EUCHARISTIC ADORATION
THROUGH THE LITURGICAL YEAR (# 6)
A Weekly Pastoral Tool for the YEAR OF THE EUCHARIST
Epiphany, Year A
Jan. 2-8, 2005
“The Gifts of the Magi”
(+) In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
(A moment of silence)
SONG: Any suitable Eucharistic hymn or Christmas song may be sung.
WORDS OF ST. BASIL THE GREAT
(Cf. Homily 2 on Christ’s Origin)
The star came to rest above the place where the child was. At the sight of it the wise men were filled with great joy and that great joy should fill our hearts as well. It is the same as the joy the shepherds received from the glad tidings brought by the angels. Let us join the wise men in worship and the shepherds in giving glory to God. Let us dance with the angels and sing: To us is born this day a savior who is Christ the Lord. The Lord is God and he has appeared to us …
Could anyone be so lacking in sensibility and so ungrateful as not to join us all in our gladness, exultation, and radiant joy? This feast belongs to the whole universe. It gives heavenly gifts to the earth, it sends archangels to Zechariah and to Mary, it assembles a choir of angels to sing, Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth. Stars cross the sky; wise men journey from pagan lands; earth receives its savior.
Let there be no one without a gift to offer, no one without gratitude as we celebrate the salvation of the world, the birthday of the human race.
SILENT ADORATION AND PRAYER
OPENING PRAYER
Leader: Loving Father, in Jesus, your beloved Son, you have given us the greatest Christmas gift and the stupendous model of self-giving. Like the magi from the East, we present to you today the gold of our charity and good works, the incense of our prayer and faith, the myrrh of our bitter suffering that leads to glorious resurrection. May we be filled with awe and gratitude for the tremendous love you have manifested in Jesus Christ, your Child. By incarnating the Christmas-Eucharistic mystery in our life of service and caring, especially for the poorest of the poor, may we share Jesus, your life-giving gift to the nations, in a perpetual epiphany of love. We thank you with humble and grateful hearts for Jesus. He is our Lord and Savior, now and forever.
Part I
JESUS MASTER TRUTH
Listening to the Word
GOSPEL READING: Mt 2:1-12
PERSONAL REFLECTION
(As a tool for personal reflection, please visit the PDDM Website: www.pddm.org // www.pddm.us for BREAKING THE BREAD OF THE WORD (# 6): A Lectio Divina Approach to the Sunday Liturgy. The Biblico-Liturgical Reflections are an aid for a deeper understanding of the Gospel reading.)
SONG: Any Christmas hymn or suitable song of praise may be sung.
Part II
JESUS MASTER WAY
Confrontation with the Word
POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART
Leader: The Christian Epiphany was a kindly initiative of God on our behalf. God hoped that we would be awed by the profound goodness and incredible beauty of his grandiose manifestation of love in his beloved Son, Jesus Christ. The magi from the East responded with amazing wisdom and generosity to the grandeur of the Epiphany. They followed the guiding star and at the end of their spiritual quest for the Christ Child, they presented to him their most valuable gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh, and the homage of their entire being.
In the spirit of the Christmas-Epiphany mystery, let us examine our hearts and see how we have responded to the compassionate epiphany of his love.
1. What does “the gift of the Magi” mean to us personally? In what way are we the “magi” of today?
2. How do we imitate the Magi gift-givers? Above all, how do we imitate Jesus Savior, the perfect gift and gift-giver of all?
3. Do we intend to give ourselves to the Christ Child as “gift”? How and in what way?
PENITENTIAL PRAYER
Leader: For not acting wisely as the magi in giving you the best of ourselves and for our lack of zeal in embarking on a spiritual journey to follow the guiding star in our lives: Lord, have mercy.
Assembly: Lord, have mercy.
Leader: For our lack of faith that with your grace, we will be able to offer you the gold of our loving acts, the incense of our prayer and faith, and the myrrh of our pain and suffering: Christ, have mercy.
Assembly: Christ, have mercy.
Leader: For not allowing the Christmas-Epiphany mystery to fill us with joy, love and peace and for our failure to manifest your saving love to the wounded, fragmented and violent world of today: Lord, have mercy.
Assembly: Lord, have mercy.
SONG: Any suitable song may be sung.
Part III
JESUS LIFE
Acting upon the Word
WORDS OF POPE JOHN PAUL II
(From the Holy Father’s Angelus message, January 6, 2003)
Today, on the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord, the Child born in the night of Bethlehem is manifested to the world as the light of salvation for all peoples. The Gospel of St. Matthew narrates that several Magi came from the East, adored the Child and offered him symbolic gifts: gold for a king, incense for God, and myrrh for the man who will be buried …
In today’s solemnity emerges the universal and missionary vocation of the Church. She is called to spread throughout the world the light of the Good news, a source of life and renewal for every person and for humanity … The Gospel tells us that a star guided the Magi to Jerusalem and then on to Bethlehem. The ancient prophecies compared the future Messiah to a heavenly star. This emblem has also been attributed to Mary: if Christ is the star that leads to God, Mary is the star that leads to Jesus. Today let us entrust to her motherly protection the entire Christian people … May the light of Christ enlighten everyone everyday of the New Year that we have just begun.
PERSONAL PRAYER
CONTEMPLATING WITH MARY THE FACE OF CHRIST: The Mysteries of the Rosary may be prayed in part or in full.
THE WAY OF SOLIDARITY: PRAYER OF INTERCESSION
Leader: On this day our Savior was adored by the Magi. Let us also worship him with joy as we pray to him:
(R.) SAVE THE POOR, O LORD.
1. King of the nations, you called the Magi to adore you as the first representatives of the nations. Give us a willing spirit of adoration and service. (R.)
2. King of glory, you judge your people with justice. Grant humankind an abundant measure of peace. (R.)
3. King of ages, you endure from age to age. Send your word as fresh spring rain falling on our hearts. (R.)
4. King of justice, you desire to free the poor who have no advocate. Be compassionate to the suffering and the afflicted. (R.)
5. Lord, your name is blessed for all ages. Show the wonders of your saving power to our deceased brothers and sisters. (R.)
(Other prayers may be added.)
THE LORD’S PRAYER
CONCLUDING PRAYER
Leader: Father,
you revealed your Son to the nations
by the guidance of a star.
Lead us to your glory in heaven
by the light of faith.
Assembly: Amen.
FINAL SONG: Any suitable Eucharistic hymn or Christmas song may be sung.
Prepared by Sr. Mary Margaret Tapang PDDM
PIAE DISCIPULAE DIVINI MAGISTRI
SISTER DISCIPLES OF THE DIVINE MASTER
60 Sunset Ave., Staten Island, NY 10314
Tel. (718) 494-8597 // (718) 761-2323
Website: WWW.PDDM.US