January 6, 2025 – Epiphany of the Lord

+ From the Gospel according to Matthew (2:1-12)

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose, and have come to worship him.” When King Herod heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it has been written through the prophet: ‘And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.'”
Then Herod secretly called the wise men and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search diligently for the child. When you have found him, bring me word, so that I too may come and worship him.”
When they heard the king, they set out. And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising went ahead of them until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly. When they came into the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their own country by another way.

The Word of the Lord