• Mary, Mother of God
• Feast of the Ephipany
• Baptism of the Lord
• 2^nd Sunday of Ordinary Time
• 3^rd Sunday of Ordinary Time
• 4^th Sunday of Ordinary Time

     We start today another civil year, and start appropriately with prayer and worship. Today's Mass, coming on the octave day of Christmas, focuses our attention on the woman who had such an important role in the Nativity. The Mother of the One who was both divine and human, Mary is our Blessed Mother as the years diminish and eternity comes closer.

ALLELUIA (Heb 1:1-2)
In the past God spoke to our fathers through the
prophets;Now he speaks to us through His Son.

     The name of Jesus was given the child," says St. Luke, Jesus means "Yahweh, God saves." This was the purpose of the Incarnation. This was also the purpose of the life and ministry of Jesus Christ.

THE GOSPEL ....

     The shepherds went in haste to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger; once they say, they understood what had been told them concerning this child. All who heard of it were astonished at the report given them by the shepherds.

     Mary treasured all these things and reflected on them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, in accord with what had been told them.

     When the eight day arrived for his circumcision, the name Jesus was given the child, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.

     The Feast of the Ephipany can not be properly understood unless we remember that the Old Testament Chosen People were of Jewish descent. Salvation was for the Chosen people only. Jesus came to bring salvation to Gentiles as well as Jews. So we see today the Gentiles coming to honor this King. The feast traditionally ends the Christmas Season.

ALLELUIA (Mt. 2:2)
We have seen this star in the east,
And have come to adore the Lord

     Matthew used many Old Testament ideas and images. In the Magi story, Matthew showed that the Messiah had indeed come, but was rejected by the Jews and accepted by the Gentiles.

THE GOSPEL ....

     After Jesus' birth in Bethlehem of Judea during the reign of King Herod, astrologers from the east arrived one day in Jerusalem inquiring, "Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We observed his star at its rising and have come to pay homage." At this news King Herod became greatly disturbed, and with him all Jerusalem. Summoning all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. "In Bethlehem of Judea," they informed him, "Here is what the prophet was written:

'And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah,
are by no means last among the princes of Judah,
since from you shall come a ruler
who is to shepherd my people Israel.'"

     Herod called the astrologers aside and found out from them the exact time of the star's appearance. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, after having instructed them: "Go and get detailed information about the child. When you have discovered something, report your findings to me so that I may go and offer him homage too."

After their audience with the king, they set out. The star which they had observed at its rising went ahead of them until it came to a stand still over the place where the child was. They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house, they found the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their coffers and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

They received a message in a dream not to return to Herod, so they went back to their own country by another route.

      In the Gospels, the baptism of Jesus was an event of much importance. This was a formal approval and commissioning of the young Jesus to start His public work. Today we think about the meaning and importance of the commissioning by the Father.

ALLELUIA (Mark 9:6)
The heavens were opened and the Father's voice was heard,
This my beloved Son, hear him.

     Jesus is Emmanuel, that is "God with us," Matthew's account of our Lord's baptism brings out His solidarity with us in our sinful condition. Jesus was baptized for the forgiveness of sins. Not, however, for His sins (for He was sinless0, but for the sins of others.

THE GOSPEL ....

     Jesus, coming from Galilee, appeared before John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. John tried to refuse him with the protest, "I should be baptized by you, yet you come to me!" Jesus answered, "Give in for now. We must do this to fulfill all of God's demands." So John gave in. After Jesus was baptized, he came directly out of the water. Suddenly the sky opened and he saw the spirit of God descend like a dove and hover over him. With that, a voice from the heavens said, "This is my beloved Son. My favor rests on him."

ALLELUIA (Luke 19:38)
Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord:
Peace on earth, and glory in heaven!

     Today, one week after the feast of the Lord's baptism, we read from the Fourth Gospel this appealing picture of the newly commissioned Jesus. John the Baptizer has recognized this young individual as God's chosen one. Jesus of Nazareth is the "Lamb of God" - the humble one to suffer and and to be slain for others, like the servant of the Lord in Isaiah (53:7) and like the Passover Lamb.

THE GOSPEL ....

     When John caught sight of Jesus coming toward him, he exclaimed:

"Look there! The Lamb of God
who takes away the sin of the world!
It is he whom I said:

'After me is to come a man
who ranks ahead of me,
because he was before me.'

     I confess I did not recognize him, though the very reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel."
     John gave this testimony also:

"I saw the spirit descend
like a dove from the sky,
and it came to rest on him.

     But, as I say, I did not recognize him. The one who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'When you see the Spirit descend and rest on someone, it is he who is to baptize with the Holy Spirit.' Now I have seen for myself and have testified, 'This is God's chosen One.'"

ALLELUIA (Matthew 4:23)
Jesus preached the Good News of the kingdom,
And healed those who were sick.

     Today we start our major Scriptural study of this year: the first Gospel, the Gospel of Matthew. This year, on the Sundays of the Year, we shall read through this, our favorite and most familiar Gospel. Last Advent we read Matthew's Infancy Narrative on the birth of Jesus. Now we read Matthew's description of Jesus starting His ministry - making Capernaum His headquarters, recruiting followers, announcing the "good news," healing the ills of the people.

THE GOSPEL ....

     When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. He left Nazareth and went down to live in Capernaum by the sea near the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, to fulfill what had been said, through Isaiah the prophet:

"Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali
along the sea beyond the Jordan,
heathen Galilee;
a people living in darkness
has seen a great light.
On those who inhabit a land overshadowed by death,
Light has arisen."

     From the time on Jesus began to proclaim this theme; "Reform your lives!" The kingdom of heaven is at hand."

     As he was walking along the Sea of Galilee he watched two brothers, Simon now known as Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea. They were fishermen. He said to them, "Come after me and I will make you fishers of men." They immediately abandoned their nets and became his followers. He walked along farther and caught sight of two other brothers, James, Zebedee's con, and his brother John. They too were in their boat, getting their nets in order with their father, Zebedee. He called them, and immediately they abandoned boat and father to follow him.

     Jesus toured all of Galilee. He taught in their synagogues, proclaimed the good news of the kingdom and cured the people of every disease and illness.

ALLELUIA (Acts 16:14)
Open our hearts, O Lord,
To listen to the words of your Son.

     Our Gospel for this year is that of Matthew. It is a delight and privilege to begin today the reading of the Sermon on the Mount - Chapters 5,6, and 7 of the First Gospel. Here is the start of the Sermon; the famous Beatitudes. Jesus teaches that blessed ones are those whom worldly standards overlook - the poor, the despised, the pure, etc.

THE GOSPEL ....

     When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on the mountainside. After he had sat down his disciples gathered around him, and began to teach them;

"How blest are the poor in spirit; the reign of God is theirs;
Blest too are the sorrowing; they shall be consoled,
Blest are the lonely; they shall inherit the land,
Blest are they who hunger and thirst for holiness, they shall
have their fill,
Blest are they who show mercy, mercy shall be theirs,
Blest are the single-hearted, for they shall see God.
Blest too the peacemakers; they shall be called sons of God.
Blest are those persecuted for holiness' sake; the reign of God
is theirs.
Blest are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter
every kind of slander against you because of me.
Be glad and rejoice, for your reward in heaven is great."

1989 Edition, reprinted by Salesiana Publishers, Inc.
and Sinagtala Publishers, Inc.
Nihil Obstat: Fr. Broderick Pabillo, SDB, SSL, STL
Imprimatur: Arch. Leonardo Z. Legaspi, OP, DD, STD
President, Episcopal Conference of Bishops
in the Philippines (April 1989)