SECOND DAY WITHIN THE OCTAVE OF THE EPIPHANY - MEDITATIONS AND MASS PROPERS

                 January 7 

2nd day within the Octave of the Epiphany

                     

On the Wise Men’s Journey to Bethlehem 
 By Bishop Richard Challoner

Consider first, that the wise men were no sooner informed by the apparition of this extraordinary star, of the birth of the great King that was to rule the world, they set out to seek him in Judea, where the understood, by an ancient tradition, and by the prophecy of Balaam, Numb. xxiv. 17 that he was denoted by that star he should be born. And as it was natural for them to expect to hear news of him in Jerusalem, the capital city of Judea, they went thither to inquire after him; where is he, say they, Matt. ii. 2 that is born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east and are come to adore him. But as his kingdom was not of this world, but was to be established, upon other kinds of foundations, than any mortal empire, in the immortal souls of his people; and upon the ruins of worldly pride, and of all the pomps of Satan; he chose for his birth the humble stable of Bethlehem, before any of the stately palaces of Jerusalem; as being more agreeable to his kingdom, the kingdom of humility and truth. O how happy are those souls, whose eyes are always open to this heavenly truth, and shut to worldly vanity and lies! How happy they, who, by conforming in practice to these maxims of this great king, become themselves his kingdom; even that kingdom in which he shall reign forever!

     Consider how King Herod was troubled, at hearing of the birth of this new king, and so was all Jerusalem with him. O how much more happy were the dispositions of the wise men, who were willing at any rate to find Christ; and who gladly sought and embraced the directions of those that by their office were qualified to point him out to them? But alas! how miserable were those priests and scribes, who, whilst they directed the wise men to our Saviour, took no pains to seek him themselves! See, this never be your case.

     Consider, how the wise men, on their way from Jerusalem to Bethlehem, were again favoured with the sight of the star; which both conducted them to Bethlehem, and pointed out to them the place where our Saviour was. This heavenly light filled their hearts with exceeding great joy; and going in, they found him whom their souls desired, and they paid their homage to him. O how precious, how lovely, how desirable is that light, that conducts the soul to Christ! O what joy, what delight it is to the soul, to see herself draw near to her God, her sovereign good! But then this heavenly manna is not usually given, but to them that fight, and that conquer all the labours, difficulties, and oppositions, that they meet with in the way to Christ, and who, like the wise men, are quite in earnest in seeking him. Happy they that follow this great example! Happy they that taste, and see, how sweet the Lord is to them that seek, and find him!

     Imitate the wise men, first, in their ready compliance with the divine call; in their diligence in inquiring after Christ; and in their perseverance; and then you may confidently expect, like them, to find your Lord, and to rejoice in him.

            Sermon by St. Augustine

Wise men came from the East to worship the Virgin's Son. This is the event which we this day commemorate, the occasion in honour of which this sermon is preached. On them that day first broke in gladness, which year by year, now cometh round to us for celebration. They were the first-fruits of that Gentile Church whereof we are the in-gathering. To us the voice of Apostles, to them a star, as a voice from heaven, proclaimed the advent of a Saviour; and to us the voice of the Apostolic preachers is also as a voice from heaven, a heaven declaring the glory of God.

     Great is the mystery. While He lay in the manger, He drew to Himself wise men from the East; while He was unknown in the stable, He was recognized in the heavens; and, being recognized in the heavens, made Himself known in the stable. So this day is called in the Greek Epiphaneia, which is, being interpreted, Manifestation. Wherein is manifested both the greatness and the lowliness of Him, Whose greatness was attested in the stars of heaven, and Who, being sought on earth, is found so lowly that there is no room for Him in the inn. And yet, though to be found in fashion as a little Child wrapped in swaddling-clothes, He is the object of worship to the wise men and of terror to the godless.

     Nor Herod feared when he heard from the wise men of Him Whom they sought, and of Whose birth they knew by the witness of a star. What will be the fearful judgment-seat of Him, Who, even as a Suckling, struck terror into haughty kings? How much wiser is the thought of those kings who seek Christ like the wise men, to worship Him, than of those who seek Him, like Herod, to slay Him! who seek to put Him to that same death, which He came to suffer from His.enemies for their own salvation, and which, by His death, He hath trodden down! Kings will do well to fear Him Who now sitteth at the right hand of the Father, and Whom Herod feared when He hung upon His mother's breast.

                   MASS PROPERS

Feria within the Octave of the Epiphany

                   

INTROIT – Malachias 3: 1; Psalm 71: 12

Ecce advénit Dominátor Dóminus: et regnum in manu ejus et potéstas et impérium.

Ps. 71. 2. Deus, judícium tuum Regi da: et justítiam tuam Fílio Regis. V. Glória Patri.

Behold the Lord the Ruler is come: and the Kingdom is in His hand, and power, and dominion. Ps. Give to the King Thy judgment, O God: and to the King’s Son Thy justice. V. Glory be to the Father.

COLLECT

O God, Who on this day by the leading of a star didst manifest Thine only-begotten Son to the Gentiles; mercifully grant that we who know Thee now by faith, may be brought to the contemplation of the beauty of Thy majesty. Through the same Lord.

