The WORD today reminds me that God is the God of everyone.
Nowadays,
people usually specialize. They find their own specialty, their own niche.
People with specialization usually get paid more. They are respected more. They
do not do everything well, they do not address a lot of concerns – but they do
something very well. The trend is being a specialist in something, and not be a
generalist. However, this is not the same with God. He does not specialize. He
is not the God of just one race or of one nationality. He is God of all.
God does not play favorites. He is fair to everyone. He
is the God of everyone.
Today we celebrate the feast of the Epiphany. It is the
manifestation of Christ to the gentiles (non-jews) as represented by the magi
or three wise men. During that time, it was believed that the Jews were the
only chosen people. They have favor with God. But Jesus’ coming changed that.
We see in the second reading that Gentiles (non Jews) are also coheirs now.
They are also members of Christ's body, of God's family. They are
included.
The first reading reminds us of God’s greatness. He
should be loved and worshipped by all. By everyone. In everywhere. That is what
he deserves. And that is what we should give him. It is a further strengthening
of God being God of all.
Jesus coming reminds us
that God is not just for the Jews. God is for all.
As we start the year, it is good to be reminded of this.
Sometimes, when we feel that our prayers are not answered, we feel that God
loves us less, or that God probably is not hearing our requests. We still have
unanswered prayers. There are things we are still praying for, we are still
waiting for. And sometimes, we ask prayers from other people who we think might
have favor with God. But we are reminded today that God Is for all. God is for
you and for me. We just have to trust in him. We just need to have faith.
Who is God for me? Is he someone near me and near my
life? Do I believe that he hears my prayers? Do I have a personal relationship
with him or is he too abstract for me? What is he telling me today?
May we start the year with the knowledge that I am
important to God, as much as with others. And may this move me to love him more
and encourage me to get to know him more.
Father God,
Thank you for today. Thank
you for another day to live. Thank you for another Sunday. Thank you for being
a God for everyone. Thank you for all the blessings. Thank you for being
generous. Lord, sorry for not trusting in you enough, especially when things do
not go as I am praying for. Sorry for forgetting how special I am and how much
you love me. Lord, I surrender all my concerns to you. And I have faith that
you would continue to take care of me and answer my prayers in your perfect
time. I pray that I would always remember your love for me, and that and I
would always feel how special I am to you. I will also do my best to know you
more so I can love and serve you the way you want to be loved and served. Amen.
Blessed Sunday!
In Christ,
-g-
January 5 2020
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The Epiphany of the Lord
Lectionary: 20
Lectionary: 20
Reading
1 IS 60:1-6
Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem! Your light has
come,
the glory of the Lord shines upon you.
See, darkness covers the earth,
and thick clouds cover the peoples;
but upon you the LORD shines,
and over you appears his glory.
Nations shall walk by your light,
and kings by your shining radiance.
Raise your eyes and look about;
they all gather and come to you:
your sons come from afar,
and your daughters in the arms of their nurses.
Then you shall be radiant at what you see,
your heart shall throb and overflow,
for the riches of the sea shall be emptied out before you,
the wealth of nations shall be brought to you.
Caravans of camels shall fill you,
dromedaries from Midian and Ephah;
all from Sheba shall come
bearing gold and frankincense,
and proclaiming the praises of the LORD.
the glory of the Lord shines upon you.
See, darkness covers the earth,
and thick clouds cover the peoples;
but upon you the LORD shines,
and over you appears his glory.
Nations shall walk by your light,
and kings by your shining radiance.
Raise your eyes and look about;
they all gather and come to you:
your sons come from afar,
and your daughters in the arms of their nurses.
Then you shall be radiant at what you see,
your heart shall throb and overflow,
for the riches of the sea shall be emptied out before you,
the wealth of nations shall be brought to you.
Caravans of camels shall fill you,
dromedaries from Midian and Ephah;
all from Sheba shall come
bearing gold and frankincense,
and proclaiming the praises of the LORD.
Responsorial
Psalm PS 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13.
R. (cf. 11) Lord,
every nation on earth will adore you.
O God, with your judgment endow the king,
and with your justice, the king’s son;
He shall govern your people with justice
and your afflicted ones with judgment.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
Justice shall flower in his days,
and profound peace, till the moon be no more.
May he rule from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
The kings of Tarshish and the Isles shall offer gifts;
the kings of Arabia and Seba shall bring tribute.
All kings shall pay him homage,
all nations shall serve him.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
For he shall rescue the poor when he cries out,
and the afflicted when he has no one to help him.
He shall have pity for the lowly and the poor;
the lives of the poor he shall save.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
O God, with your judgment endow the king,
and with your justice, the king’s son;
He shall govern your people with justice
and your afflicted ones with judgment.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
Justice shall flower in his days,
and profound peace, till the moon be no more.
May he rule from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
The kings of Tarshish and the Isles shall offer gifts;
the kings of Arabia and Seba shall bring tribute.
All kings shall pay him homage,
all nations shall serve him.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
For he shall rescue the poor when he cries out,
and the afflicted when he has no one to help him.
He shall have pity for the lowly and the poor;
the lives of the poor he shall save.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
Reading
2 EPH 3:2-3A, 5-6
Brothers and sisters:
You have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace
that was given to me for your benefit,
namely, that the mystery was made known to me by revelation.
It was not made known to people in other generations
as it has now been revealed
to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit:
that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body,
and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
You have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace
that was given to me for your benefit,
namely, that the mystery was made known to me by revelation.
It was not made known to people in other generations
as it has now been revealed
to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit:
that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body,
and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
Alleluia MT
2:2
R. Alleluia,
alleluia.
We saw his star at its rising
and have come to do him homage.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
We saw his star at its rising
and have come to do him homage.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel MT
2:1-12
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea,
in the days of King Herod,
behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying,
“Where is the newborn king of the Jews?
We saw his star at its rising
and have come to do him homage.”
When King Herod heard this,
he was greatly troubled,
and all Jerusalem with him.
Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people,
He inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea,
for thus it has been written through the prophet:
And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
since from you shall come a ruler,
who is to shepherd my people Israel.”
Then Herod called the magi secretly
and ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearance.
He sent them to Bethlehem and said,
“Go and search diligently for the child.
When you have found him, bring me word,
that I too may go and do him homage.”
After their audience with the king they set out.
And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them,
until it came and stopped over the place where the child was.
They were overjoyed at seeing the star,
and on entering the house
they saw the child with Mary his mother.
They prostrated themselves and did him homage.
Then they opened their treasures
and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod,
they departed for their country by another way.
in the days of King Herod,
behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying,
“Where is the newborn king of the Jews?
We saw his star at its rising
and have come to do him homage.”
When King Herod heard this,
he was greatly troubled,
and all Jerusalem with him.
Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people,
He inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea,
for thus it has been written through the prophet:
And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
since from you shall come a ruler,
who is to shepherd my people Israel.”
Then Herod called the magi secretly
and ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearance.
He sent them to Bethlehem and said,
“Go and search diligently for the child.
When you have found him, bring me word,
that I too may go and do him homage.”
After their audience with the king they set out.
And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them,
until it came and stopped over the place where the child was.
They were overjoyed at seeing the star,
and on entering the house
they saw the child with Mary his mother.
They prostrated themselves and did him homage.
Then they opened their treasures
and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod,
they departed for their country by another way.
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