Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:
This feast commemorates principally (but not solely) the visit of the Magi to the Christ Child, & thus Jesus's physical manifestation to the Gentiles.Scripture of the Week
Mass Readings—Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord
The Book of Isaiah, chapter sixty, verses one thru six;
Psalm Seventy-two, verses one & two, seven & eight, ten & eleven, & twelve & thirteen;
The Letter to the Ephesians, chapter three, verses two, three(a), five, & six;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter two, verses one thru twelve.
Commentary: Reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):
Friends, the Gospel for the feast of the Epiphany contains some elemental theological themes. One of them has to do with the relation between Christianity and the nations.Video reflection by Father Greg Friedman, O.F.M.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
We hear something extraordinary. Magi from the East left their home country in search of a newborn king whose star they had observed at its rising. Why, precisely, would people leave their own country in order to worship a foreign king at his birth?
So this odd story should get our attention. Magi—kings, astrologers—seek out a foreign king who somehow, nevertheless, belongs to them. We’re actually coming close to the heart of the Biblical revelation. Of all the nations of the world, God chose to make of Israel a beacon to the world, so that through Israel all might be gathered.
Yes, a king would be born for the Jews, but he wouldn’t be for the Jews alone. This Messiah would be the King of kings, a light to all the nations. The Messiah, therefore, would represent the overcoming of the nations, the transcendence of the disputes between peoples and cultures that had so tragically marked human history, and the opening up of a new possibility.
Video reflection by Jeff Cavins: Encountering the Word.
Audio reflection by Scott Hahn, Ph.D.: Breaking the Bread.
†
Bible Study—Pauline Letters
The Letter to the Romans, chapter three (verses one thru thirty-one);
The Letter to the Romans, chapter four (verses one thru twenty-five);
The Second Letter to the Corinthians, chapter four, verses sixteen thru eighteen;
The Second Letter to the Corinthians, chapter five, verses one thru ten.
Commentary: The Jews & the Law (cont'd; Romans, 3:1-8), None Is Righteous (3:9-20), Righteousness through Faith (3:21-31), the Example of Abraham (4:1-12), & God's Promise Realized through Faith (4:13-25); & Living by Faith (2 Corinthians, 4:16-5:10).
Mass Journal: Week Two
Reflection by Matthew Kelly, founder of the Dynamic Catholic Institute:
There is genius in Catholicism, if we will just take the time & make the effort to humbly explore it. If you & i are not part of the solution, we are part of the problem. If sixty-seven million Catholics in the United States stepped it up a notch, something incredible would happen. So let's decide, here & now, today, to begin to explore the genius of our faith, to be part of the solution, & to step it up a notch.
Otherwise, 7 January would be the festival of Saint Lucian of Antioch, Priest & Martyr (circa 240-312), martyred in the reign of the emperors Maximinus II & Licinius, a victim of the Great Persecution: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Persecution.
Commentary: Wayback Machine.
'Twould also be the festival of Saint Kentigerna, Hermit (died circa 734, also spelt Caintigern, etc.): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.
Commentary: Sister of St. Comgan [27 February] & mother of St. Filian of Munster [20 June].
'Twould also be the festival of Saint Knud Lavard, Martyr (circa 1096-1131, Anglicized as Canute Lavard), Duke of Jutland/Schleswig; marytred by his cousin, Magnus the Strong, in the reign of his uncle, the king Niels of Denmark: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link.
'Twould also be the festival of Saint Raymond of Peñafort, Priest, O.P. (circa 1175-1275, Anglicized as Penyafort), co-founder, though he was a Dominican, of the Mercedarians, formally the Royal, Celestial, & Military Order of Our Lady of Mercy & the Redemption of the Captives: Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, Saint-link trēs, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link O. de M..
Saint Quote o' the Day
"Find at least one good point in the other person & build from there. An understanding love—a love that sees the good in others—will be your goal."
—St. Teresa of Calcutta (A.K.A. Mother Teresa, 1910-1997; feast day: 5 September)
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