EPISTLE - Isaias 60: 1-6

Arise, be enlightened, O Jerusalem: for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon Thee. For behold darkness shall cover the earth, and a mist the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and His glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall walk in thy light, and kings in the brightness of thy rising. Lift up thy eyes round about and see: all these are gathered together: they are come to thee: thy sons shall come from afar, and thy daughters shall rise up at thy side. Then shalt thou see and abound, and thy heart shall wonder and be enlarged, when the multitude of the sea shall be converted to thee, the strength of the Gentiles shall come to thee. The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Madian and Epha: all they from Saba shall come, bringing gold and frankincense and showing forth praise to the Lord.

GRADUAL - Isaias 60: 6, 1

All they from Saba shall come, bringing gold and frankincense and showing forth praise to the Lord. V. Arise and be enlightened, O Jerusalem: for the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.

ALLELUIA - Matthew 2: 2

Alleluia, alleluia. V. We have seen His star in the East, and are come with gifts to adore the Lord. Alleluia.

GOSPEL - Matthew 2: 1-12

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Juda in the days of King Herod, behold there came wise men from the East to Jerusalem, saying: Where is He that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East, and are come to adore Him. And king Herod hearing this was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And assembling together all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, he inquired of them where Christ should be born. But they said to him: In Bethlehem of Juda. For so it is written by the Prophet: And thou Bethlehem, the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come forth the Captain that shall rule My people Israel. Then Herod, privately calling the wise men, learned diligently of them the time of the star which appeared to them: and sending them into Bethlehem, said: Go and diligently inquire after the Child, and when you have found Him, bring me word again, that I also may come and adore Him. Who having heard the king went their way. And behold the star, which they had seen in the East, went before them until it came and stood over where the Child was. And seeing the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And entering into the house, they found the Child with Mary His mother, [here genuflect] and falling down they adored Him. And opening their treasures, they offered Him gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having received an answer in sleep that they should not return to Herod, they went back another way into their country.

Homily by Pope St Gregory the Great

When Herod knew of the birth of our King, he betook himself to his cunning wiles, and lest he should be deprived of an earthly kingdom he desired the wise men to search diligently for the young Child, and when they had found Him, to bring him word again. He said, that he also might come and worship Him, but, in reality, that, when he had found Him, he might put Him to death. But, behold, of how light weight is the malice of man, when it is tried against the counsel of God. It is written There is no wisdom, nor understanding, nor counsel, against the Lord, Prov. xxi. 30. 

So the star which the wise men saw in the East, still led them on; they found the new-born King, and presented unto Him gifts; then they were warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod. And as it came to pass that, when Herod sought Jesus, he could not find Him even so is it with hypocrites, who, while they make pretence to seek the Lord to worship Him, find Him not.

     It is as well to know that it is one of the opinions of the Priscillianist heretics that every man is born under the influence of a star; and, to confirm this notion, they bring forward the instance of the star of Bethlehem, which appeared when the Lord was born; and which they call His star, that is, the star ruling over His fate or destiny. But if we consider the words of the Gospel concerning this star, they are, It went before, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. Whence we see that it was not the young Child Who followed the star, but the star which followed the young Child, as if to show that the young Child ruled the star, instead of the star ruling Him.

     But I pray that the hearts of the faithful may ever be free from the thought that anything ruleth their destiny. In this world there is but One Who ruleth the destiny of man, even He Who made man; neither was man made for the stars, but the stars for man; and if we say that they rule his destiny, we set them above him for whose service they were made. When Jacob came out of his mother's womb, and his hand took hold on his elder brother Esau's heel, he could not have done so unless this his first movement had been behind his brother, and, nevertheless, such was not in after life the position of those two brethren whom their mother brought forth at one birth.

OFFERTORY - Psalm 71: 10, 11

The kings of Tharsis and the islands shall offer presents: the kings of the Arabians and of Saba shall bring gifts: and all kings of the earth shall adore Him: all nations shall serve Him.

SECRET

Graciously look down, we beseech Thee, O Lord, upon the gifts of Thy Church: by which gold, frankincense, and myrrh are no longer laid before Thee; but He is sacrificed and received who by those very gifts was signified, Jesus Christ Thy Son our Lord. Who with Thee liveth and reigneth.

PREFACE FOR THE EPIPHANY

It is truly meet and just, right and availing unto salvation that we should at all times and in all places give thanks unto Thee, O holy Lord, Father almighty and everlasting God. For when Thine only-begotten Son showed Himself in the substance of our mortal nature, He restored us by the new light of His own immortality. And therefore with Angels and Archangels, with Thrones and Dominations, and with all the heavenly hosts, we sing a hymn to Thy glory, saying without ceasing:

Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus Dóminus, Deus Sábaoth. Pleni sunt coeli et terra glória tua. Hosánna in excélsis. Benedíctus, qui venit in nómine Dómini. Hosánna in excélsis.

COMMUNION - Matthew 2: 2

We have seen His star in the East, and are come with gifts to adore the Lord.

POSTCOMMUNION

Grant, we beseech Thee, O almighty God, that by a purified mind we may attain to the understanding of that which we solemnly celebrate. Through our Lord.