One another, Epiphany

Epiphany A,B,C

January 05, 2025

Isaiah 60:1-6; Psalm 72(71); Ephesians 3:2-3,5-6; Matthew 2:1-12

Christ our Light has dawned upon the world. In joyful hope, then, let us pray:

-That, in our work and worship together, our Church and parish community may reveal God's living presence in our world: let us pray to the Lord.

-That all nations and peoples may walk together by the light of God's peace: let us pray to the Lord.

-That all Churches and faith communities may honor and respect one another as co-heirs and sharers of God's promise: let us pray to the Lord.

-That the happiness and love shared by families and households during this holy season may be celebrated in all seasons of the new year: let us pray to the Lord. -That all who are experiencing despair and pain may discover the peace and healing of the Shepherd of Israel: let us pray to the Lord. That all who have died in the peace of Christ [especially may live forever in the light of the Risen Messiah: let us pray to the Lord.

-That God will hear the prayers we now offer in the silence of our hearts Father, [Pause. . .]: let us pray to the Lord. ever present to your people in everything that is good, hear our prayers.

May your peace and justice be the star we follow in our lives' journey to your everlasting kingdom. We ask this in the name of your Light and Word to us, Jesus Christ.

References

-United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. (2025, January 5). The Epiphany of the Lord. USCCB. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/010525.cfm

-Cormier, J. (1995). Lord, Hear Our Prayer: Prayer of the Faithful for Sundays, Holy Days, and Ritual Masses.

One another, Christmas2

January 05, 2025

Sirach 24:1-2, 8-12; Psalm 147; Ephesians 1:3-6, 15-18; John 1:1-18

The Word of God has made his dwelling place among us. Rejoicing in his presence, let us pray:

That, in embracing the Gospel of Christ Jesus, we may be “holy and blameless in God’s sight” and worthy of our call to be sons and daughters of God: let us pray to the Lord.

That Pope N., Bishop N., Father N., and all bishops, priests, deacons, and ministers may be faithful and effective witnesses of God’s Word in our midst: let us pray to the Lord.

That the light of God’s holy wisdom may illuminate every land and nation of the earth: let us pray to the Lord.

That the spirit of Christmas peace may dwell within all hearts and homes in every season of every year: let us pray to the lord.

That the sick, the poor, the struggling, and the despairing will discover, in our compassion and care, the healing presence of God: let us pray to the Lord.

That all the faithful who have died [especially _________], may know the “great hope” to which we have been called – the eternal life of the Resurrection: let us pray to the Lord.

That the Father of enduring love will hear the prayers we now offer in the silence of our hearts [Pause...]: let us pray to the Lord.

Hear the prayers of the people you have called, O God of graciousness. Open our hearts and spirits to behold the great light of your enduring love that dawned upon the earth in the birth of your Son, Jesus Christ, your Word made flesh, in whose name we offer these prayers.

References

-United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. (2025, January 5). The Epiphany of the Lord. USCCB. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/010525.cfm

-Cormier, J. (1995). Lord, Hear Our Prayer: Prayer of the Faithful for Sundays, Holy Days, and Ritual Masses.

The Word today, Christmas2

January 06 - January 11, 2025

Monday 06 January

See special full-length notes

Isaiah 60:1-6 The ingathering of Israel is expanded here to all those who search for God. It is a thrilling reading, which has enriched how we imagine the Magi.

Ephesians 3:2-3, 5-6 Who is called into relationship with God? All of us, every human being without distinction. The revelation in Christ is an unveiling of God’s longing for us.

Matthew 2:1-12 How can we discover or rediscover God and Christ? Only by recognising that “you have made us for yourself and our hearts are restless until the come to rest in God.” The human condition may be s u m m a r i s e d a s “ t h e h e a r t i n pilgrimage.”

Tuesday 07 January

St Raymond of Peñafort

1 John 3:22-4:6 Something of the difcult situation of the Johannine community comes to expression here. Clearly, there has been a split over doctrine and there is great anxiety that the true believers might be “contaminated” by false teaching at the hands of false prophets.

Matthew 4:12-17, 23-25 Matthew “locates” the proclamation of Jesus with a mighty quotation from Isaiah. Following on the story of the Magi, we have a ringing afrmation of the inclusion of the Gentiles.

Wednesday 08 January

1 John 4:7-10 When we speak of the love of God, it could mean two things. The foundational gift is God’s love for us rst of all and in the strength of that love we are able to love in turn.

Mark 6:34-44 All the miracles are to be read at two levels. There is the level of a story in the life of Jesus. Then, there is the level of the story in my life today. Already, we hear echoes of the Eucharist in the telling: Jesus said the blessing; then he broke the loaves and handed them to his disciples. We are those disciples today.

Thursday 09 January

1 John 4:11-18 Continuing from yesterday, how could we best respond to God’s astonishing love of us? 1 John explores in a very helpful way the many dimensions of the love affair between God and us.

Mark 6:45-52 One more, the miracle story are to be read at two levels. This us true especially of the walking on them water. When the later community felt the absence of Jesus, this story served to remind them: ‘Courage! It is I! Do not be afraid.’ We are the same today: we too need this word of presence and encouragement.

Friday 10 January

1 John 4:19-5:4 How would you know your love of God was genuine? Here’s a practical test. The letter of John — highly spiritual — is also highly practical: man who does not love the brother that he can see cannot love God, whom he has never seen.

Luke 4:14-22 Today we hear Luke’s telling of Jesus’ visit to his hometown and synagogue. Again, Luke “locates” the proclamation of Jesus, using another mighty citation from Isaiah. There can be no separation of the Gospel and the social teaching Jesus — these are one and the same.

Saturday 11 December

1 John 5:5-13 Once again, some of the difculties of the community at the time of writing are evident: some were rejecting Jesus as the Son of God, denying at the same time the incarnation. With feeling and precision, the author appears for true orthodox belief.

Luke 5:12-16 Various skin diseases at the time were regarded not simply medically but also from the viewpoint of ritual purity. The victims of these complaints were excluded from the community and especially from the community at prayer. Restoration of health meant restoration to community too — hence the requirement to show himself to the priest.

References

-United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. (2025, January 5). The Epiphany of the Lord. USCCB. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/010525.cfm

-Sunday readings. (n.d.-s). Hearers of the Word. https://www.tarsus.ie/SundayReadings/