The Epiphany of the Lord

Isaiah 60:1-6 (JB)

A reading from the prophet Isaiah

The glory of the Lord shines upon you.

Arise, shine out Jerusalem, for your light has come,

the glory of the Lord is rising on you,

though night still covers the earth

and darkness the peoples.

Above you the Lord now rises

and above you his glory appears.

The nations come to your light

and kings to your dawning brightness.

Lift up your eyes and look round:

all are assembling and coming towards you,

your sons from far away

and daughters being tenderly carried.

At this sight you will grow radiant,

your heart throbbing and full;

since the riches of the sea will flow to you;

the wealth of the nations come to you;

camels in throngs will cover you,

and dromedaries of Midian and Ephah;

everyone in Sheba will come,

bringing gold and incense

and singing the praise of the Lord.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Isaiah 60:1-6 (NRSV)

A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah

Arise, shine, for your light has come,

and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you!

For darkness shall cover the earth,

and thick darkness the peoples;

but the Lord will arise upon you,

and his glory will appear over you.

Nations shall come to your light,

and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

Lift up your eyes and look around;

they all gather together, they come to you;

your sons shall come from far away,

and your daughters shall be carried on their nurses’ arms.

Then you shall see and be radiant;

your heart shall thrill and rejoice,

because the abundance of the sea shall be brought to you,

the wealth of the nations shall come to you.

A multitude of camels shall cover you,

the young camels of Midian and Ephah;

all those from Sheba shall come.

They shall bring gold and frankincense,

and shall proclaim the praise of the Lord.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Ps 71:1-2, 7-8, 10-13 (JB)

R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

O God, give your judgment to the king,

to a king’s son your justice,

that he may judge your people in justice

and your poor in right judgment. R.

In his days justice shall flourish

and peace till the moon fails.

He shall rule from sea to sea,

from the Great River to earth’s bounds. R.

The kings of Tarshish and the sea coasts

shall pay him tribute.

The kings of Sheba and Seba

shall bring him gifts.

Before him all kings shall fall prostrate,

all nations shall serve him. R.

For he shall save the poor when they cry

and the needy who are helpless.

He will have pity on the weak

and save the lives of the poor. R.

Ephesians 3:2-3, 5-6 (JB)

A reading from the letter of St Paul to the Ephesians

The revelation means that pagans now share the same inheritance, that they are parts of the same body.

You have probably heard how I have been entrusted by God with the grace he meant for you, and that it was by a revelation that I was given the knowledge of the mystery. This mystery that has now been revealed through the Spirit to his holy apostles and prophets was unknown to any men in past generations; it means that pagans now share the same inheritance, that they are parts of the same body, and the same promise has been made to them, in Christ Jesus, through the gospel.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Ephesians 3:2-3, 5-6 (NRSV)

A reading from the letter of Paul to the Ephesians

Surely you have already heard of the commission

of God’s grace that was given me for you,

and how the mystery was made known to me by revelation.

In former generations

this mystery was not made known to humanity

as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets

by the Spirit:

that is, the Gentiles have become fellow heirs,

members of the same body,

and sharers in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Matthew 2:2 (JB)

Alleluia, alleluia!

We have seen his star in the East;

and have come to adore the Lord.

Alleluia!

Matthew 2:1-12 (JB)

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew

We have come from the East to worship the king.

After Jesus had been born at Bethlehem in Judaea during the reign of King Herod, some wise men came to Jerusalem from the east. ‘Where is the infant king of the Jews?’ they asked. ‘We saw his star as it rose and have come to do him homage.’ When King Herod heard this he was perturbed, and so was the whole of Jerusalem. He called together all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, and enquired of them where the Christ was to be born. ‘At Bethlehem in Judaea,’ they told him ‘for this is what the prophet wrote:

And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah

you are by no means least among the leaders of Judah,

for out of you will come a leader

who will shepherd my people Israel.’

Then Herod summoned the wise men to see him privately. He asked them the exact date on which the star had appeared, and sent them on to Bethlehem. ‘Go and find out all about the child,’ he said ‘and when you have found him, let me know, so that I too may go and do him homage.’ Having listened to what the king had to say, they set out. And there in front of them was the star they had seen rising; it went forward and halted over the place where the child was. The sight of the star filled them with delight, and going into the house they saw the child with his mother Mary, and falling to their knees they did him homage. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh. But they were warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, and returned to their own country by a different way.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Matthew 2:1-12 (NRSV)

A reading from the holy gospel according to Matthew

In the time of King Herod,

after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea,

wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking,

“Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews?

For we observed his star at its rising,

and have come to pay him homage.”

When King Herod heard this, he was frightened,

and all Jerusalem with him;

and calling together

all the chief priests and scribes of the people,

he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born.

They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea;

for so it has been written by the prophet:

‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,

are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;

for from you shall come a ruler

who is to shepherd my people Israel.'”

Then Herod secretly called for the wise men

and learned from them the exact time

when the star had appeared.

Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying,

“Go and search diligently for the child;

and when you have found him,

bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.”

When they had heard the king, they set out;

and there, ahead of them,

went the star that they had seen at its rising,

until it stopped over the place where the child was.

When they saw that the star had stopped,

they were overwhelmed with joy.

On entering the house,

they saw the child with Mary his mother;

and they knelt down and paid him homage.

Then, opening their treasure chests,

They offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod,

they left for their own country by another road.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.