SOLEMNITY OF THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD - - (either on January 6 or 1st Sunday after 1st January) - Is-Solennità ta' L-Epifanija tal-Mulej

A Prayer for the Feast of Epiphany

Lord God of heaven and earth,

you revealed your only begotten Son to every nation

by the guidance of a star.

Bless this home and all who inhabit it.

Fill us with the light of Christ

That our concern for others may reflect your love.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

 

http://lourdesprayerrequest.com/epiphany_prayer

"...SEEK AND YOU SHALL FIND..." - Mt 7:7...

Isaiah 60:1-6

Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13

Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6

GOSPEL - Matthew 2:1-12

Readings in the Maltese Language:
Is-Solennità ta' L-Epifanija tal-Mulej

6 ta’ Jannar jew Il-Ħadd wara l-Ewwel tas-Sena

L-Epifanija tal-Mulej
Solennità

Qari I
Is-sebħ tal-Mulej jiddi fuqek.
Is 60, 1-6

Qari mill-Ktieb tal-Profeta Isaija

Qum! Ħa jiddi wiċċek!
Id-dawl tiegħek wasal!

Jiddi fuqek sebħ il-Mulej!

Ara d-dlamijiet jiksu l-art, u sħab iswed il-popli:

iżda fuqek jiddi l-Mulej, u s-sebħ tiegħu jfiġġ fuqek.

Il-ġnus għad jimxu fid-dawl tiegħek,

u s-slaten fid-dija tas-sebħ tiegħek.

Għolli u dawwar għajnejk madwarek u ara:

ilkoll miġbura ġejjin għandek.

Uliedek ġejjin mill-bogħod,

u bnietek iġorruhom fuq id-dirgħajn.

Imbagħad tħares u wiċċek jiddi,

u tħabbat u timtela qalbek,

għax fuqek taqa’ l-kotra tal-ġid tal-ibħra,

u l-għana tal-ġnus jiġi għandek.

Imrieħel ta’ iġmla għad jgħattuk,

l-iġmla żgħar ta’ Midjan u Għefa;

ilkoll minn Seba jiġu, mgħobbija bid-deheb u l-inċens,

u jxandru t-tifħir tal-Mulej.

 

Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

R/. Irroddu ħajr lil Alla

 

Salm Responsorjali

Salm 71 (72), 1-2.7-8.10-11,12-13

 

R/. (ara 11): Il-ġnus kollha tal-art jagħtuk qima, Mulej

 

O Alla, agħti lis-sultan il-ħaqq tiegħek,

il-ġustizzja tiegħek lil bin is-sultan,

biex jiġġudika l-poplu tiegħek bil-ġustizzja,

u bil-ħaqq l-imsejknin tiegħek. R/.

 

Tħaddar f’jiemu l-ġustizzja,

u sliem kotran sa ma jintemm il-qamar.

Isaltan minn baħar sa baħar,

u mix-xmara sa truf l-art. R/.

 

Is-slaten ta’ Tarsis u tal-gżejjer jagħtuh ir-rigali,

is-slaten ta’ Seba u ta’ Saba għotjiet iġibulu.

Iqimuh is-slaten kollha,

il-ġnus kollha lilu jaqdu. R/.

 

Għax hu jeħles lill-fqir li jsejjaħlu,

u lill-imsejken li m’għandux min jgħinu.

Iħenn għad-dgħajjef u għall-fqajjar;

il-ħajja tal-fqajrin isalva. R/.

 

Qari II

Issa ġie rrivelat li l-pagani huma msejħa biex ikollhom sehem mill-istess wegħda.

Ef 3, 2-3a. 5-6

 

Qari mill-Ittra ta’ San Pawl Appostlu lill-Efesin

 

Ħuti, intom smajtu bil-pjan tal-grazzja li Alla tani għall-ġid tagħkom, jiġifieri, li permezz ta’ rivelazzjoni għarrafni l-misteru. Dan hu l-misteru li fil-ġenerazzjonijiet l-imgħoddija ma kienx mgħarraf lill-bnedmin bħalma issa ġie rrivelat lill-appostli qaddisa tiegħu u lill-profeti fl-Ispirtu, jiġifieri, li l-pagani huma msejħa biex ikollhom sehem mill-istess wirt, ikunu membri tal-istess ġisem, ikollhom sehem mill-istess wegħda, fi Kristu Ġesù permezz tal-Evanġelju.

 

Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

R/. Irroddu ħajr lil Alla

 

Akklamazzjoni qabel l-Evanġelju

ara Mt 2, 2

 

Hallelujah. R/. Hallelujah

Rajna l-kewkba tiegħu tielgħa mil-Lvant,

u ġejna nqimu l-Mulej.

