Not Over Yet!

Epiphany Sunday
02 January 2011






Come, let us worship Christ, who has appeared to us.


First reading Isaiah 60:1-6 

Arise, shine out, Jerusalem, for your light has come,

the glory of the Lord is rising on you,

though night still covers the earth

and darkness the peoples.

Above you the Lord now rises

and above you his glory appears.

The nations come to your light

and kings to your dawning brightness.

Lift up your eyes and look round:

all are assembling and coming towards you,

your sons from far away

and your daughters being tenderly carried.

At this sight you will grow radiant,

your heart throbbing and full;

since the riches of the sea will flow to you,

the wealth of the nations come to you;

camels in throngs will cover you,

and dromedaries of Midian and Ephah;

everyone in Sheba will come,

bringing gold and incense

and singing the praise of the Lord.

Psalm 71:1-2,7-8,10-13

Second reading Ephesians 3:2-3,5-6 
You have probably heard how I have been entrusted by God with the grace he meant for you, and that it was by a revelation that I was given the knowledge of the mystery. This mystery that has now been revealed through the Spirit to his holy apostles and prophets was unknown to any men in past generations; it means that pagans now share the same inheritance, that they are parts of the same body, and that the same promise has been made to them, in Jesus Christ, through the gospel.

Gospel Matthew 2:1-12

After Jesus had been born at Bethlehem in Judaea during the reign of King Herod, some wise men came to Jerusalem from the east. ‘Where is the infant king of the Jews?’ they asked. ‘We saw his star as it rose and have come to do him homage.’ When King Herod heard this he was perturbed, and so was the whole of Jerusalem. He called together all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, and enquired of them where the Christ was to be born. ‘At Bethlehem in Judaea,’ they told him ‘for this is what the prophet wrote:

And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,

you are by no means least among the leaders of Judah,

for out of you will come a leader

who will shepherd my people Israel.’

Then Herod summoned the wise men to see him privately. He asked them the exact date on which the star had appeared, and sent them on to Bethlehem. ‘Go and find out all about the child,’ he said ‘and when you have found him, let me know, so that I too may go and do him homage.’ Having listened to what the king had to say, they set out. And there in front of them was the star they had seen rising; it went forward, and halted over the place where the child was. The sight of the star filled them with delight, and going into the house they saw the child with his mother Mary, and falling to their knees they did him homage. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh. But they were warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, and returned to their own country by a different way.

Reflection
By Anabelle Balla

Merry Christmas! Yes, you read it right, Merry Christmas! Christmas is not over yet. Gift giving in the spirit of Christmas continues! Do you know how many gifts have you received last Christmas? How about, how many have you given? Looking at the pile of gifts I received, I feel so blessed, so loved by the people who gave them. But the most wonderful feeling I savored was when I was wrapping and distributing the gifts I have for people around me. Indeed, you are happier when you give than when you receive especially, when you cheerfully give with love.

How about your gifts for Jesus, our birthday celebrant? What did you give Him? I asked myself this same question and wondered if the gifts I have given Him are worthy for a King, for a Saviour, who gave His life so that we may become eligible to receive eternal life. The song “Little Drummer Boy” is conveying a very good message on this, with these lyrics…

I have no gift to bring, pa rum pum pum pum
That's fit to give the King, pa rum pum pum pum,
……………….

I played my best for Him, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,
Then He smiled at me, pa rum pum pum pum
Me and my drum.


Oftentimes, we prepare more precious, more expensive gifts to more important people in our life and leave the simple and less costly gifts to those who are not so close to us. In which category did we put Jesus’ name in our gift list? Did we consider Him as more important and gave Him the best gift we can offer as He deserves? If not, it’s not yet too late. We can still offer Him our gifts. In fact, we can give Him gifts everyday or as often as we can!

The Magi in this Sunday’s Gospel, did not only offer their precious gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh but also their submission to the Child Jesus whom they acknowledged as their King. They deliberately sought out Jesus and when they found Him through the star, they were filled with happiness; “how happy they were, what joy was theirs!” (Mt 2:9-10) And then they bowed down and worshiped Him before giving Him the gifts!

Jesus, You are my King and my Saviour. I humbly submit myself to Your dominion as the Almighty Father’s only Son. I offer You every act of goodness I do everyday as gifts. May my daily humble offerings give You and the Father more honor and glory. Amen.



Christmas is not over yet. You can still offer your best gifts to Jesus!















Next week on God-speak
Not Good Enough