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| "The Magi in the House of Herod" -- by James Tissot |
FIRST
READING: Isaiah
60:1-6
1
Arise, be enlightened, O Jerusalem: for thy light is come, and the
glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.
2
For behold darkness shall cover the earth, and a mist the people: but
the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon
thee.
3
And the Gentiles shall walk in thy light, and kings in the brightness
of thy rising.
4
Lift up thy eyes round about, and see: all these are gathered
together, they are come to thee: thy sons shall come from afar, and
thy daughters shall rise up at thy side.
5
Then shalt thou see, and abound, and thy heart shall wonder and be
enlarged, when the multitude of the sea shall be converted to thee,
the. strength of the Gentiles shall come to thee.
6
The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Madian
and Epha: all they from Saba shall come, bringing gold and
frankincense: and shewing forth praise to the Lord.
PSALM:
Psalms 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-13
1
A psalm on Solomon.
2
Give to the king thy judgment, O God: and to the king's son thy
justice: To judge thy people with justice, and thy poor with
judgment.
7
In his days shall justice spring up, and abundance of peace, till the
moon be taken sway.
8
And he shall rule from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends
of the earth.
10
The kings of Tharsis and the islands shall offer presents: the kings
of the Arabians and of Saba shall bring gifts:
11
And all kings of the earth shall adore him: all nations shall serve
him.
12
For he shall deliver the poor from the mighty: and the needy that had
no helper.
13
He shall spare the poor and needy: and he shall save the souls of the
poor.
SECOND
READING: Ephesians
3:2-3, 5-6
2
If yet you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which
is given me towards you:
3
How that, according to revelation, the mystery has been made known to
me, as I have written above in a few words;
5
Which in other generations was not known to the sons of men, as it is
now revealed to his holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit:
6
That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and
co-partners of his promise in Christ Jesus, by the gospel.
GOSPEL:
Matthew 2:1-12
1
When Jesus therefore was born in Bethlehem of Juda, in the days of
king Herod, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem.
2
Saying, Where is he that is born king of the Jews? For we have seen
his star in the east, and are come to adore him.
3
And king Herod hearing this, was troubled, and all Jerusalem with
him.
4
And assembling together all the chief priests and the scribes of the
people, he inquired of them where Christ should be born.
5
But they said to him: In Bethlehem of Juda. For so it is written by
the prophet:
6
And thou Bethlehem the land of Juda art not the least among the
princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come forth the captain that
shall rule my people Israel.
7
Then Herod, privately calling the wise men, learned diligently of
them the time of the star which appeared to them;
8
And sending them into Bethlehem, said: Go and diligently inquire
after the child, and when you have found him, bring me word again,
that I also may come to adore him.
9
Who having heard the king, went their way; and behold the star which
they had seen in the east, went before them, until it came and stood
over where the child was.
10
And seeing the star they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
11
And entering into the house, they found the child with Mary his
mother, and falling down they adored him; and opening their
treasures, they offered him gifts; gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
12
And having received an answer in sleep that they should not return to
Herod, they went back another way into their country.
