{"id":76216,"date":"2015-01-03T16:58:32","date_gmt":"2015-01-03T22:58:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.austincnm.com\/?p=76216"},"modified":"2015-01-04T15:24:12","modified_gmt":"2015-01-04T21:24:12","slug":"sunday-says-podcast-january-04-2015-mass-readings-reflections","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2015\/01\/sunday-says-podcast-january-04-2015-mass-readings-reflections\/","title":{"rendered":"Sunday Says Podcast \u2013 January 04, 2015 Mass Readings and Reflections"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"SundaySaysPodcast-logo\"<\/a><\/p>\n

[powerpress]<\/p>\n

Sunday Says Podcast \u2013 January 04, 2015 Mass Readings and Reflections <\/strong><\/p>\n

Sunday January 04, 2015<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Lectionary: 20<\/p>\n

Feast of the Epiphany <\/strong>(NAB Translation)<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Welcome to the Sunday Says podcast for January 4, 2015, the Feast of the Epiphany of our Lord.\u00a0 Thank you for joining us as we familiarize ourselves with the Liturgy of the Word for this Sunday\u2019s Mass which for this Sunday is a celebration of the Epiphany of our Lord.\u00a0\u00a0 The word \u201cEpiphany\u201d means a \u201cshowing forth.<\/em>\u201d \u00a0\u00a0This \u201cshowing forth\u201d is the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles who are represented by Magi (or Wise Men) from the East that come bearing gifts to the newborn Jesus.\u00a0 The ancient Feast of Epiphany invites us, like the Magi, to follow the star of Christ, to respond to his kingship, and to offer Him our treasures. Let\u2019s take a first pass at these readings so rich in symbolism that they are worthy of much study and further reflection.\u00a0 As always our readings are taken from the Jerusalem translation for copyright purposes.<\/p>\n

Reading 1<\/strong><\/p>\n

Isaiah 60:1-6<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Our Old Testament reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah was originally written to provide hope to Jews returning from exile to encourage them to persevere in rebuilding their temple during a time when they were tempted to give up.\u00a0 During that time many in Jerusalem were frustrated and experiencing spiritual darkness.\u00a0\u00a0 The prophetic message of hope is that a time is coming when the situation will be reversed.\u00a0 In time God will provide a new king and the city will be bathed in a light so glorious and radiant that people from faraway lands will seek her out and come bearing gifts.\u00a0 We will recall that Jesus claimed to be the \u201clight of the world.\u201d\u00a0 The prophecy from Isaiah that \u201cnations will flock to her\u201d is fulfilled in our Gospel reading today when Magi from the east, seeking this mysterious and divine presence, expecting something great, come bearing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Responsorial Psalm<\/strong><\/p>\n

Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

The responsorial psalm echoes the message of the first reading and reflects our appropriate response to God\u2019s light as revealed in Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n

Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Second reading<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ephesians 3:2-3, 5-6<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

In our second reading from Paul\u2019s letter to the Ephesians, we again witness the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy.\u00a0\u00a0 Jewish leaders at the time were undoubtedly familiar with the God\u2019s promise to Abraham that Israel would be a \u201cblessing to the nations,\u201d but many had rejected any notion that Gentiles would be included in the coming kingdom of God.\u00a0 However, St. Paul, receiving a revelation from God, understood that it would be his very own mission to \u201cshow forth\u201d Jesus Christ as the light to the nations.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Jesus\u2019 sacrifice on the cross was meant for all mankind, to allow all mankind the opportunity to be adopted into God\u2019s family.\u00a0\u00a0 This reality was foreshadowed by the Magi who, representing the pagan world, followed the star from the East coming to Jesus with gifts honoring his kingship. \u00a0\u00a0The message of Jesus as light to the world is the heart of the Epiphany.<\/p>\n

Gospel<\/strong><\/p>\n

Gospel Matthew 2:1-12<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Our gospel reading from St. Matthew takes us back to a period of history in which stars were associated with major events.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The Magi, or Wise Men, from the East, were probably from Persia, who as astronomers and astrologers had devoted their lives to the study of the stars.\u00a0 It is interesting to note that this account is one of the earliest documented traditions within Christianity, and is represented in painting in the catacombs of St. Priscilla in Rome. Notice that the Wise Men follow the star up to the vicinity of Jerusalem, but at some point have to inquire of the Jewish leaders to confirm the probable location of the baby Jesus. \u00a0In other words, when the Magi no longer receive light from the star, they seek direction until the light appears again.\u00a0 Perhaps we too will get the most out of this text if we place ourselves in the shoes of the Magi and imitate their actions.\u00a0 Notice how they seek God sincerely, follow His light, persevere in their journey to find Him, seek direction when necessary, acknowledge Him in adoration and obedience, offer their best to Him and then return to their own countries avoiding the Evil One and filled with joy.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Background music<\/strong><\/p>\n

Persona migliore (Pira666)<\/a>\u00a0\/\u00a0CC BY-NC-SA 2.5 Italy<\/a><\/p>\n

Complect For \u2026 (Kosta T<\/a>)\/\u00a0CC BY-NC-SA-3.0<\/a><\/p>\n

Be Inspired (Podington Bear<\/a>) \/\u00a0CC BY-NC 3.0<\/a><\/p>\n

Haunted (Jamie Evans<\/a>)\/\u00a0CC BY-NC-SA-3.0<\/a><\/p>\n

Porthglaze Cove (Gillicuddy<\/a>)\/\u00a0CC BY-NC-3.0-DE<\/a><\/p>\n

Feedback Line Number:
\n(512) 200-ACNM (2266)
\nfeedback@austincnm.com<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[powerpress] Sunday Says Podcast \u2013 January 04, 2015 Mass Readings and Reflections Sunday January 04, 2015 Lectionary: 20 Feast of the Epiphany (NAB Translation) Welcome to the Sunday Says podcast for January 4, 2015, the Feast of the Epiphany of our Lord.\u00a0 Thank you for joining us as we familiarize ourselves with the Liturgy of… [Read More]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":60,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[3,27,258],"tags":[384,215,55,37,131,38,491],"class_list":{"0":"post-76216","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-acnm","7":"category-podcast","8":"category-sundaysays","9":"tag-advent","10":"tag-bible","11":"tag-catholic-2","12":"tag-gospel","13":"tag-mass","14":"tag-reading","15":"tag-scripture","16":"entry"},"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":195193,"url":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2016\/01\/sunday-says-january-3-2015-mass-readings-and-reflection\/","url_meta":{"origin":76216,"position":0},"title":"Sunday Says January 3, 2015 Mass Readings and Reflection","author":"Crist\u00f3bal Almanza Herrera","date":"January 3, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"[powerpress] Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord Lectionary: 20 (NAB Translation) (Jerusalem Bible Translation) Merry Christmas! It\u2019s been a beautiful season of Christmas so far. Now we celebrate the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord a few days early from the traditional date on the 6th. Reading 1\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sunday Says"","block_context":{"text":"Sunday Says","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/category\/acnm\/podcast\/sundaysays\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Sunday Says Podcast","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/10\/SundaySaysPodcast-logo.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":43280,"url":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2014\/01\/sunday-says-podcast-january-5-2014-mass-readings-reflections\/","url_meta":{"origin":76216,"position":1},"title":"Sunday Says Podcast \u2013 January 5, 2014 Mass Readings and Reflections","author":"Crist\u00f3bal Almanza Herrera","date":"January 5, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"[powerpress] Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord Lectionary: 20 (NAB Translation) (Jerusalem Bible Translation) Merry Christmas! It\u2019s been a beautiful season of Christmas so far. Now we celebrate the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord. 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