Scripture Reflections for the Epiphany of the Lord

Year B, Lectionary 20


God is the light of the world and we all are intrigued by it but not all of us are moved to pursue this 'star.' Like King Herod, some of us are informed of God's light and are told it is within our reach and instead of journeying toward Jesus we feel threatened by the Christ. Yet others who recognize the divine will go through long distance to come to know God incarnate. And most often we find Jesus in the people we least expect and away from our familiar, comfortable surroundings.

Hate feeling lost on Sundays at church? Searching for a better explanation of the Bible than what you hear from your pastor's sermon? Check out the following collection of audio, video, and text commentaries from various Christian experts for a better understanding of today's scripture that deal with: BirthCallChangeChristmasCommunityCourageCrossCuriosityDarknessDavidDeathDevilDiscipleDisruptionDivisionEncounterEnvironmentEpiphanyExodusFaithFocusFollowGatherGiftGraceGrowthHerodHistoryHopeHumilityIncarnationInclusionInterpretationJealousJourneyKingdomLightLoveMagiMaryMissionPowerProclaimProphecyRefugeesRepentRevelationSalvationScienceSearchSeekShepherdSightSignsSolomonStarTruthUnityWisdom

Isaiah 60:1-6
Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-13
Ephesians 3:2-3, 5-6
Matthew 2:1-12

“they don't do this for Herod because they're wise enough, they're wise women and men to recognize authentic leadership. They don't prostrate themselves before Herod. The Word says that they 'prostrated themselves and did Jesus homage.'”

St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church, Philadelphia | "I am large, I contain multitudes" | Fr. Stephen Thorne | January 3, 2021

“We can't conjure up our own epiphany but we can dispose ourselves to the epiphany if we look out for it, if we pay attention, if we look out at the things and the people and the events of our lives and look for some sign of God there”

"Epiphany 2023" | Fr. Mark E. Thibodeaux, SJ | January 8, 2023

“It is very possible to be a minister who leads others to Jesus and yet not find Jesus ourselves. Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem but today he continues to be born in our lives and various circumstances around us.”

Fr. Emmanuel Ochigbo | January 2, 2023

“The Magi were set in motion by hopeful promise but the consequences of their quest come at a tremendous cost. A government-sanctioned massacre of children.”

U.S. Catholic magazine | Carmen M. Nanko-Fernández | January 2, 2023

“very often a spiritual quest begins with an uncomfortable question. Very often we see people in the Bible beginning their own spiritual quest with an uncomfortable question.”

"Epiphany 2024" | Fr. Mark E. Thibodeaux, SJ | January 7, 2024

“as a star of Christ how bright is your light?”

Fr. Emmanuel Ochigbo | January 1, 2024

“Where is this new born king? Where do we go to find him? And having found him how are we returning? Are we changed forever or do we continue looking for another or for other means to try and bring some joy and completion to these hungry hearts, to these thirsting souls?”

Saint Katharine Drexel Parish - Boston, MA | Fr. Oscar Pratt | January 3, 2021

“We should be prepared that in what our worldly and even educated minds do not anticipate, God will manifest himself”

Catholic Women Preach | Dr. Carolyn Woo | January 8, 2017

“as we celebrate the revelation of Jesus to the rest of the world, he has come to enlighten us. But that light also gives us responsibility”

Fr. Emmanuel Ochigbo | December 28, 2021

“will you go on a journey of spiritual curiosity all the way to the feet of Jesus and when you get there will you lay down your life and leave your treasures behind? Will you go back another way and trust that the Lord will lead you all the way to a place of eternal salvation?”

"Spiritual Curiosity" | Fr. Mark E. Thibodeaux, SJ |

“you can't keep God's grace outside because God has no wall, no fence. God desires all people to be saved.”

"We're In This Love Together" | Fr. Stephen Thorne | January 6, 2019

“Christmas is bursting open with joy not just for the chosen people...for the whole world”

St. Teresa of Avila - DC | Monsignor Raymond East | January 2, 2022

“What was the wisdom of the Magi? That they were seeking the Christ”

U.S. Catholic magazine | Sallie Latkovich, C.S.J. | December 22, 2021

“Like the Magi who follow the star the asylum seekers too must follow their own star hovering over them, trusting, believing, and moving forward and onward to what is life-giving. They must choose life not death. They rise and go meet the one who comes, Jesus the Christ who gives them life.”

Catholic Women Preach | Genie Natividad, MM | December 22, 2021

“the news of the baby brought peace, joy and fulfillment to the Magi because they were people of good will but the same news would trouble Herod because he was not of good will”

Fr. Emmanuel Ochigbo | December 31, 2020

“So these two books, the book of creation and the book of the scriptures, need to be read together in order for the Magi to find the Christ child”

Catholic Productions | "The Wise Men in Search of the King" | Brant Pitre | December 31, 2018

“Who is a Christian? The Christian is that one who has stopped doing his own will or her own will. Who stopped doing what he or she likes and now is doing the will of Christ and now is living in the way of Christ.”

Fr. Emmanuel Ochigbo | January 6, 2020
Overall Readings

“Unlike the chief priests and scribes, the Magi were vulnerable to loss but in that loss they discovered the pathway to becoming fully developed human beings”

"Magi from the East" | Fr. Geoffrey Plant | January 1, 2023

“Are we lost because the king is absent or because we are trying to be the king with all power and control rather than being open to the ways in which we might be called to serve?”

U.S. Catholic magazine | Emily Davis | January 2, 2024

“I'm marveling that 3 wise people follow the same star coming from different nations looking for the King of Kings”

St. Teresa of Avila - DC | Monsignor Raymond East | January 8, 2022

“He is not just the king of Israel, he's not just the Messiah, he is the one who is greater than Solomon and to that effect these wise men from the east come and fulfill the psalm about Solomon by bringing him gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh”

Catholic Productions | "We Three Kings of Orient Are... From Where?" | Brant Pitre | December 27, 2018

“Jesus may be king of the Jews but his rule is not limited to the Jewish people. His rule will bring God's justice and peace to the whole world.”

"Magi from the East" | Fr. Geoffrey Plant | December 27, 2021

“We have a choice to remain the same or to open our hearts, to open our eyes to see the light of Christ in others, to walk with those who are searching and to purify our motives and intentions for the spirit is generous to guide and accompany us on our journey of life”

Sr. Jane Wakahiu, LSOSF |

“Each of us has a star to follow that will bring us to proclaim the Good News of a God who became one with us. A God of all peoples, nationalities, races, genders. A God who makes all things new.”

Catholic Women Preach | Janice McLaughlin, MM | January 7, 2018

“What if we stop dividing ourselves because God does not see us as divided. God sees us as one family.”

St. Teresa of Avila - DC | Monsignor Raymond East | January 7, 2024

“When the light of the Epiphany sears our souls it also casts a beam of light across and beyond any horizon that we've imagined before, calling us to a new vision”

Catholic Women Preach | Barbara E. Quinn, RSCJ | December 10, 2018

“So the message of the Epiphany is to us today to follow the star to those places around us where we will encounter the disruption of God in the lives of people that are in the margins”

Catholic Women Preach | Nontando Hadebe | January 24, 2001

“Now think about those first seekers, they knew not...the promises revealed by the prophets like Isaiah that we heard today but...if they could follow the Lord and come to the place where Jesus was...and worship him what about you and me?”

St. Teresa of Avila - DC | Monsignor Raymond East | January 3, 2021

“The Magi have travelled a great distance to find the newly-born King of the Jews. Herod’s wise men do nothing even though Bethlehem is just down the road”

"Wise men from the East" | Fr. Geoffrey Plant | December 31, 2023