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The Epiphany of Our Lord
Jesus Christ |
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O God, who by the leading of a star didst manifest thy only begotten Son to
the peoples of the earth: Lead us, who know thee now by faith, to thy
presence, where we may behold thy glory face to face; through the same Jesus
Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one
God, now and for ever. Amen. |
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Lesson |
Isaiah 60:1-6,9
The Ingathering of the Dispersed
Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has
risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the
peoples; but the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon
you. And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your
rising. Lift up your eyes round about, and see; they all gather together, they
come to you; your sons shall come from far, and your daughters shall be
carried in the arms. Then you shall see and be radiant, your heart shall thrill and rejoice;
because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you, the wealth of the
nations shall come to you. A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Mid'ian and
Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and
frankincense, and shall proclaim the praise of the LORD. For the coastlands shall wait for me, the ships of Tarshish first, to
bring your sons from far, their silver and gold with them, for the name of
the LORD your God, and for the Holy One of Israel, because he has glorified
you. |
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Epistle |
Ephesians 3:1-12
Paul's Ministry to the Gentiles
For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus on behalf of you
Gentiles -- assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace that was
given to me for you, how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written
briefly. When you read this you can perceive my insight into the mystery of
Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it
has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; that is, how the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and
partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God's grace
which was given me by the working of his power. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was
given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make all men see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages
in God who created all things; that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made
known to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose which he has realized in
Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and confidence of access through our faith in
him. |
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Gospel |
Matthew 2:1-12
The Visit of the Wise Men
Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the
king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen his
star in the East, and have come to worship him." When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with
him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he
inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it is written by the
prophet: `And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among
the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will govern my
people Israel.'" Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what
time the star appeared; and he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the
child, and when you have found him bring me word, that I too may come and
worship him." When they had heard the king they went their way; and lo, the star which
they had seen in the East went before them, till it came to rest over the
place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy; and going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and
they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they
offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to
their own country by another way. |
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