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 72/GC2 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)   GC2 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/PRM B14
Lord, Every Nation on Earth (Peloquin)  SI 26
Lord, Every Nation on Earth (Schiavone)   JS 898/LP 29
Lord, Every Nation on Earth/Se Postrarán ante Tí (Schiavone)   SS
Lord, Every Nation on Earth (Willcock)  PFS 10
Lord, Every Nation on Earth (Young)  CBW 37
They Shall Adore You   PSL 24/SS
Se Postrarán ante Ti/Every Nation upon the Earth (Cortez)  FYC 219/Una Voz 195
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 in 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 astrologers) to rejoice. The tradition that there were three magi comes from the fact that there are three gifts.

Songs for the Liturgy

All the Ends of the Earth – Dufford (1)  GP 683/MI‑BB/GC 520/GC2 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 358/GC2 369/RS 508/GP 335/PMB 202/SS
*Arise and Shine (1)  CBW 34
*Sing We Now of Christmas, vss 4‑5 (G)  WC 492
*Sion, Sing! (1)  RS 532
Song of Gathering (1,2,G)   GC 740
*Songs of Thankfulness and Praise (G)  WOR 410/CBW 348/BB/JS 368/WC 497/GC 376/GC2 383/RS 529/WS/PMB 224/SS
*The First Nowell (G)  WOR 408/GP 334/LMGM 28/BB/JS 363/CBW 344/WC 463/GC 377/GC2 388/RS 537/WS/PMB 222/SS
The Lord Is Come (1)  GP 326
*The Magi Kings (G)   SS
The Virgin Mary Had a Baby Boy (G)  GC 345/GC2 378/RS 501
*'Twas in the Moon of Wintertime (G)  WOR 380/CBW 337/GC 361
*We Three Kings (G)  WOR 406/GP 333/LMGM 27/JS 364/BB/JS 218/WC 498/GC 373/GC2 382/RS 535/WS/PMB 223/SS
*What Child Is This, v 3 (G) WOR 411/CBW 338/GP 337/LMGM 29/JS 365/WC 499/BB/GC 380/GC2 387/RS 530/WS/PMB 216/SS
*What Star Is This (G)  WOR 407/CBW 349/BB/JS 370/WC 500/GC 378/GC2 389/RS 531/PMB 227
Wonderful and Great, v 4 (1,Ps,G)  WC 904/PMB 499
You Are the Voice (1)  GC 549/GC2 538/RS 659/CBW 576