January 6 // Solemnity of the Epiphany

Reading I: Isaiah 60:1-6
Responsorial Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13
Reading II: Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6
Gospel: Matthew 2:1-12

We all know the song The Twelve Days of Christmas. Epiphany comes at the end of those twelve days, traditionally falling on January 6th. Epiphany means “appearance” or “manifestation,” so we could say that the twelve days of Christmas are building up to a climax, to a unique and wonderful appearance.

In ancient times the appearance of a star meant that there was a new king on earth. And the Magi said that they had come to Bethlehem looking for “the newborn King of the Jews”.

But why the Magi? Why did these astrologers “from the east” come so far to find Jesus? Our second reading from the Letter to the Ephesians tells us “that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and co-partners in the promise in Christ Jesus…” ( Ephesians 3:6). The Magi were the first Gentiles to seek out the King of the Jews, and when they found him, they “did him homage.” We can join them, this Epiphany, in thanking God for coming to us as a child over two thousand years ago and for coming to us each and every day.

Sheryl Zabel Pastoral Minister, RCIA Director​​​​​​​