REFLECTION FOR TODAY
Christ, the Master of humility, manifests His Truth only to the humble and hides Himself from the proud.
-- St Vincent Ferrer
READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: Isaiah 60:1-6
(The Future Glory of Jerusalem)
1 Arise, shine; for your light is come, and the glory of Yahweh is risen on you.
2 For, behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the peoples; but Yahweh will arise on you, and his glory shall be seen on you.
3 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 themselves 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, and your heart shall thrill and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you, the wealth of the nations shall come to you.
6 The multitude of camels shall cover you, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come; they shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall proclaim the praises of Yahweh.
Psalms: Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-13
(A Prayer for the King)
1 God, give the king your justice; Your righteousness to the royal son.
2 He will judge your people with righteousness, And your poor with justice.
7 In his days, the righteous shall flourish, And abundance of peace, until the moon is no more.
8 He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, From the River to the ends of the earth.
Second Reading: Ephesians 3:2-3, 5-6
2 if it is so that you have heard of the administration of that grace of God which was given me toward you;
3 how that by revelation the mystery was made known to me, as I wrote before in few words,
5 which in other generations was not made known to the children of men, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit;
6 that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of his promise in Christ Jesus through the Gospel,
Gospel: Matthew 2:1-12
(Visitors from the East)
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 is born King of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east, and have come to worship him.”
3 When Herod the king heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
4 Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he asked them where the Christ would be born.
5 They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written through the prophet,
6 ‘You Bethlehem, land of Judah, Are in no way least among the princes of Judah: For out of you shall come forth a governor, Who shall shepherd my people, Israel.’”
7 Then Herod secretly called the wise men, and learned from them exactly what time the star appeared.
8 He sent them to Bethlehem, and said, “Go and search diligently for the young child. When you have found him, bring me word, so that I also may come and worship him.”
9 They, having heard the king, went their way; and behold, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, until it came and stood over where the young child was.
10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.
11 They came into the house and saw the young child with Mary, his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Opening their treasures, they offered to him gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
12 Being warned in a dream that they shouldn’t return to Herod, they went back to their own country another way.
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