Solemnity of the Epiphany
† Sunday 7th January 2001

Theme: God made manifest to people of every nation.

The Prophet Isaiah 40 : 1 - 5, 9 - 11
“Speak to the heart of Jerusalem, and call to her,” says God. The heart was for the Hebrew the seat of reason, and God is attempting to convince Israel of his concern. Concern not for the place Jerusalem, but for the people themselves who are currently in exile. For they are to be comforted, and then the voice of the prophet inspired by God proclaims, “Prepare in the wilderness a way for our God…then the glory of Lord shall be revealed and all mankind shall see it.” Thus the Church in choosing this reading today, prepares us to better understand the gospel which tells how the Son of God is made manifest among the people of God.

Letter of Paul to Titus 2 : 11 - 14; 3 : 4 - 7
Our salvation, our justification is frequently referred to as rebirth, a recreation. Here, “by means of the cleansing water of rebirth and by renewing us with the Holy Spirit…so generously poured over us through Jesus Christ our saviour.” This ‘justification’ is not because of any righteous action of our own, but because of the mercy and love that God has for us. Thus, “what we have to do is to give up everything that does not lead to God…and have no ambition except to do good.”

Gospel according to Luke 3 : 15 - 16, 21 - 22
Luke often indicates that Jesus is at prayer, before some important point or significant event takes place in his ministry. Thus, “While after his own baptism Jesus was at prayer…the Holy Spirit descended upon him…and a voice came from heaven.” For Luke, the true meaning of this event is visible to all who have the eyes of faith This is the moment when the glory of the Lord is revealed to all peoples, when the true mission of Jesus is made known, and the voice from heaven says, “You are my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests upon you.”

© Peter Harrison 2000

Liturgical Note:
Follow the cycle of Sunday readings for Year C and on weekdays follow the cycle for Year 1.
On following Sundays the readings will recall a series of ‘Epiphanies’ -manifestations of Jesus, as the Lord enters upon his public ministry.