Reflections for Sunday, January 8, 2017: The Epiphany of the Lord
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion
Mass Readings:
1st Reading: Isaiah 60:1-6
2nd Reading: Ephesians 3:2-3, 5-6
Responsorial: Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-13 Gospel: Matthew 2:1-12
The Importance of Listening to and Being Guided by the Holy Spirit
The star that they had seen at its rising preceded them. (Matthew 2:9)
The Magi certainly weren’t the first to follow a star. Ancient mariners used stars to navigate the seas. Greeks and Persians and Egyptians saw noble stories and even future predictions in them. Poets invoked their aid in their quest for love. But this star was different. This star led wise sages from the East to a humble carpenter, his wife, and . . . the Son of God.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if a bright star could lead us to Jesus? Life would be so much simpler, wouldn’t it? We hear so many different voices and see so many different paths before us—how can we ever know the right way?
Actually, God has given us something much better than a star: the Holy Spirit, the “Spirit of truth” (John 16:13). He is not just a distant star but God himself, living and active in our hearts. So let’s practice learning how to hear him.
One important way is through Scripture. More than just a set of stories and teachings, Scripture is “living and effective” (Hebrews 4:12). That means that the Spirit can take a passage that was written thousands of years ago and bring it to life for you. He can show you God’s love more deeply, give you guidance, or console you in a time of trial.
Try listening to the Spirit today. Take one of the readings from Mass, and read it slowly and prayerfully. Try to quiet the distractions in your mind, and keep your focus on Jesus. See if something from this passage speaks to you personally. If it’s a good and encouraging thought, it may well be the Holy Spirit! Remain with that thought for a while, and watch as the Spirit opens your heart to Jesus a little bit more.
Remember, the Spirit’s goal is not to tell you how to do every little task in life. Rather, he wants to help you recognize Jesus, even in the most unlikely places—just as the Magi did.
“Holy Spirit, thank you for guiding me. Help me to follow your lead today.”
(Many thanks to The Word Among Us for allowing us to use meditations from their monthly devotional magazine. Used with permission. For more information on how to subscribe to their devotional magazine,
go to www.wau.org).
Questions for Reflection or Discussion:
1. The first reading should fill us with hope as we contemplate what God has accomplished in the coming of Jesus. Through his coming: “light has come,” “the glory of the Lord shines upon you,” “your sons (and daughters) come from afar,” and “you shall be radiant at what you see, your heart shall throb and overflow” (Isaiah 60:1, 4, 5).
• In what ways does the coming of Jesus and your faith in him fill you with hope?
• What are some areas of your life that may need an increase in faith and hope?
• What are some steps you can take in 2017 to increase your faith and hope in those areas?
2. The Responsorial Psalm speaks of a king endowed by God to “govern your people with justice,” “rescue the poor when he cries out,” “have pity for the lowly and the poor,” and “the lives of the poor he shall save” (Psalm 72: 2, 12, 13).
• In what ways has Jesus fulfilled these words?
• In 2017, what are some new steps you can take to share in this work of Jesus?
3. In the second reading, we hear the wonderful revelation that the Gentiles are now “coheirs” and “copartners” with the Jewish people in all the promises fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
• What do these words mean to you?
• How can we as Christians be a better witness of Christ’s love to our Jewish brothers and sisters?
• Why not spend a few minutes now to pray for Jewish people whom you know, and for all the Jewish people, that they may one day come to know Jesus as their Messiah and Lord.
4. In the Gospel, we are told that when the magi inquired of the whereabouts of the “newborn king of the Jews,” King Herod was “greatly troubled and all Jerusalem with him” (Matthew 2: 2, 3). The magi, on the other hand, were “overjoyed” when they found Jesus, and “did him homage” (2:11).
• Why do you think King Herod was so troubled by this news?
• Why do you think the magi’s reaction was so different than Herod’s?
• What is your reaction when you reflect on these events?
5. The meditation reminds us that “God has given us something much better than a star: the Holy Spirit, the “Spirit of truth” (John 16:13). He is not just a distant star but God himself, living and active in our hearts. So let’s practice learning how to hear him.” The meditation then ends with these words “Try listening to the Spirit today. Take one of the readings from Mass, and read it slowly and prayerfully. Try to quiet the distractions in your mind, and keep your focus on Jesus. See if something from this passage speaks to you personally. If it’s a good and encouraging thought, it may well be the Holy Spirit! Remain with that thought for a while, and watch as the Spirit opens your heart to Jesus a little bit more. Remember, the Spirit’s goal is not to tell you how to do every little task in life. Rather, he wants to help you recognize Jesus, even in the most unlikely places—just as the Magi did.”
• What role does the Holy Spirit play in your life in leading you to worshipping and thanking Jesus for what he has done for you?
• How important to you is “listening to the Spirit” and allowing him to guide you during the day?
6. Take some time now to pray for the grace to open your life more to the work of the Holy Spirit, and to his leading. Use the prayer below from the end of the meditation as a starting point.
