The Epiphany of the Lord. Year B - Sunday, January 7, 2024 (EPISODE:457)

The Epiphany of the Lord. Year B - Sunday, January 7, 2024
(EPISODE:457)

Image Credit- Shutterstock Licensed. Stock Photo ID: 2192215135. The American church in Paris. Stained glass window. Nativity. Adoration of the Child Jesus by the three wise men or Magi. France. 02-27-2020. Important information. Editorial Use Only. Photo Contributor: godongphoto

Readings for Sunday, 7 January 2024
FIRST READING: Isa 60:1-6
Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13. "Lord, every nation on earth will adore you."
SECOND READING: Eph 3:2-3a, 5-6
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (Matt 2:2). Alleluia, alleluia! We have seen his star in the East; and have come to adore the Lord.
GOSPEL: Matt 2:1-12

Image Credit- Shutterstock Licensed. Stock Photo ID: 2192215135. The American church in Paris. Stained glass window. Nativity. Adoration of the Child Jesus by the three wise men or Magi. France. 02-27-2020. Important information. Editorial Use Only. Photo Contributor: godongphoto
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Please listen to the audio recordings of the Mass – (Readings, prayers and homily) for The Epiphany of the Lord. Year B - Sunday, January 7, 2024, by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-sunday-the-epiphany-of-the-lord-abc-1  (EPISODE:457)

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This feast of the Epiphany and the accompanying readings for this weekend reveal Jesus Christ to be the King of all heaven and earth and the "light" to all nations and cultures. 

On this feast of the Epiphany, we celebrate that God's glory has been revealed to all the nations and not just the chosen people of Israel. People from every corner of the earth, of every nation and race. Generations of people. God's revelation, God's invitation, is for all people of all times and places.  

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Whenever I read this gospel passage…   I cannot help but be struck by the disturbing irony in it…..
 
King Herod summons the Wise men from the East…  they come to listen to him…. they don't know him,….. they know he is a King… they would probably assume he was a noble and gracious King…. but he is not… is filled with hatred and jealousy…. and murderous intentions….
 
Herod manages to control his emotions while consulting with the Wise men….. he seems genuinely interested in the Star and the possibility of a king being born………  I almost imagine he is choking on his words when he says…  "When you find him, tell me too…  because I too want to go and …..   do….. him………(ahem)…. 'homage'…… We, the listeners…. The audience to this Gospel drama…. Know better….  Herod hates Jesus… and rejects his Kingship….  And wants to kill him….     He might as well have said….      " (when you find him, tell me too…  because I too want to go and …..  'do him in' !!!).
 
Herod wants nothing more than to kill Jesus! he is a liar!     He wants to tear down, not build up! …. to destroy and blot out forever the child who is the hoped-for 'Light for all nations'…..  Can there be any hatred greater than one that wants to blot out HOPE from the earth……for the sake of his own power…  his own comfort????  It is fitting that the Wise Men, after having met Jesus, 'go home by another road' – it says they listened to Herod… but it is clear that they didn't swallow everything he said…..
 
Instead….  they have been converted… they are different….  changed……. New men… in fact… will never again be able to go down the old paths…   it is all-new, having met and discovered Jesus.   ….   They will not go and tell (hateful) Herod about what they have seen… but resolutely go home by a new pathway….   (their lives changed) to live the new reality of what they have experienced……
 
In the gospel today, the Wise Men from the East ultimately FIND the King for whom they had searched so diligently ……..   Jesus! ….   a humble baby lying in the manger… is found to be the revelation of God to the world…….  the LIGHT of revelation for all.
 
The gospel today uses the quote from Micah…. "you Bethlehem are by no means the LEAST"…. this is really important……    not only is Bethlehem FAR FROM BEING the LEAST of all cities… but this humble baby in a humble manger is not by any means the LEAST of all babies….  and the shepherds are not anywhere near the least of all people……   more than one REVELATION is going on here (for the eyes of faith to see!)…   The message is repeated in later sections of Matthew's gospel: (The wise men, and us too…  are being shown something deeply important…..)
 
….. at first sight, the 'poor and forgotten' of our society are insignificant….  but this is WRONG….  they are in fact GREAT… because it is THROUGH THEM. that the Lord is coming to us…….
 
The reaction of the Magi is interesting too……    when they enter the presence of God…  revealed in his humble baby in a manger… they immediately open up treasure chests filled with gifts……
 
This must always be our reaction, too, in the presence of God…..      when we come before the presence of Jesus… we too must open up our hearts and offer God our gifts……   the response of a person to the revelation of God's presence is one of openness, generosity and service………
 
The Magi… offered Jesus gifts of Gold (for Kingship)//, Frankincense (acknowledging Jesus as Priest and sacrifice)// and Myrrh (for burial- looking to the eventual death of the Lord on the Cross)//…….  We too come before Jesus and we too offer our gifts to the Lord…..
 
