You revealed
your Son to the nations
by the guidance
of a star.
Lead us to your
glory in heaven
by the light of
faith.
From The Liturgy of the Hours, Epiphany
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Dear Brothers and Sisters,
For the Church which believes and prays, the Wise Men
from the East who, guided by the star, made their way to the manger of
Bethlehem, are only the beginning of a great procession which winds throughout
history…. Like the shepherds, who as the first visitors to the newborn Child in
the manger, embodied the poor of Israel and more generally those humble souls
who live in deep interior closeness to Jesus, so the men from the East embody
the world of the peoples, the Church of the Gentiles – the men and women who in
every age set out on the way which leads to the Child of Bethlehem, to offer
him homage as the Son of God and to bow down before him. The Church calls this
feast “Epiphany” – the appearance of the Godhead. If we consider the fact that
from the very beginning men and women of every place, of every continent, of
all the different cultures, mentalities and lifestyles, have been on the way to
Christ, then we can truly say that this pilgrimage and this encounter with God
in the form of a Child is an epiphany of God’s goodness and loving kindness for
humanity (cf. Tit 3:4)….
His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI
Homily, Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord6 January 2013
For the complete text, please visit:
http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-benedict-homily-for-epiphany
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Guided by the star we bring our treasures, our God-given gifts, to
offer to our Saviour. Each of us is on a
pilgrimage to encounter Christ. Each of
us has something special to present to our loving God. This witness of our faith is meant to lead others
to experience God’s infinite love.
What gift do you bring to the Child of Bethlehem?
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