R/. Hallelujah

 

Evanġelju

Ġejna mil-Lvant nagħtu qima lis-Sultan.

Mt 2, 1-12

 

Qari mill-Evanġelju skont San Mattew

 

Meta twieled Ġesù f’Betlehem tal-Lhudija, fi żmien is-sultan Erodi, xi maġi mil-Lvant ġew Ġerusalemm jistaqsu: “Fejn hu dak li twieled sultan tal-Lhud? Għax rajna l-kewkba tiegħu tielgħa, u ġejna nqimuh”. Is-sultan Erodi sama’ bihom, u tħawwad hu u Ġerusalemm kollha miegħu. Ġabar flimkien il-qassisin il-kbar u l-kittieba kollha tal-poplu, u ried jaf mingħandhom fejn kellu jitwieled il-Messija. U huma qalulu: “F’Betlehem tal-Lhudija, għax hekk inkiteb mill-profeta: “U int, Betlehem, art ta’ Ġuda, le, m’intix l-iżgħar fost il-bliet il-kbar ta’ Ġuda, għax minnek joħroġ mexxej li jirgħa l-poplu tiegħi Iżrael”.

 

Erodi mbagħad sejjaħ lill-maġi bil-moħbi, u tkixxef bir-reqqa kollha mingħandhom iż-żmien li fih dehritilhom il-kewkba; bagħathom Betlehem u qalilhom: “Morru, staqsu sewwa għat-tifel, u meta ssibuh ejjew għiduli, ħalli jien ukoll niġi nqimu”.

 

Dawk, wara li semgħu lis-sultan, telqu, u ara, il-kewkba li kienu raw tielgħa bdiet miexja quddiemhom sakemm waslet u waqfet fuq il-post fejn kien hemm it-tifel. Kif raw il-kewkba mtlew b’ferħ kbir tassew. Meta mbagħad daħlu d-dar u raw lit-tifel ma’ ommu Marija, inxteħtu fl-art iqimuh; fetħu t-teżori tagħhom u offrewlu rigali deheb, inċens u mirra. Imbagħad, billi kienu mwissijin f’ħolma biex ma jerġgħux imorru għand Erodi, telqu lura lejn arthom minn triq oħra.

 

Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

R/. Tifħir lilek Kristu

 

https://loandbeholdbible.com/2018/02/22/the-adoration-of-the-magi-matthew-21-12/

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Mt 2:1-12 -- The Magi Visit the Messiah - Ġejna mil-Lvant nagħtu qima lis-Sultan - Solemnity of Epiphany

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Pope Francis: What should we give Jesus ? - Published on 6 Jan 2016

 

 

  

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The Poor and the Wise find Christ

 

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FEAST OF THE EPIPHANY

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Audio - Homily by Bishop Robert Barron - FOLLOWING THE STAR - 
Cycle C Christmas Epiphany
Solemnity of Epiphany, Jan 03, 2016
http://www.wordonfire.org/resources/homily/following-the-star/5033/

 

 

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The Light of the Nations

Cycle AChristmasWeek Epiphany

by Bishop Robert BarronJanuary 08, 2017

http://www.wordonfire.org/resources/homily/the-light-of-the-nations/5367/

 

 

 

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Christmas is not really complete until the Feast of the Epiphany. On the night of Christ's birth, how amazed Joseph and Mary must have been to hear the song of the angels, followed by a whole procession of shepherds from the fields. And now, some months later, they must have been just as amazed to greet these foreign visitors whom tradition names as Casper, Melchior, and Balthazar. As Joseph and Mary graciously accepted the precious gold, frankincense and myrrh which they brought as gifts, they must have realized that their Child was somehow meant for a mysterious destiny much wider than His homeland. The word epiphany (a showing forth) has many meanings connected to the word. It suggests a burst of light, a sudden revelation. In literature, it often means a bringing together of many seemingly unrelated incidents into a breakthrough of meaning that connects all the threads together.

In the first reading from Isaiah, we hear the prophet proclaiming to Israel that "Your light has come!" and, with even more startling news, "Nations shall walk by your light." In the fourth verse of the reading, the prophet foretells an event that was fulfilled hundreds of years later as the Magi knelt in adoration in Bethlehem. He says, "Raise your eyes and look about; they all gather and come to you." What? All nations shall come to little weak Israel?

St. Paul proclaims the same message in the second reading to the Ephesians: ". . .the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the Gospel." So the Magi had it right. By trusting in the star and obediently following its light, they will share also in the fruits of the saving grace Jesus will earn by His Passion and Death. The Gospel narrates how the coming of the nations was nearly frustrated by the deceitful scheming of a power-hungry King Herod.