 What are the gifts that WE are laying before the Lord??…….   let us think about what gifts we are presenting to Jesus for him to use of……. Gifts God gave us in the first place.
 
 let us take some time, at the start of this new year… to come into the presence of Jesus……   the Light to all nations….. and think about what gift (individual to each of us)……that we are called upon to present before the Lord …..for the Lord to use and transform….. that great first reading, from Isaiah, also shows something interesting…  'what is our response to seeing the revelation of Christ… who is a light shining in the darkness of the world……"…  our response must be this… "arise…  shine… for your light has come,.. and the glory of the Lord has risen upon us…"…. so when we encounter Christ..  we must become lights ourselves…..  going out… to radiate Christ's light to everyone we meet……
 
This message reminds us… 'we must believe so that the world can begin to believe'   -  WE must radiate Christ's light to the world.. and all peoples…. so that people can experience Christ's light shining through us too.
 
Today…  we kneel before the Christ child…  we bow… and open up our treasure chests… what gift is it that we lay before our Lord…????
 
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References:
Fr Paul W. Kelly; 

Celebrating the Gospels. By Gaynell Cronin; 

Gustavo Gutierrez: Sharing the Word through the Liturgical Year

 

Vision – Praying Scripture in a Contemporary Way. Year A. Mark Link S.J., 55; 

Abbot Philip: Monastery of Christ in the Desert. http://christdesert.org

Image Credit- Shutterstock Licensed. Stock Photo ID: 2192215135. The American church in Paris. Stained glass window. Nativity. Adoration of the Child Jesus by the three wise men or Magi. France. 02-27-2020. Important information. Editorial Use Only. Photo Contributor: godongphoto.

To listen to the Sunday Mass each week (including homily) from Surfers Paradise Catholic Parish, please visit this link: Liturgy for you at Home (by SPCP) -  https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/tracks   
Also found at -   https://tinyurl.com/FHLpwk 

The Epiphany of the Lord. Year B  (Sunday, January 7, 2024)  (EPISODE: 457 )
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (or/ The Lord be with You)
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{{Hi}} welcome everyone, we gather -  Reflection upon God's word. On this The Epiphany of the Lord. Year B

Our God's love and mercy knows no bounds, and so let us recall our sins so as to worthily celebrate this Holy Sacrifice.
Lord Jesus, you came to gather the nations into the peace of God's kingdom: Lord, have mercy// You come in word and in sacrament to strengthen us and make us holy: Christ, have mercy//You will come again in glory with salvation for your people: Lord, have mercy.
May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.  Amen.
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Memorial Acclamation
2. When we eat this Bread and drink this Cup, we proclaim your Death, O Lord, until you come again.
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Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13. "Lord, every nation on earth will adore you."

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (Matt 2:2). Alleluia, alleluia! We have seen his star in the East; and have come to adore the Lord.
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PREFACE: Epiphany
Eucharistic Prayer II
Communion side.  pwk: 
(theme variation: 3 )

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{Thanks everyone, and have a grace-filled and compassion-filled week.}

Go in peace.(glorifying the Lord by your life)

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Archive of homilies and reflections:  http://homilycatholic.blogspot.com.au
To contact Fr. Paul, please email:  paulwkelly68@gmail.com

To listen to the weekly Mass and homily audio podcast, please click this link here:  https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/tracks

Further information relating to the audio productions linked to this Blog:

"Faith, Hope and Love - Christian worship and reflection" - Led by Rev Paul Kelly

Prayers and chants — Roman Missal, 3rd edition, © 2010, The International Commission on English in the liturgy. (ICEL)

Scriptures - New Revised Standard Version: © 1989, and 2009 by the NCC-USA. (National Council of Churches of Christ - USA)

"The Psalms" ©1963, 2009, The Grail - Collins publishers.

Prayers of the Faithful - " Together we pray" by Robert Borg'. E.J. Dwyer, Publishers, (1993). (Sydney Australia).

"Quiet Time."  Instrumental Reflection music. Written by Paul W Kelly. 1988, 2007. & This arrangement: Stefan Kelk, 2020.

Lenten Hymn: "Have Mercy"  Inspired by Psalm 50(51). Music by Paul W. Kelly. Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics by Stefan Kelk. 2020.

Sound Engineering and editing -  P.W. Kelly.
Microphones: - Shure Motiv MV5 Digital Condenser.

Editing equipment:    NCH software - MixPad Multitrack Studio Recording Software

NCH – WavePad Audio Editing Software. Masters Edition v 12.44

Sound Processing:  iZotope RX 6 Audio Editor

[ Production -  KER -  2024]

May God bless and keep you.
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