The Epiphany of the Lord | Thursday 6 January 2022

Today is Thursday the 6th of January, the feast of the Epiphany of the Lord.


Salt of the Sound sing, ‘Star of Wonder’.

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Matthew.

Matthew 2:1-12

In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, ‘Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.’ When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:

“And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,

   are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;

for from you shall come a ruler

   who is to shepherd my people Israel.” ’

Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, ‘Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.’ When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure-chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.

I place myself into the scene as a part of the company of wise men. The journey has been very long and hard with many twists and turns, but now the star has stopped and I’ve arrived. What do I find here?

It's time to give gifts to the child I’ve been searching for.

What gift do I offer to Jesus?

As I sit with the family, Mary places the child Jesus in my lap.

What is it like for me to hold Jesus?

What do I say to Jesus as I hold him?

Listening again I imagine making my way home from Bethlehem.

How have I been changed by my encounter with Jesus?

What is different for me now?

In these final moments of prayerful peace, I imagine God holding me with deep love and reverence. I am God’s precious child.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.