January 4, 2014 The Epiphany of the Lord

First Reading

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 youand 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

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.

Second
Reading

Brothers and
sistersand 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 Spiritand that the Gentiles are coheirs,
members of the same body, and co-partners in the promise in Christ Jesus
through the gospel.

Gospel MT 2and1-12

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 new born 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 prophetand 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.