From that time to the present, political, social, and even religious leaders have tried to prevent the nations from following the star and finding the rich treasures that the Prince of Peace has waiting for them. The Child who has come from the heavens with his saving truth and love will never rest until all the nations have come into His light.

Msgr. Paul Whitmore email: pwhitmore29@yahoo.com

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JANUARY 6 - before Epiphany - ( When EPIPHANY OF THE LORD is celebrated on Sunday 7th or 8th January )

Mass: Wkdays before Epiphany - Jan 6 Optn 3 - Wkdy
Readings: 
1st: 1John 5:5-13
Resp: Psalm 147:12-13, 14-15, 19-20 0
Gospel: luk 3:23, 31-34, 36, 38

Jan 06 - Homily: Genealogy of Jesus 

- Published on Jan 6, 2017

Fr. Ignatius explains the significance of the genealogy of Jesus and how Jesus was present at the first man Adam and throughout salvation history.

THE GREAT COMMENTARY
OF CORNELIUS À LAPIDE:
VOLUMES 1 TO 8
https://www.ecatholic2000.com/lapide/untitled-170.shtml

 

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(1) Alternative Gospel



Lk 3:23-38 -- The ancestors of Jesus - Ktieb in-nisel ta’ Ġesù Kristu, bin Adam, bin Alla.

 

L-antenati ta' Ġesù Kristu
(Mt 1, 1-17 )

EVANĠELJU
Ktieb in-nisel ta’ Ġesù Kristu, bin Adam, bin Alla.
Lq 3, 23-38

Qari mill-Evanġelju skont San Luqa

Fil-bidu tal-ministeru tiegħu Ġesù kellu madwar it-tletin sena. In-nies kienu jaħsbuh bin Ġużeppi, li kien bin Għeli, bin Mattat, bin Levi, bin Melki, bin Ġannaj, bin Ġużeppi, bin Mattatija, bin Għamos, bin Naħum, bin Ħesli, bin Naggaj, bin Maħat, bin Mattatija, bin Simgħi, bin Ġożè, bin Ġoda, bin Ġoħanan, bin Resa, bin Żorobabel, bin Salatjel, bin Neri, bin Melki, bin Għaddi, bin Kosam, bin Elmadan, bin Għer, bin Ġożwè, bin Eligħeżer, bin Ġorim, bin Mattat, bin Levi, bin Simgħon, bin Ġuda, bin Ġużeppi, bin Ġona, bin Eljakim, bin Melija, bin Menna, bin Mattata, bin Natan, bin David, bin Ġesse, bin Għobed, bin Bogħaż, bin Sala, bin Naħson, bin Għamminadab, bin Admin, bin Arni, bin Ħesron, bin Fares, bin Ġuda, bin Ġakobb, bin Iżakk, bin Abraham, bin Teraħ, bin Naħor, bin Serug, bin Regħu, bin Faleg, bin Għeber, bin Selaħ, bin Kajnan, bin Arfaksad, bin Sem, bin Noè, bin Lamek, bin Metuselaħ, bin Ħenok, bin Ġered, bin Maħalalel, bin Kajnan, bin Enos, bin Set, bin Adam, bin Alla.


Il-Kelma tal-Mulej
R/. Tifħir lilek Kristu

 

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January 6 - Liturgy of the Word and Homily from Today's Mass - Published on Jan 6, 2017

 

 

 

(2)Alternative Gospel

Mk 1:7-11 -- John the Baptist and Jesus's Baptism - "Inti ibni l-għażiż; fik sibt l-għaxqa tiegħi."

EVANĠELJU
Inti ibni l-għażiż; fik sibt l-għaxqa tiegħi.
Mk 1, 7-11

Qari mill-Evanġelju skont San Mark

F’dak iż-żmien, Ġwanni kien ixandar u jgħid: “Ġej warajja min hu aqwa minni, li jien ma jistħoqqlix nitbaxxa quddiemu u nħoll il-qfieli tal-qorq tiegħu. Jiena għammidtkom bl-ilma, iżda huwa jgħammidkom bl-Ispirtu s-Santu”.

U ġara li f’dawk il-jiem ġie Ġesù minn Nazaret tal-Galilija, u tgħammed minn Ġwanni fil-Ġordan. U minnufih hu u tiela’ mill-ilma ra s-smewwiet jinfetħu, u l-Ispirtu bħal ħamiema nieżel fuqu; u mis-smewwiet instama’ leħen: “Inti ibni l-għażiż; fik sibt l-għaxqa tiegħi”.

