Christ our Star
January 8, 2006 The Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord (B) - White
First Reading: Isaiah 60:1-6
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 72 "Lord, every nation on earth will adore you."
Second Reading: Ephesians 3:2-3,5-6
Gospel: Matthew 2:1-12
"And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them…They were overjoyed at seeing the star…"
A star is some celestial being that sheds light in the dark. It guides people in the darkness of the night. It gives people some kind of hope that they will see in the nowhere of the darkness. This is a star, as we know encounter it in our daily sightings.
But do you know that two thousand years ago, a star was born extraordinarily? Normally, stars are born in nebulae in space. But this extraordinary star was born in the darkness and coldness of the night, during a time when people rejected his family. This star I’m talking about is the star of Christmas - Jesus Christ. He is not different from the stars in the sky. He sheds light in the darkness. Jesus came to this world at a time when people are suffering from injustice and persecutions of faith. Jesus becomes a light that shines in the dark to make people realize that there is always hope in the midst of hopelessness.
Today, we celebrate the Epiphany of the Lord, the second Christmas. May this celebration of ours not focus on the material gifts that we give, but instead focus on the love and the light that Christ showed us during the first Christmas. He remains forever as the most important star in our lives and he makes us remember that - everyday must be an epiphany in our lives, for everyday we see the light of that shining star in our lives.
A Blessed Christmas to one and all.
The Proclamation of the Date of Easter
(to be proclaimed either after the Gospel or after communion by the priest celebrant or a deacon, or in his absence, a lay)
Dear brothers and sisters, the glory of the Lord has shone upon us, and shall ever be manifest among us, until the day of his return. Through the rhythms of times and seasons let us celebrate the mysteries of salvation.
Let us recall the year’s culmination, the Easter Triduum of the Lord: his last supper, his crucifixion, his burial, and his rising celebrated between the evening of the 13th of April and the evening of the 16th of April.
Each Easter - as on each Sunday - the Holy Church makes present the great and saving deed by which Christ has for ever conquered sin and death.
From Easter are reckoned all the days we keep holy. Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, will occur on the 1st of March.
The Ascension of the Lord will be commemorated on the 28th of May.
Pentecost, the joyful conclusion of the season of Easter, will be celebrated on the 4th of June.
Likewise the pilgrim Church proclaims the passover of Christ in the feasts of the holy Mother of God, in the feasts of the Apostles and Saints, and in the commemoration of the faithful departed.
To Jesus Christ, who was, who is, and who is to come, Lord of time and history, be endless praise, for ever and ever.
R. Amen.
NB. Tomorrow, January 9, we celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. We officially end the Christmas Season and enter the Ordinary Time of the Year.
