God reveals God's self to the world so that all might see and follow the distant star to a new dawn

READING

Matthew 2:1-12

In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, "Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage." When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:

`And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;

for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.'"

Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage." When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.

 

PRAYERS

It is in following the Light that we discover the truth. With the love of God to guide our footsteps, let us journey to the new Bethlehem and offer our prayers to the Holy Child.

+ For the light of hope which illumines the depths of reality and releases our hearts to offer the treasures of our souls.

+ For the fragile stirrings of peace sown in troubled places throughout the world, that freedom may flourish, and its fruits bring hope to those most in need.

+ For the forgiveness of our sins: our greed and narrow-mindedness, our selfishness and misuse of power, our misjudgment of one another, that we may acknowledge our faults and turn to the all-merciful love of God.

+ That we may be humbled in the presence of the poor, bending the knee of our hearts to those who have no defender, and to those whose economic and personal distress pains us to encounter.

+ For those who are suffering with illness and for those who bear a private grief, that the Holy Comforter may bring them relief from their burdens.

+ For all that is to be revealed to us during this new year: the joys, the disappointments, the struggles, the new directions and insights; that through all our journeys we may know the Messiah as our constant companion.

+ For a generosity of spirit, that through the delight of giving treasures rich and rare, we may share a common bounty and support a shared mission.

+ We offer these prayers in thanksgiving for the Body and Blood of Christ, a foretaste of that heavenly banquet upon which the faithful departed continually feast. Amen.

 

MUSIC

We Three Kings

RTists for Christmas

 

Be Thou My Vision

Norton Hall Band

 

We Three Kings

Maya Solovey