had an easier time finding Christ. These friends of God seem to see with new eyes, as the gospel writers did, through the lens of the Resurrection. Francis and Clare found Christ in all creation. Benedict and Scholastica found him in the Word and in community. Vincent de Paul and Louise de Marillac found him in the poor. And, more recently, Blessed Teresa of Calcutta found him in the dying and destitute. But what about the rest of us? We are spiritual works in progress. Sometimes, we know Christ when we see him. Often, we need time to reflect on our experience. We need to look in the rearview mirror, as it were, to know that we have been visited. Most days, we simply keep on moving, carrying gifts we're largely unaware of, believing that the meeting place lies far ahead of us in death. Nothing could be further from the truth—from the Good News that Christ is risen and lives among us here and now. As we celebrate this mystery of the "epiphany of the Lord," the church asks us to consider vocation. Within this mystery lies the essence of vocation—of God's call to each and every one of us. As we celebrate this mystery of the "epiphany of the Lord," the church asks us to consider vocation. Within this mystery lies the essence of vocation—of God's call to each and every one of us. Too often these days, we narrow the conversation around vocation to holy orders or consecrated religious life. As so many parishes, here and around the world, go without the celebration of the Eucharist, we cannot dismiss the finger of the Spirit pointing to the centrality of the Eucharist in the life of the redeemed and to the primacy of calling forth from among us those whose lives reflect something of Jesus to the rest of us. It is, therefore, the responsibility of the people of God to encourage and celebrate the priestly vocation in whomever it is found. Consecrated religious life—sisters, brothers, and priests who seek God in community and are inspired both by the gospel and by the good zeal of a founder—is as old as the church. It is a good life—wholesome and holy—for those who are called to live it. Religious are a minority within the church, and properly so. We are meant to be a mustard seed, a pinch of yeast leavening the dough. We are meant to suggest a way that is different from the world's way of living and offer spiritual support to the laity and to the hierarchy—to the church universal on its way to glory. That said, there are as many vocations in this assembly as there are people. The vocation of every Christian is to seek Christ and love Christ—in the husband, in the wife, in the children, in the elderly parent, in the friend, the lover, and in the enemy. We're called to seek him out in the Word of God proclaimed in the Sunday celebration—in the bread and wine that strengthen us for pilgrimage—and in the people behind and around this altar. Today's gospel could not make our true calling any clearer. We are to follow the star that goes ahead of us, the Word of God and the wisdom of the church. We are to go wherever it leads us—and especially where we would rather not—until it comes to a standstill where Christ rests, waiting for our "aha moment." And when we see Christ, the prophet Isaiah says, our hearts shall throb and overflow. We will bow in awe as the astrologers of old and open the coffers of our hearts. In that moment of recognition, we will give him every gift we have. May this sacred meal of Word and wheat and wine open our eyes to the real presence of Christ among us and make us ever grateful for the trail of epiphanies that will, if we allow them, lead us all to holiness.

Authors Vicki Ix

holy day/feast Epiphany Isaiah 60:1-6 Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6 Matthew 2:1-12 vocations

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Gifts given and received

Funeral, Sacrament-based, Holy Day, Holiday, Special Occasion - Sample homilies to be adapted for your use

Occasion: Stewardship Readings: Readings for Epiphany: Isaiah 60:1-6; Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6; Matthew 2:1-12 I DON'T KNOW if it happened again this Christmas season, but for many years in the Kansas City area a "Secret Santa" has sought out people who are down on their luck and quietly slipped them an envelope with a crisp $100 bill tucked inside. The people are usually astonished at this unmerited act of generosity. Many stand there with tears in their eyes, wondering what brought about this good fortune. A few years ago, someone tracked down this Secret Santa and asked him, "Why do you do this?" It turns out the man is prosperous in business. But that wasn't always the case. Back in 1971 he was an out-of-work salesman who was reduced to living out of his car. One morning, when he hadn't eaten for two days, he walked into a diner in Houston, Mississippi. And though he had just a single dime in his pocket, he ordered a huge breakfast and ate every morsel. All the while he wondered nervously what he would do when it came time to pay. When the check came, he fumbled around, pretending he'd lost his wallet. The owner of the diner had already sized him up, however, and came around the counter. The owner bent to the ground as if to pick something up and said, "Here, you must have dropped this." And he handed the man a $20 bill. The man never forgot this totally undeserved act of generosity and goodness, and now he makes a point of "doing unto others as some generous soul had done unto him." Let me suggest that before you set goals for giving, you begin by simply appreciating all the gifts you've been given. Today we celebrate Epiphany, which is all about giving and receiving gifts. Perhaps the most obvious gifts in today's gospel are the ones the Magi gave to Jesus: gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Yet if we ask, "Why were the Magi so generous?" the answer is the same as with our Secret Santa. Their generosity was simply a natural response to gifts that they'd previously received—gifts like their deep longing for God, the arrival of a star to guide them on their way, the perseverance not to be distracted by Herod's halls of power, and the courage to follow their journey to the remote place where Jesus lay. And when they arrived at the stable in Bethlehem, they received the perfect gift: an encounter with the Son of God. We've all just enjoyed (or at least survived) our annual season of gift-giving and -receiving. But perhaps there are gifts we've given and received that we may have overlooked. Maybe you gave the gift of attention to someone who is lonely, or courage to someone in despair, or joy to someone who has simply been too serious for too long. Or maybe you were the recipient of such gifts. The truth is that we are all given amazing gifts each day, and each day we have the opportunity to share our blessings with others. Perhaps we can think of the Magi as patron saints of stewardship because they offer a clear example of giving that flows from appreciation for gifts given. When they gave, it wasn't because of guilt. They didn't give to gain favor, or positions of power. They gave freely, because they had received freely. They sought the source of goodness and blessings in their own life, and when they arrived at Jesus' feet, they responded with all that they had. As we start a new year, a time when people take stock, set goals, and make resolutions, I invite you to think today about stewardship—about the contributions of time, talent, and treasure you might want to make in this new year. And let me suggest that before you set goals for giving, you begin by simply appreciating all the gifts you've been given. This exercise is not meant to make you feel guilty but to help you realize that when it comes to participating in the life of God, giving and receiving are all part of the same flow of God's love outward to the world. The heart of all stewardship is to experience what the Magi experienced: changed lives—reoriented and refocused lives; lives with purpose, clarity, and the knowledge that when we honestly follow God's ways, we will be met and fed by Jesus. In our yearning, wandering, and deep-down hunger, we are led to Christ. And from then on, like the Magi, we have a new way to get home—where our needs are met and our hungers satisfied.

Authors Tom McGrath

Special occasion stewardship Epiphany Isaiah 60:1-6 Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6 Matthew 2:1-12

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