SOLEMNITY OF THE EPIPHANY (A, B, C) Lectionary #20
A further reflection of the meaning of Christmas: Christ is the light and the savior of the whole world. He came from the Jews and fulfilled Israel's hopes for salvation from God. But—a point that was strongly contested in the early church—salvation is not limited to the Jews. It is for everyone.
Isaiah 60:1-6. God is compared to the sun dawning over Jerusalem, which will draw all nations (and the wealth of the nations) to a city that lies, as the prophet speaks, in ruins. The gifts of the nations are echoed in the Gospel text.
Psalm of the Day: Ps (71) 72
A psalm composed in praise of a new royal heir in the house of David. The church has used this psalm to honor Christ as the king of kings, lord over all the nations.
Every Nation on Earth (Joncas) GC 46/RS 102
Lord, Every Nation on Earth (Cooney) GP 220
Lord, Every Nation on Earth (Gelineau/Proulx) WOR 784/LPGG 786
Lord, Every Nation on Earth (Guimont) GC 944/LPMG 20
Lord, Every Nation on Earth (Harbor) LMGM 506
Lord, Every Nation on Earth (Haugen) PCY1 16/RS 103
Lord, Every Nation on Earth (Kasbohm) PMB 575/WS 69/PRM A13
Lord, Every Nation on Earth (Peloquin) SI 26
Lord, Every Nation on Earth (Schiavone) JS 898/LP 29
Lord, Every Nation on Earth (Willcock) PFS 10
Lord, Every Nation on Earth (Young) CBW 37
Lord, Every Nation on Earth/Se Postrarán ante Tí (Schiavone) SS
Se Postrarán ante Ti/Every Nation upon the Earth (Cortez) FYC 219
Se Postrarán ante Ti, Señor (Grajeda) FYC 218
Ephesians 3:2-3, 5-6. This announcement is what makes it possible for most of us to be Christian: God's plan is that “the Gentiles are coheirs [with the Jews], members of the same body, and copartners in the promise of Christ Jesus.”
Matthew 2:1-12. The story of the “magi from the east” puts in graphic form the Christian belief that the meaning of Christmas is for the nations; it is not limited to one group of people or one country. It also shows how the presence of Christ causes division: It makes some people (Herod) fearful; it leads others (the magi) to rejoice. The tradition that there were three magi comes from the fact that the text describes three gifts that the magi offer.
Songs for the Liturgy
All the Ends of the Earth B Dufford (1) GP 683/MI‑BB/GC 526/JS 595
*Angel Voices Richly Blending (G) WOR 395
*Angels, from the Realms of Glory (G) WOR 377/JS 367/WC 464/LMGM 18/BB/GC 369/RS 508/GP 335/PMB 202/SS
*Arise and Shine (1) CBW 341
*Arise, Shine Forth (1) CBW 342
*Arise, Your Light Has Come (1) CBW 302
*As with Gladness Men of Old (G) WOR 409/CBW 343/GP 339/BB/JS 369/WC 494/GC 384/RS 534/WS 373/PMB 226/SS
*Brightest and Best (1) RS 533
Epiphany Carol (G) GC 386/SS
*Famed Though the World=s Great Cities Be (G) HG 119
From All That Dwell below the Skies (Ps,2) WOR 521/MI‑BB/JS 603/WC 886/GP 682/WS 656/PMB 483/SS
Good Christian Friends, Rejoice (G) WOR 391/WC 469/CBW 322/RS 518/GC 367/BB/JS 346/GP 319/WS 370/PMB 198/SS
*Hail to the Lord's Anointed (Ps) WC 495/PMB 225/SS
How Brightly Beams the Morning Star (1) WOR 389/WC 496
In the Bleak Midwinter (G) WC 472/PMB 206/JS 371
In the Darkness Shines the Splendor (1) CBW 346
Jesus Shall Reign (Ps) WOR 492/WC 706/RS 631/WS 511/PMB 362/JS 479
Lord, Today (1) GP 338/GC 385/RS 536/WS 311
*O Star of Christ's Appearing (G) CBW 347
Of the Father's Love Begotten (1) WOR 398/CBW 330/BB/JS 349/WC 484/GC 374/RS 510/PMB 211/SS
One Bread, One Body (2) GP 499/JS 820/GC 813/LMGM 139/MI‑BB/WC 626/RS 915/WS 444
*Sing We Now of Christmas, vss 4‑5 (G) WC 492
*Sion, Sing! (1) RS 532
*Songs of Thankfulness and Praise (G) WOR 410/CBW 348/BB/JS 368/WC 497/GC 383/RS 529/WS 374/PMB 224/SS
*The First Nowell (G) WOR 408/GP 334/LMGM 28/BB/JS 363/CBW 344/WC 463/GC 388/RS 537/WS 358/PMB 222/SS
The Lord Is Come (1) GP 326
The Virgin Mary Had a Baby Boy (G) GC 378/RS 501
*'Twas in the Moon of Wintertime (G) WOR 380/CBW 337
*We Three Kings (G) WOR 406/GP 333/LMGM 27/JS 364/BB/JS 218/WC 498/GC 382/RS 535/WS 372/PMB 223/SS
*What Child Is This, v 3 (G) WOR 411/CBW 338/GP 337/LMGM 29/JS 365/WC 499/BB/GC 387/RS 530/WS 362/PMB 216/SS
*What Star Is This (G) WOR 407/CBW 349/BB/JS 370/WC 500/BB 119/GC 389/RS 531/PMB 227
Wonderful and Great, v 4 (1,Ps,G) WC 904/PMB 499
You Are the Voice (1) GC 538/RS 659/CBW 576