Il-Kelma tal-Mulej
R/. Tifħir lilek Kristu

 

 

 

 

 

 

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THE TIME OF GOD IS HERE WHEN WE USE HIS GIFTS AND SEE BEYOND THE CLOUDS OF DARKNESS



The time of God is here. When He sent His Son to the earth, it was to break down any remaining barrier. He turns darkness to light and clouds into rain.
Are there clouds in your life? Look at them as filled with blessings. The bigger your problem, the bigger is the potential for God's intervention. As we all know, even as an Infant, He is vastly larger than the greatest problem.
The clouds above you should be viewed as filled with rain that can nourish, that can sustain growth. We need to remember this as we face the challenges (and excitement) of life.
Blessings build and build and then "rain" upon us.
Now, there are dark clouds that we must pray away. We are not talking about those! They are the result of evil. We're talking about the times in our lives when we fail to see a cloud that was sent with rainfall (and a silver lining).
Too often, we don't appreciate the arrival of a blessing. We see a cloud and it rains and we complain when we get wet -- we feel uncomfortable. It may even make us mad. We tend to think of rain as an inconvenience (or worse). It's a "bad day."
"It is raining at this time, and you say, 'It is not reasonable to go to church in this slush. Why is it raining so much?'" the Blessed Mother said in a locution at Medjugorje. "Do not ever speak like that. You have prayed without ceasing for God to send you rain that makes the earth rich, and so [you should not] turn against the blessing of God."
The same is true with snow: it refurbishes our aquifers, our streams, and our rivers when it melts.
"The wind is my sign," she also allegedly intoned. "When the wind blows, know that I am with you. When it is cold, you want to come to church; you want to offer everything to God."
Of course, there are storms that represent displeasure. There are storms of chastisement. But with many clouds, with most, each drop is a blessing.
These are "clouds of grace." They are clouds of favour. Through faith, they build and build. The darkness holds the potential of favour.
When a problem comes, it often has a grace behind it!
Expand your vision. Look beyond a dilemma. Don't keep looking down; no blessings come from there! Instead, accept life as a test, and transcend sufferings. Ask yourself: what would happen if there was no precipitation?
When we constantly thank God for what He sends -- or is going to send -- and when we use all that He gives us (letting His gifts flow through us to others), He multiplies that grace. He expands those gifts. He grants greater favours than we imagined possible. He wants us to expand our vision beyond the clouds and that's when the "sky" really opens and graces flow like a torrent!
Ask for unprecedented blessings, and they will grow and shower down upon you -- in God's time and in His Way. Let Him surprise you!
In the coming year, vow to ask "big"; vow to thank God; vow to exercise faith; vow to use His gifts to help others; and vow to see beyond every darkness.
[resources: The God of Miracles]






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WHEN YOU ARE FAITHFUL IN A HARD PLACE, GOD CAN TRUST YOU IN A HIGH PLACE - Daniel 3:25-30

UCB READING

'Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego...' Daniel 3:30
The story of the three Hebrew children in the fiery furnace makes us realise four things: 1) Obeying God doesn't exempt you from trouble. Don't expect the world to always understand or appreciate you. Look at Christ: 'In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it' (John 1:4-5 NIV) 2) You're not alone; God is with you in your trouble. When King Nebuchadnezzar looked into the fiery furnace he said, '...I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God' (Daniel 3:25). Instead of destroying them, the fire burned the ropes that bound them and set them free. So be encouraged. It may feel like you're 'bound by circumstances,' limited and locked in, but God is with you; He's going to vindicate you and bring you out of this victorious 3) Your trouble will become your testimony. Others are watching. What they're trusting in doesn't work, and they're wondering if what you're trusting in does. Your faithfulness to God and His intervention on your behalf will touch their lives in ways your theology never will. Everybody in Babylon knew what the three Hebrew children believed, but they wanted to know, 'Does it work when you're in the fire?' It does! 4) On the other side of your trouble, there's great blessing. 'Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon.' It's a Scriptural principle: when you are faithful in a hard place, God can trust you in a high place.

HE ANSWERS YOU ! - Isaija - Isaiah 65:24

“I will answer them before they even call to Me…” (Isaiah 65:24, NLT).

Have you ever thought about something you wanted or needed, and suddenly that need was supplied—before you ever even stopped to pray about it? God knows your needs before you even speak them. He wants to provide for you and answer the very desires of your heart. When you put Him first in everything you do, when you faithfully follow His commands, He’ll pour out an extra portion of His goodness and favour upon you.Don’t ever think God is too busy to answer your prayers. Don’t ever think your needs are too small, or that you don’t matter. He cares about everything that concerns you, and He loves to hear you call upon His name. You are very special to God, and He promises to answer in His timing, and sometimes, before you even call. Stand in faith knowing that God wants to shower you with His abundant blessings today.

A Prayer for Today

Father in heaven, thank You for Your faithfulness in my life. Reveal Your good plan for me and teach me to trust in You as I surrender to You every area of my life. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.