Sunday 4th January 2026. Sunday – Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord. Years ABC -

Sunday 4th January 2026. Sunday – Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord. Years ABC -

Readings for  - Epiphany of the Lord. Year ABC

FIRST READING: Isaiah 60:1-6

Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13. "Lord, every nation on earth will adore you."

SECOND READING: Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (Alleluia). 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 Illustration ID: 229407499 - Abstract background, Christian Christmas scene with a shining star in the sky, the birth of Jesus, and three wise men on camels, illustration. Illustration Contributor: losw

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Please listen to the audio recordings of the Mass – (Readings, prayers, and homily) for Epiphany of the Lord. Years: ABC - by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-ep-564-the/s-UGlbGTJO8U4 

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*Prologue (Fr Paul Kelly)
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 can't help but be struck by the disturbing irony in it. King Herod summons the wise men from the east. They come and listen to him.

 

They don't know him. They know he's a king, so they would presume that he was noble and gracious and had a concern for the welfare of his people. But he's not.

 

He's filled with hatred, selfishness, and jealousy. And he has murderous intentions. Herod manages to control all these emotions while he's talking civilly to the wise men.

 

He seems genuinely interested in the star, and the possibility of another king being born. But deep down he hates the idea and wants to destroy this new king. I also imagine he's choking on his words when he says, When you find him, tell me too, because I too want to do him homage.

 

As if he wants to do him harm. We the listeners and the audience of the Gospel drama know better. Herod hates Christ and rejects his kingship.

 

He's threatened by it. He wants to kill him. He might as well have said the truth, although that would have given the game away, by saying, When you find him, tell me too, because I want to go and do him in.

 

Which is really shocking. Herod wants nothing more than to kill our lord. He is a liar, a destroyer.

 

He wants to tear down, not to build up. To destroy and blot out forever the child who is actually the hope for and the light of all nations. Can there be any hatred greater than one who wants to blot out hope from the earth? For the sake of what? His own power? His own comfort? It's rather fitting that we're told in this passage that the wise men, after meeting Jesus, go home by another road.

 

It says they listened to Herod, but it's clear they didn't swallow everything he said, and they didn't give him what he wanted. Instead, they've been converted. They're different.

 

Changed. They're new men, in fact. They'll never go back the old paths.

 

It's all new, having met and discovered Christ, as it is for everyone who meets Christ, and really opens their hearts and minds to who he is. Those wise men will not go and tell this hateful King Herod about what they've seen and heard, but instead they resolutely go home by a new road. Their lives changed, to live the new reality of what they've experienced.

 

That's what each of us as disciples do when we meet Christ. We take a new road, and we never look back. In the gospel today, the wise men from the east ultimately find the King, whom they've been very carefully searching for.

 

Jesus, a humble baby, lying in the manger, not where you'd expect to see a King. He's found to be the revelation of God to the world, the light of revelation to all. The gospel today uses the quote from Micah, You Bethlehem are by no means the least.

 

This is really important, not only because 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. There's more than one revelation 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 that's wrong. They are in fact great, because it is through them that the Lord is coming to us.

 

The reaction of the wise men is interesting too, when they enter the presence of God, revealed in this humble baby in a manger, they immediately open up treasure chests filled with gifts. This should always be our reaction too in the presence of God. When we come before the Lord, when we come before Jesus, we too must open our hearts and offer God our gifts, our treasures.

 

The response of any 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.

 

But what are these gifts that we are laying before the Lord? Let's think carefully about what gifts we are presenting to Jesus for him to make use of, gifts God gave us in the first place. Let's take some time at the start of this new year to come into the presence of Jesus, who is the light of all nations, and to think individually about what gift we are called upon to present before the Lord, for the Lord to use and transform. That great first reading from Isaiah shows something really interesting too.

 

What is our response to seeing the revelation of Christ, who is the light shining in the darkness of the world? Our response should be this, arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon us. So when we encounter Jesus, we must become lights ourselves, shining, radiating Christ's light to everyone we meet too. 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 to all people so that people can experience Christ's light shining through us too. Today, on this Feast of the Epiphany, and every day after it, we kneel before the Christ Child, we bow and we give him tribute; we open up our treasure chests. What gift is it that I lay before my Lord? What gift is it that you lay before your Lord?

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References:

Fr Paul W. Kelly

Also: Mark Link: Vision – Year A

Gustavo Gutierrez: Sharing the Word through the Liturgical Year

Abbot's homily: http://www.christdesert.org

Image Credit- Shutterstock Licensed. Stock Illustration ID: 229407499 - Abstract background, Christian Christmas scene with a shining star in the sky, the birth of Jesus, and three wise men on camels, illustration. Illustration Contributor: losw

Epiphany of the Lord.   (Sunday, January 4, 2026)  (EPISODE: 564)
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (or/ The Lord be with You)
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{{Joy and peace to everyone}}

my brothers and sisters, to prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries, let us call to mind our sins.
Lord Jesus, the nations of the world are drawn to your light. Lord have mercy.
You are the radiant star of justice. Lord have mercy
You are the first fruits of the nations. Christ have mercy.
May Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.  Amen.
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Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13. "Lord, every nation on earth will adore you."

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (Alleluia). Alleluia, alleluia! We have seen his star in the East; and have come to adore the Lord.

Memorial Acclamation
3. Save us, Saviour of the world, for by your Cross and Resurrection you have set us free.
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PREFACE: Epiphany
EP II
Communion side.  pwk:  RH
(theme variation: v5 )
(pre+post variation: v1-lshort)
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{Thank you for your company as we have given thanks and praise to our God.}

Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord.

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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 homily audio podcast, please click this link.
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).

Sung "Mass In Honour of St. Ralph Sherwin" -  By Jeffrey M. Ostrowski. The Gloria,  Copyright © 2011 ccwatershed.org.

Christmas Hymn - "Word Made Flesh" by Paul W. Kelly. Based upon: John's Gospel 1:14,  1 John 4:9 , & Isaiah 9:2, 6, 7.
(Written on 8/5/20; 10/9/20).  Arranged and sung by Stefan Kelk, with adjusted lyrics.  2020. https://www.airgigs.com/user/stefankelk

Traditional hymn:
"We Three Kings," performed by the Bobby Cole Chamber Choir, licensed via Shockwave-Sound.com.
( https://www.shockwave-sound.com )


Sound Engineering and editing -  P.W. Kelly.

Microphones: -  SHURE MV5 usb

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 -  2026]
May God bless and keep you.