Epiphany 2025

Monday musical meditations on God's good news






















An opening prayer:

    As with gladness, men of old
    Did the guiding star behold,
    As with joy they hailed its light
    Leading onward, beaming bright,
    So, most glorious Lord, may we
    Evermore your followers be.

    As with joyful steps they sped
    To that lowly manger bed
    There to bend the knee before
    You whom heaven and earth adore;
    So may we with willing feet
    Ever seek your mercy seat.

    As they offered gifts most rare
    At that manger rude and bare,
    So may we with holy joy,
    Pure and free from sin’s alloy,
    All our costliest treasures bring,
    Christ, to you, our heavenly King.
    Holy Jesus, every day
    Keep us in the narrow way;
    And, when earthly things are past,
    Bring our ransomed souls at last
    Where they need no star to guide,
    Where no clouds your glory hide.

    When you come, your country bright
    Will need no created light;
    You, its Light, its Joy, its Crown,
    You, its Sun which goes not down—
    There forever may we sing
    Alleluias to our King! Amen.



Matthew 2:1–12

  • After Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, wise men from the east arrived in Jerusalem, 2 saying, "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star at its rising and have come to worship him."
  • 3 When King Herod heard this, he was deeply disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.
  • 4 So he assembled all the chief priests and scribes of the people and asked them where the Christ would be born.
  • 5 "In Bethlehem of Judea," they told him, "because this is what was written by the prophet: 6 And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah: Because out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel."
  • 7 Then Herod secretly summoned the wise men and asked them the exact time the star appeared.
  • 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully for the child. When you find him, report back to me so that I too can go and worship him."
  • 9 After hearing the king, they went on their way. And there it was-- the star they had seen at its rising. It led them until it came and stopped above the place where the child was.
  • 10 When they saw the star, they were overwhelmed with joy.
  • 11 Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and falling to their knees, they worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
  • 12  And being warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their own country by another route.
helpful notes on Matthew 2:1–12
 

Good news questions

  • If God welcomed astrologers, does he welcome you? How much do you have to do first? 

For others pray

  • That God spreads the good news of the kingdom of the Son he loves in Ukraine

J.S. Bach's beautiful music for today


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