MASS READINGS ON THE SOLEMNITY OF THE
EPIPHANY OF THE LORD
NOTICE OF MOVEABLE FEASTS
First reading Isaiah 60:1-6
‘The glory of the Lord has risen upon you.’
Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
For behold, darkness shall cover the earth,
and thick darkness the peoples;
but the Lord will arise upon you,
and his glory will be seen upon you.
And nations shall come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your rising.
Lift up your eyes all round, and see;
they all gather together, they come to you;
your sons shall come from afar,
and your daughters shall be carried on the hip.
Then you shall see and be radiant;
your heart shall thrill and exult,
because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you,
the wealth of the nations shall come to you.
A multitude of camels shall cover you,
the young camels of Midian and Ephah;
all those from Sheba shall come.
They shall bring gold and frankincense,
and shall bring good news, the praises of the Lord.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 72(71):1-2. 7-8. 10-11. 12-13. ℟cf. 11
All the nations on earth shall fall prostrate before you, O Lord.
O God, give your judgement to the king,
to a king’s son your justice,
that he may judge your people in justice,
and your poor in right judgement.
All the nations on earth shall fall prostrate before you, O Lord.
In his days justice shall flourish,
and great peace till the moon is no more.
He shall rule from sea to sea,
from the River to the bounds of the earth.
All the nations on earth shall fall prostrate before you, O Lord.
The kings of Tarshish and the islands
shall pay him tribute.
The kings of Sheba and Seba
shall bring him gifts.
Before him all kings shall fall prostrate,
all nations shall serve him.
All the nations on earth shall fall prostrate before you, O Lord.
For he shall rescue the needy when they cry,
the poor who have no one to help.
He will have pity on the weak and the needy,
and save the lives of the needy.
All the nations on earth shall fall prostrate before you, O Lord.
Second reading
Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6
‘It has now been revealed that the Gentiles are fellow heirs of the promise.’
Brothers and sisters: I assume that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy Apostles and prophets by the Spirit. This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
Gospel Acclamation Matthew 2:2
Alleluia, alleluia.
We saw his star when it rose
and have come to worship the Lord.
Alleluia.
Gospel Matthew 2:1-12
‘We have come from the east to worship the king.’
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.’ When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he enquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:
“And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.” ’
Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, ‘Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.’ After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshipped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.
Announcement of the date of Easter and movable feasts
After the Gospel, following a long-established custom of the Church, the deacon or cantor may proclaim the movable feasts of the current year, in the following form.
Know, dear brethren (brothers and sisters), that,
as we have rejoiced at the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ,
so by leave of God’s mercy
we announce to you also the joy of his Resurrection,
who is our Saviour.
On the fifth day of March will fall Ash Wednesday,
and the beginning of the fast of the most sacred Lenten season.
On the twentieth day of April you will celebrate with joy Easter Day,
the Paschal feast of our Lord Jesus Christ.
On the twenty-ninth day of May will be the Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ.
On the eighth day of June, the feast of Pentecost.
On the twenty-second day of the same month, the feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ.
On the thirtieth day of November, the First Sunday of the Advent of our Lord Jesus Christ,
to whom is honour and glory for ever and ever.
Amen.
