Catholic TV Mass Online January 2, 2022: Epiphany of the Lord

Presider: Fr. Mark Payne Parish: Chaplain, Heart of the Nation Choir: St. Charles Schola Cantorum TEXT FROM THE HOMILY I have been guided by the gift of the holy spirit to focus on the star, the light of Jesus. That light gave way to the magi to discover where he was and they were overjoyed. It was a light that brought them hope and joy and that is what led them to Jesus. Hope and joy. But we have another character within the story. Herod. You know something? I bet no one in this room discovered that he never saw the star. He couldn't see the star. He was full of anger. He was full of envy. All he wanted to do is to get rid of the King of the Jews. Why? Because he was threatened. He didn't want another king to take his place or to overcome him. So all he was was filled with darkness. And isn't that true when we are angry or when we're upset, when we're envious or jealous, when we're not seeing the good the joy, the life in front of us, then we become overwhelmed in darkness and that's what happened to poor Herod. He was overwhelmed in darkness. He could not see the star. And yet the magi who were filled with hope and joy wanting to meet Jesus, and that's all of us, on this Sunday we need to want to meet Jesus. But that means that we have to see his light, his star. And the only way we're going to see that, because we're given the insight is that we can't be angry and full of doom and gloom, no, we have to be filled with hope and joy. And allow our joy to touch the people around us. You see, that's what makes the difference. And even the magi were warned in a dream not to go back to Herod. You see the Lord's light touches each and every one of our lives just like it touched the lives of those in the first reading. A light was visible and shone over the people and made a difference. How many of us know that light makes a difference? I know I sometimes need a flashlight to see or I need to turn on the light because it's dark. And sometimes even in our world we experience people who are living in darkness. They're sad and they grumble about everything and they don't seem to see anything good around us. Be like the magi. Let Jesus' light touch you and the hearts of those you care about. Be that light. Guide them to Jesus and let Jesus make his home, his presence, in your life, in your hearts. Entrance: We Three Kings Text: 88 44 6 with refrain; based on Matthew 2:1–11. Text and music: Carols, Hymns and Songs, 1863; John H. Hopkins, Jr., 1820–1891, alt. Psalm 72: Lord Every Nation Text © 1969, 1981, 1997, ICEL. All rights reserved. Used with permission. Music: Owen Alstott, © 1977, 1990, OCP. All rights reserved. Preparation: What Child Is This? Text: 87 87 with refrain; Bramley and Stainer’s Christmas Carols New and Old, 1871; William C. Dix, 1837–1898. Music: Trad. English melody, 16th cent.; Bramley and Stainer’s Christmas Carols New and Old, 1871. Communion: The First Noel Text: Irregular with refrain; trad. English Carol, 17th cent.; verse 6, alt. Music: Trad. English Carol, 17th cent. Sending Forth: As With Gladness Men of Old Text: 77 77 77; William C. Dix, 1837–1898. Music: Conrad Kocher, 1786–1872; adapt. by William H. Monk, 1823–1889 Gospel Acclamation: Christmas Gospel Acclamation Pietro Yon, 1886–1943 Arr. by Paul Hillebrand Arr. © 2014, WLP Mass Setting: Mass of Christ the Savior Text © 2010, ICEL. All rights reserved. Used with permission. Music © 2007, 2009, Daniel L. Schutte. Published by OCP. All rights reserved. Permission to podcast/stream the music in this liturgy obtained from ONE LICENSE, License No. A-718591. www.HeartoftheNation.org