Saints + Scripture: The Epiphany of the Lord

The Popish Plot
"We Three (???) Kings"

'Tis the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord: Epiphany-link, Wikipedia-link Epiphany, & Wikipedia-link Magi.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

The feast commemorates principally (but not solely) the visit of the Magi to the Christ Child, & thus Jesus's physical manifestation to the Gentiles.

Quoth Minute Meditations from the Popes:

The Magi followed their star to present their gifts of gold, frankincense, & myrrh to the Child Jesus. Teach me to bring Him the gifts of my heart, hope, & love.

Scripture of the Week
Mass Readings—Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord
The Book of Isaiah, chapter sixty, verses one thru sixty;
Psalm Seventy-two (R/. cf. eleven), 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 story of the Magi told in today’s Gospel is a summary of the principal dynamics of the spiritual life. Watching the night sky with scrupulous attention for signs of God’s purpose, the Magi evoke the importance of alertness in the spiritual order. We must keep our eyes open to see what God is up to.

Once they saw the star, they moved, despite the length of the journey. Sometimes people know what God wants them to do, but they don’t act, either out of fear, laziness, or the influence of bad habits. The Magi teach us to move.

When they spoke to Herod of the birth of a new King, he tried to use them to destroy the baby. When you walk the path that God has laid out for you, expect opposition.

The wise men came to Bethlehem and gave the child their precious gifts. When you come to Christ, break open the very best of yourself and make it a gift for him.

Finally, they returned to their home country by another route. As Fulton Sheen commented so magnificently: of course they did; for no one comes to Christ and goes back the same way he came!

Video reflection by Father Greg Friedman, O.F.M. (U.S.C.C.B.): Daily Reflection.

Video reflection by Father Claude Burns (uCatholic): Weekend Reflection with Father Pontifex.

Audio reflection by Scott Hahn, Ph.D. (St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology): Breaking the Bread.

Papal Quote o' the Day

"Once a start led the Magi to set out on their journey to the Lord. And it may be that the star has not yet appeared in the sky that you see."
—Pope St. John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, feast day: 22 October)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"Coming from a land that worshiped stars… they fell down & worshiped Him Who made the stars."
—Ven. Fulton Sheen (1895-1979)

Chesterton Quote o' the Day

"They wandered forth from earth’s four corners far,
Following as the kings of old that star
That ever beckons souls to the unknown,
Because man cannot live by bread alone."
—Frances Chesterton (1869-1938)

'Tis still Christmas, which only begins—& does not end—on 25 December: Wikipedia-link Christmastide. Merry Christmas!