The Epiphany of the Lord [CYCLE B]

MAIN MESSAGE
[This is for reference only. Please do not read it at Mass]

The Feast of the Epiphany reminds us that God sent his Son to save the whole world, not just a
chosen few. Isaiah describes his coming as that of the sun rising, announcing a new day after the
darkness of the night. He also presents the picture of the kings of the nations coming with gifts to
the ‘light’. We see this prophetic vision come true as the Magi come to adore the new-born Christ.
We encourage the children to respond to the message of Epiphany by doing something as a
family: by reaching out to give the Good News of God’s love to someone outside their usual circle.
They take home a note/card to share this idea with their parents.

INTRODUCTION:
Celebrant: Suppose I told you to make a card and
draw Jesus like a light. What kind of light would
you draw?... A candle?... A torch?... Maybe you
would draw something brighter, like a street light or
something bigger still: a floodlight like they use to
light up a sports stadium. Did anyone think of
drawing the sun?
A candle can help one or two people see. A
streetlight can light up the road for about a hundred
metres. The sun lights up the whole world!
Today the prophet Isaiah tells us that Jesus is like
the sun that rises in the morning and makes the
darkness go. Why did he think of Jesus as a sun?
We’ll find out something more during the mass.

LITURGY OF THE WORD:

Commentator: Isaiah the prophet sounds all excited!
God made him realise that something very great was
going to happen: That God would come like the sun
and a new day would begin for the whole world.
First Reading: Isaiah 60:1-6.
Psalm: 72:1, 2, 10abc, 10de-11.
Commentator: The Gospel tells us about the wise
men who also realised that something great had
happened. God led them to the new-born baby Jesus.
Gospel: Matthew 2:1-12.
Homily:
Celebrant:
• Children, can you tell me why the prophet said that Jesus was like the sun rising in the morning?
[Because Jesus came to light up the whole world!]]
• When the sun rises in the morning the darkness of the night disappears. It becomes bright and
warm. Everyone gets out of bed and can do their work, play, eat and move around.
• Jesus is like the sun because he came to bring light into our lives. That means he came to save us
from sin. When we come to know Jesus and follow him, we stop cheating and lying, we stop
being mean and lazy. Instead we learn to love and do what is right.
• Today we celebrate the feast of the Epiphany of the Lord. The name means ‘showing’. God
showed himself to the world. God didn’t send Jesus just for Mary and Joseph. He didn’t send
him jus for the people in Bethlehem or just for the Jews. He sent him for the whole world.
• Even though the wise men lived far away from Bethlehem, God spoke to them in their hearts
and led them to Jesus. They travelled many miles, following a special star until they found the
baby.
• As you go home today, remember that Jesus has come for everyone, not just for you and your
family. Talk about this at home. You could all sit down together and think of some way that your
family can share Jesus with others. Maybe you could do something special for your neighbours
or for some poor workers, or even for someone living far away in another place.
• Next week you could share with your class what your family did.

Offertory:
God wants you to take Jesus’ light to others. Let’s tell him that we are ready as we sing
‘Here I Am Lord.’ [The verse could be sung by a male soloist, representing God’s voice. All join in
the chorus as a response]

APPROPRIATE HYMNS PREPARATION REQUIRED:

ENTRANCE: Go Tell It On the Mountains • Practice readings.

OFFERTORY: Here I Am Lord • Make poster and put up.
COMMUNION: Shine Jesus Shine • Photocopy note and distribute to
RECESSIONAL: We Three Kings children. The children would get more
enthused if they made ‘Epiphany’ cards
for their parents during class and
stuck the note in them.
 Dear parents,
HAPPY FEAST OF EPIPHANY!
God sent His Son to bring
light to the whole world.
He calls us today to give
the good news of Jesus to all.
Will you as a family do something
this week to bring his love to
someone outside your usual circle?
GOD BE WITH YOU!
Dear parents,
HAPPY FEAST OF EPIPHANY!
God sent His Son to bring
light to the whole world.
He calls us today to give
the good news of Jesus to all.
Will you as a family do something
this week to bring his love to
someone outside your usual circle?
GOD BE WITH YOU!
Dear parents,
HAPPY FEAST OF EPIPHANY!
God sent His Son to bring
light to the whole world.
He calls us today to give
the good news of Jesus to all.
Will you as a family do something
this week to bring his love to
someone outside your usual circle?
GOD BE WITH YOU!
Dear parents,
HAPPY FEAST OF EPIPHANY!
God sent His Son to bring
light to the whole world.
He calls us today to give
the good news of Jesus to all.
Will you as a family do something
this week to bring his love to
someone outside your usual circle?
GOD BE WITH YOU!
Dear parents,
HAPPY FEAST OF EPIPHANY!
God sent His Son to bring
light to the whole world.
He calls us today to give
the good news of Jesus to all.
Will you as a family do something
this week to bring his love to
someone outside your usual circle?
GOD BE WITH YOU!
Dear parents,
HAPPY FEAST OF EPIPHANY!
God sent His Son to bring
light to the whole world.
He calls us today to give
the good news of Jesus to all.
Will you as a family do something
this week to bring his love to
someone outside your usual circle?
GOD BE WITH YOU!
 FIR ST REA DING : A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah:
Jerusalem stand up and shine! Your new day is dawning. And the glory of the Lord shines brightly on
you. The earth and the people are covered with darkness, but the glory of the Lord is shining over
you.
Nations and kings will come to the light of your dawning day. Open your eyes and look around!
Crowds are on their way. Your sons are coming from distant lands, and your daughters are being
carried like young children. When you see this your faces will glow. Your hearts will beat fast and
swell with pride.
Treasures from over the sea and the wealth of nations will be brought to you. Your country will be
covered with caravans of young camels from Midian and Ephah. And the people of Sheba will bring
gold and spices in praise of the Lord.
This is the Word of the Lord.
PSALM : Response: Lord, eve ry na tion on earth w il l adore you.
Make the kings of Sheba
Please help the king Let him be honest and fair Make the rulers of and the kings of Seba bring
to be honest and fair justwith all your people, especiallyTarshish gifts.
like you, our God. the poor. and of the islands Make the other rulers bow
pay taxes to him. down and all
nations serve him.

ACCLA MA TION : Alleluia, alleluia. We have seen his star in the east
and have come to adore the Lord. Alleluia, alleluia.

GOSPEL : A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew.

When Jesus was born in the village of Bethlehem in Judea, Herod was king. During this time some
wise men from the east came to Jerusalem and said, “Where is the child born to be king of the
Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.”
When King Herod heard about this, he was worried, and so was everyone else in Jerusalem. Herod
brought together all the chief priests and teachers of the law and asked them, “Where will the
Messiah be born?” They told him, “He will be born in Bethlehem, just as the prophet wrote,
“Bethlehem in the land of Judea, you are very important among the towns of Judea.
From you will come a leader who will be like a shepherd for my people Israel.”
Herod secretly called the wise men and asked them when they had first seen the star. He told them,
“Go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, let me know. I want to
go and worship him too.” The wise men listened to what the king said and then left.
And the star they had seen in the east went on ahead of them until it stopped over the place where
the child was. They were thrilled and excited to see the star.
When the men went into the house and saw the child with Mary, his mother, they kneeled down and
worshiped him. They took out their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh and gave them to him. Later
they were warned in a dream not to return to Herod, and they went back home by another road.
This is the Gospel of the Lord.

NB. All Readings are taken from the ‘Lectionary for Masses with Children’ canonically approved for use in the USA.