Sunday, January 5, 2014

Liturgy and Prayers for the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord


Gospel of the Day: 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?
We saw his star at its rising
and have come to do him homage.”
When King Herod heard this,
he was greatly troubled, 
and all Jerusalem with him.
Assembling all the chief priests and the 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;
since from you shall come a ruler,
who is to shepherd my people Israel.”

Then Herod called the magi secretly 
and ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearance.
He sent them to Bethlehem and said, 
“Go and search diligently for the child.
When you have found him, bring me word, 
that I too may go and do him homage.”
After their audience with the king they set out.
And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, 
until it came and stopped over the place where the child was.
They were overjoyed at seeing the star, 
and on entering the house
they saw the child with Mary his mother.
They prostrated themselves and did him homage.
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 country by another way.


Liturgy: 

Father: Christ has appeared among us.

All: Come, let us adore Him.

Mother: The precious gifts which the Magi brought to the
Lord this day are threefold,
and they are signs of divine mysteries.
By gold the power of the King is signified,
by frankincense His great priesthood,
by myrrh the burial of the Lord.

All: The Magi worshipped the Author of our salvation in
the crib,
and of their treasures they brought to Him gifts of
mystic nature.

Youngest Child: Glory be to the Father and to the Son and
to the Holy Ghost.

All: As it was in the beginning,
is now and ever shall be, world without end.
Amen.

Father: Let us pray. O God,
by the leading of a star Thou didst manifest Thine
only begotten Son
to the Gentiles on this day;
mercifully grant that we who know Thee by faith,
may be brought to contemplate the beauty of Thy
majesty.
Through the same Jesus Christ Thy Son.


All: Alleluia.


Daily Prayers: 

O God, we believe that you are love and that you love us. Help us to live in love that we may live in you and you in us. Send us your spirit of love that we may love as Jesus loved, for he has taught us that we cannot love you if we do not love one another.
Amen

O God, you have given us Jesus to be our supreme high priest. Help us never let go of the faith which he has given us. We hope in him because he felt our weaknesses with us and was tempted in every way that we are, although he was without sin. Give us his spirit of trust that we may approach your throne of grace, confident in your memory.
Amen.

Oh, God of wisdom, like a loving parent, you bless us. Give us the strength of your great power. Let us be servants of others. May your spirit never leave us.
Amen.

God of unity, today we begin a new year in our schools.  Thank you for your goodness and abundance in all that we have.  Help us to listen to your word and open our hearts.
We pray that we will think and choose wisely in the coming days.
We pray to be fair to others and treat others with kindness.
We pray to be grateful for what we have and to be generous towards others.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.



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