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| "The Magi Journeying" -- by James Tissot |
FIRST
READING: Isaiah
60: 1 - 6
1
Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has
risen upon you.
2
For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the
peoples; but the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen
upon you.
3
And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of
your rising.
4
Lift up your eyes round about, and see; they all gather together,
they come to you; your sons shall come from far, and your daughters
shall be carried in the arms.
5
Then you shall see and be radiant, your heart shall thrill and
rejoice; because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you, the
wealth of the nations shall come to you.
6
A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Mid'ian
and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and
frankincense, and shall proclaim the praise of the LORD.
PSALM:
Psalms 72:
1 - 2, 7 - 8, 10 - 13
1
Give the king thy justice, O God, and thy righteousness to the royal
son!
2
May he judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with
justice!
7
In his days may righteousness flourish, and peace abound, till the
moon be no more!
8
May he have dominion from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends
of the earth!
10
May the kings of Tarshish and of the isles render him tribute, may
the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts!
11
May all kings fall down before him, all nations serve him!
12
For he delivers the needy when he calls, the poor and him who has no
helper.
13
He has pity on the weak and the needy, and saves the lives of the
needy.
SECOND
READING: Ephesians
3: 2 - 3, 5 - 6
2
assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace that
was given to me for you,
3
how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written
briefly.
5
which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as
it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the
Spirit;
6
that is, how the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body,
and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
GOSPEL:
Matthew 2:
1 - 12
1
Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod
the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying,
2
"Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we have
seen his star in the East, and have come to worship him."
3
When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem
with him;
4
and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he
inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
5
They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it is written by
the prophet:
6
`And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least
among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will
govern my people Israel.'"
7
Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them
what time the star appeared;
8
and he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently
for the child, and when you have found him bring me word, that I too
may come and worship him."
9
When they had heard the king they went their way; and lo, the star
which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came to
rest over the place where the child was.
10
When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy;
11
and going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and
they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they
offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.
12
And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to
their own country by another way.
