January 3
Epiphany of the Lord
Feast shown for the year 2027; movable feasts can vary from year to year.
The Epiphany of the Lord is a foundational feast in the Christian liturgical calendar, celebrated as the moment when Jesus Christ was revealed to the nations, most famously represented by the visit of the Magi to the infant Jesus. This feast is rooted in the Gospel accounts, especially the narrative in Matthew, which tells of wise men coming from the East to offer gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Their journey is seen as a sign that the Messiah came not only for Israel, but for all peoples and nations.
Historically, Epiphany has been known as the 'Theophany' in the East, sometimes commemorating both the visit of the Magi and other manifestations of Christ, such as His baptism in the Jordan and the miracle at Cana. In Western Christianity, the focus has remained on the Magi, with their gifts symbolizing Christ’s kingship (gold), divinity (frankincense), and future passion and death (myrrh). Celebrating Epiphany, the Church proclaims the universality of the Gospel and reflects on the mystery of God’s revelation in Christ.
Spiritually, Epiphany calls the faithful to open their hearts like the Magi, seeking Christ and offering the gift of self to Him. The feast encourages all Christians to recognize Christ’s light, intended for the entire world, and to be bearers of that light in their own lives. The Epiphany of the Lord reminds us that God’s love is not limited by boundaries, and that the search for truth, represented by the wise men, is crowned in Christ. The Church celebrates this day with solemnity, joy, and timeless hymns that echo the wonder of the first manifestation of Christ to the nations.
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Questions about Epiphany of the Lord (Novus Ordo Missae)
Liturgical texts of January 3, 2027
The liturgical day
Mass readings
First readingIs 60, 1-6
Arise, Jerusalem, shine!
Your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
See, darkness covers the earth,
and thick clouds cover the peoples.
But upon you the Lord rises,
and over you his glory appears.
Nations will walk by your light,
and kings by the brightness of your dawn.
Lift up your eyes all around, and see:
they all gather together, they come to you;
your sons come from afar,
and your daughters are carried on the hip.
Then you will see and be radiant,
your heart will tremble and open wide.
The wealth from across the seas will flow to you,
to you will come the riches of the nations.
A multitude of camels will cover you,
young camels of Midian and Ephah.
All those from Sheba will come,
bringing gold and frankincense;
they will proclaim the praises of the Lord.
– The word of the Lord.
Psalm71 (72), 1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13
O God, give your judgment to the king,
and your justice to the king’s son.
May he govern your people with justice,
and your poor with righteousness!
In his days justice will flourish,
and great peace until the moon is no more!
May he rule from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth!
The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring gifts,
the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer tributes.
All kings shall bow before him,
all nations shall serve him.
He will rescue the poor when they cry out,
and the afflicted who have no one to help.
He will take pity on the weak and the poor,
and save the lives of the poor.
Second readingEp 3, 2-3a.5-6
Brothers and sisters,
you have heard, I suppose,
of the grace that God has given me for your sake:
by revelation he made known to me the mystery.
This mystery was not made known
to mankind in previous generations,
as it has now been revealed
to his holy apostles and prophets,
in the Spirit.
This mystery
is that all the nations now share in the same inheritance,
in the same body,
in the promise,
in Christ Jesus,
through the Good News.
– The word of the Lord.
GospelMt 2, 1-12
Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea,
in the time of King Herod the Great.
Now, behold, magi from the East
came to Jerusalem
and asked,
"Where is the newborn king of the Jews?
We have seen his star at its rising
and we have come to worship him."
When King Herod heard this, he was deeply disturbed,
and all Jerusalem with him.
He called together all the chief priests and scribes of the people
to ask them where the Christ was to be born.
They answered him,
"In Bethlehem of Judea,
for this is what has been written by the prophet:
And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah,
you are by no means least
among the rulers of Judah,
for out of you will come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel."
Then Herod secretly called for the magi
and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared;
then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying,
"Go and search diligently for the child.
And when you have found him, let me know,
so that I too may go and worship him."
After they had heard the king, they set out.
And there ahead of them was the star they had seen at its rising,
which went before them
until it stopped over the place
where the child was.
When they saw the star,
they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.
They went into the house,
saw the child with Mary his mother;
and falling to their knees,
they worshipped him.
They opened their treasures
and offered him gifts:
gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
But having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod,
they went back to their own country by another way.
– The Gospel of the Lord.
Liturgical texts: © AELF — aelf.org