First Reading, A Reading from the prophet Isaiah Isa 160:1-6

The glory of the Lord shines upon you..

Arise, shine out Jerusalem, for your light has come, the glory of the Lord is rising on you, though night still covers the earth and darknes the peoples. Above you the Lord now rises and above you his glory appears. The nations come to your light and kings to yoru dawning brightness. Lift up you eyes and look round: all are assembling and coming towards you, your sons from far away and daughters being tenderly carried. At this sight you will grow radiant, your heart throbbing and full; since the riches of the sea will flow to you; the wealth of the nations come to you; camels in throngs will cover you, and dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; everyone in Sheba will come, bringing gold and incense and singing the praise of the Lord.

This is the word of the Lord

Second Reading, A Reading from the letter of St Paul to the Ephesians Ph 3:2-3.5-6

The revelation means that pagans now share the same inheritance, that they are parts of the same body.

You have probably heard how I have been entrusted by God with the grace he meant for you, and that it was by a revelation that I was given the knowledge of the mystery. This mystery that has now been revealed through the Spirit to his holy apostles and prophets was unknown to any men in past generations; it means that pagans now share the same inheritance, that they are parts of the same body, and that he same promise has been made to them, in Christ Jesus, through the gospel.

This is the word of the Lord

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Mathew 2:1-12

We have come from the East to worship the King

After Jesus had been born at Bethleham in Judaea during the reign of King Herod, some wise men came to Jerusalem from the east. 'Where is the infant king of the Jews?' they asked. 'We saw his star as it rose and have come to do him homage.' When King Herod heard this heas perturbed, and so was the whole of Jerusalem. He called together all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, and enquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 'At Bethleham in Judaea,' they told him' for this is what the prophet wrote: And you, Bethelhem, in the land of Judah, you are by no means least among the leaders of Judah, for out of you will come a leade who will shepherd my people Israel.' Then Herod summoned the wise men to see him privately. He asked them the exact date on which the star had appeared, and sent them to Bethlehem. 'Go and find out all about the child,' he said ' and when you have found him, let me know, so that I too may go and do him homage'. Having listened to what the king had to ay, they set out. and there in fron of them was the star they had seen rising; it went forward and halted over the place where the child was. The sight of the star filled them with delight, and going into the house they saw the child with his mother Mary, and falling to their knees they did him homage. The, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts of gold and frankincese and myrrh. But they were warned in a dream to go back Herod, and returned to their own country by a different way'.

This is the Gospel of the Lord.

HOMILY

The story Adam & Eve today is accepted as a story explaining the Fathers love for creation. The story of the Magi in todays Gospel, is also accepted as a story explaining Jesus openess to the non Jewish world adoring him and welcoming him as their God too. the 3 Kings represent us and all non Jewish people (Pagans) coming to worship the Father through Jesus. We are the new testament isralites because we believe Jesus message is open to all nations and all people. The gifts the 3 Kings bring are Gold=Kingship, Frankincense=Godhead & Myrrh=mantality of Jesus. The gifts we now bring to worhip Father have been chosen by Jesus himself - simple Bread and wine which we offer a gift to the Fathers love. In doing this we see all esle in the world as transitory and focus onthe Father through Christ. What prompts us to begin our journey again and again: After a reality check at some time in our life - Image, Illness, world disaster; the grace of baptism kicks in and guides us back to Christ where we present ourselves to God again and again. so the gifts offered are no longer God, Frankincense and Myrrh but Bread and Wine. -Jesus Body and Blood with us hanging on to his coat tails and going to the Father each mas we attend.

GOSPEL REFLECTION

New born King

Today the child born on Christmas is revealed to be the long-awaited king of the Jews.
As the priests and scribes interpret the prophecies in today's Gospel, he is the ruler expected from the ling of King David, whose greatness is to reach to the ends of the earth (see Micah 5:1-3;2 Samuel 52).
Jesus is found with his mother, as Daivid's son, Solomon, was enthroned alongside his Queen Mother (see 1 Kings 2;19). And the magi come to pay Him tribute, as once kings and queens came to Solomon (see 1 Kings 10:2, 25).
His coming evokes promises that extend back to Israel's beginnings.
Centuries before, an evil king seeking to destroy Moses and the Isralites had summoned Balaam, who came from the East with two servants. But Balaam refused to curse Israel, and instead prophesied that a star and royal staff would arise out of Israel and be exalted above all the nations (see Numbers 22:21; 23:7; 24:7,17).
This is the star the three magi follow. And like Balaam, they too, refuse to be tangled in an evil king's scheme. Their pilgrimage is a sign - that the prophesies in today's First Reading and Pslam are being fulfilled. They come from afar, guided by God's light, bearing the wealth of nations, to Epistle.
We too, must be guided by the toor of David, the bring morning star (see Revelation 22:16), and the light of the world (see Isaiah 42:6; John 8:12).
A the magi adored Him in the manger, let us renew our vow to serve Him, placing our gifts - our intentions and talents - on the altar in this Eucharist. We must offer to Him our very lives thanksgiving. No lesser gift will suffice for this newborn King.