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 fufilled 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.

All Kings Will Bow (Hughes) PAS 68

Every Nation on Earth (Joncas) GC 72/RS 102

Lord, Every Nation on Earth (Cooney) GP 220/MI-BB

Lord, Every Nation on Earth (della Picca) PC3 48

Lord, Every Nation on Earth (Gelineau/Proulx) WOR 784

Lord, Every Nation on Earth (Goemanne) SMM1 26/SMM5 32

Lord, Every Nation on Earth (Harbor) LMGM 506

Lord, Every Nation on Earth (Haugen) PCY1 16/RS 103

Lord, Every Nation on Earth (Peloquin) SI 26

Lord, Every Nation on Earth (Proulx/Gelineau) WOR 784

Lord, Every Nation on Earth (Willcock) PFS 10

Lord, Every Nation on Earth (Young) CBW 37

Se Postrarán ante Ti/Every Nation (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 "in Christ Jesus the Gentiles are now co-heirs with the Jews, members of the same body and sharers of the promise."

Matthew 2:1-12. The story of the "astrologers 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 astrologers comes from the fact that there are three gifts.

Songs for the Liturgy

All the Ends of the Earth B Dufford (1) GP 683/MI-BB/GC 520/JS 582

*Angel Voices Richly Blending (G) WOR 395

*Angels, from the Realms of Glory (G) WOR 377/JS 202/WC 463/LMGM 18/BB/GC 358/RS 508/GP 335

*Arise and Shine (1) CBW 341

Arise, O Jerusalem (1) JS 217

*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 224/WC 498/GC 374/RS 534/WS 371

*Behold That Star (G) WC 499

*Brightest and Best (1) GC 379/RS 533/WC 765

City of God (1) GP 548/JS 561/GC 678/MI-BB/WC 767/CBW 345/RS 799/WS 557

*Earth Has Many a Noble City (G) JS 222

*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 447/WC 888/GP 682/WS 651

Good Christian Friends, Rejoice (G) WOR 391/WC 468/CBW 322/RS 518/BB 94/JS 213/GP 319/WS 369

*Hail to the Lord's Anointed (Ps) WC 494

How Brightly Beams the Morning Star (1) WOR 389/WC 495

In the Bleak Midwinter (G) WC 471

In the Darkness Shines the Splendor (1) CBW 346

Jesus Shall Reign (Ps) WOR 492/WC 716/RS 631/WS 509

Lord, Today (1) GP 338/GC 375/RS 536/WS 310

*O Star of Christ's Appearing (G) CBW 347

Of the Father's Love Begotten (1) WOR 398/CBW 330/BB/JS 200/WC 483/GC 351/RS 510

One Bread, One Body (2) GP 499/JS 668/GC 830/LMGM 139/MI-BB/WC 640/RS 915/WS 444

*Sing We Now of Christmas, vss 4-5 (G) WC 484

*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 223/WC 496/GC 376/RS 529/WS 372

*The First Nowell (G) WOR 408/GP 334/LMGM 28/BB/JS 198/CBW 344/WC 462/GC 377/RS 537/WS 356

The Lord Is Come (1) GP 326

The Virgin Mary Had a Baby Boy (G) GC 345/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 218/BB/JS 218/WC 497/GC 373/RS 535/WS 370

*What Child Is This, v 3 (G) WOR 411/CBW 338/GP 337/LMGM 29/JS 209/WC 501/BB/GC 380/RS 530/WS 360

*What Star Is This (G) WOR 407/CBW 349/BB/JS 221/WC 500/BB 114/GC 378/RS 531

Wonderful and Great, v 4 (1,Ps,G) WC 905