January 6
Wednesday after Epiphany
Feast shown for the year 2027; movable feasts can vary from year to year.
The Wednesday after Epiphany forms part of the days following the great feast of the Epiphany, during which the Church continues to contemplate the mystery of Christ's manifestation to all nations. These days, sometimes called the 'Epiphany octave' in tradition, are a kind of spiritual extension of the joy of Epiphany, even though the formal octave no longer exists in the current Roman liturgy.
During this period, the liturgy looks especially at the early public life of Jesus, showing how His identity is revealed to Israel and to the Gentiles. The readings for the Wednesday after Epiphany often focus on stories such as the miracles of Jesus in Galilee, or St John’s letter affirming God’s love for us in Christ. While there is no particular saint commemorated today, the day calls Catholics to dwell on the mystery of the Incarnation, and the mission given to Christians to spread the light of Christ to all peoples, as symbolised by the Magi at Epiphany.
Spiritually, these days are a time to reflect on how Christ is present in daily life and how his light can shine through every believer. The continuing celebration helps prolong the wonder and joy of the Christmas season, drawing out its meaning for each Christian and the world.
Permanent link
Ask a question about today’s feast
Questions about Wednesday after Epiphany (Novus Ordo Missae)
Liturgical texts of January 6, 2027
The liturgical day
Mass readings
Reading1 Jn 4, 11-18
Beloved,
since God has loved us so much,
we also ought to love one another.
No one has ever seen God.
But if we love one another,
God remains in us,
and his love is perfected in us.
This is how we know
that we remain in him
and he in us:
he has given us a share in his Spirit.
As for us, we have seen and testify
that the Father has sent his Son
as Savior of the world.
Whoever proclaims that Jesus is the Son of God,
God remains in him,
and he in God.
And we have come to know the love that God has for us,
and we have believed in it.
God is love:
whoever remains in love remains in God,
and God remains in him.
This is how love is made perfect among us:
having confidence on the day of judgment;
for as Jesus is, so are we
confident in this world.
There is no fear in love,
perfect love drives out fear;
because fear involves punishment,
and whoever remains in fear
has not been made perfect in love.
– The word of the Lord.
Psalm71 (72), 1-2, 10-11, 12-13
O God, give your judgment to the king,
your justice to the king’s son.
May he govern your people with justice,
and give judgment for the poor!
The kings of Tarshish and the islands will bring tribute.
The kings of Sheba and Seba will offer gifts.
All kings will bow down before him,
all nations will serve him.
He will rescue the poor who cry out,
and the afflicted who have no help.
He will have compassion on the weak and the poor,
and the lives of the poor he will save.
GospelMc 6, 45-52
Immediately after feeding the five thousand men,
Jesus made his disciples get into the boat
and go on ahead of him to the other side, toward Bethsaida,
while he dismissed the crowd himself.
After saying goodbye to them,
he went up on the mountain to pray.
When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea
and he was alone on the land.
Seeing that they were struggling at the oars,
because the wind was against them,
he came toward them late in the night,
walking on the sea,
and he intended to pass them by.
When they saw him walking on the sea,
the disciples thought it was a ghost
and cried out.
For all of them saw him and were terrified.
But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said,
"Take courage! It is I; do not be afraid!"
Then he got into the boat with them
and the wind died down;
and among themselves
they were utterly astounded,
because they had not understood about the loaves:
their hearts were hardened.
– The Gospel of the Lord.
Liturgical texts: © AELF — aelf.org