Sunday Readings' Discussion Questions
Feast of the Epiphany, Jan. 6, 2013 (EpiphanyC)
From the Center for Liturgy at Saint Louis University
Sunday Readings
Podcast of the Readings
Video of Reflections on Readings
Lecturas y Comentarios
New American Bible
Prayer of the Hours
BQ: Is it ever permitted to lie?
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Questions on Sunday's Readings for use by discussion groups,
prayer groups, or for individual prayer.
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First Reading
Isaiah 60:1-6
1. Though darkness covered the earth, light and glory had come to Jerusalem, says the First Reading. Are you always aware of God's light and glory in your life?
2. Did Jerusalem have any light of her own? Were nations coming to her or to the light? What do you think draws people to the Church today?
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 72: 1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13
1. Our psalmist describes a powerful king who will rule from sea to sea. Yet this king stoops to rescue the afflicted and has pity on the lowly and the poor. In what way do these verses speak to you about the coming of our Savior.
2. The psalm mentions that all the kings of the civilized world shall offer gifts to this newly endowed king. Are you also inspired to bring tribute to our
newborn Savior, and what sort of gift will you offer?
Second Reading
Ephesians 3:2-3a,5-6
1. Just what was this mystery that brightened the whole world? Was a star an integral part of the story?
2. A revelation was given to Paul by the Spirit, he says. It told him that Christ's life was too great to be limited to its starting place. Not only the Jews but the Gentiles as well are "coheirs, members of the same body." Have Christians always treated the Jewish peoples in the way Paul describes?
Gospel
Matthew 2:1-12
1. God sent the Magi a message that caused them to ride camels half way across the known world. What would motivate you to put in this kind of effort? What was worth this kind of search for them?
2. What is the main contrast between Jerusalem and Bethlehem? Between Herod and the Magi? What does this tell you about places and people God chooses?
Sunday Bible Study Group
Please share your thoughts on these Sunday Readings. And please do use these questions for your own Bible study sessions with family and friends.
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“All kings shall pay him homage,
ReplyDeleteall nations shall serve him.”
Our psalmist speaks about a
perfect king – a king who judges
like God, governs his people with
justice, his oppressed with right
judgment. But where is such a king
to be found? Not likely among the
kings of Israel.
The psalm speaks of a king that is
to live as long as the sun endures,
like the moon through all generations.
So there is a mystery about him –
“He rules from sea to sea, from the
river to the ends of the earth.”
The verses of the psalm recall for us
the Epiphany – “The Kings of Tarshish
and the islands shall offer gifts; the kings
of Arabia and Seba shall bring tribute.”
[as in today's Gospel].
The more we read the Psalm, the more
it tells us about the Messiah to come –
“May all kings bow before him, all nations
serve him.”
We see the light, just as the prophet
Isaiah said we would in our 1st reading.
The mystery is revealed to us, poor in
spirit though we are: “He rescues the poor
when they cry out, the afflicted who
have no one to help.” This is what our
Good Shepherd, Jesus, is sent to do,
to shepherd God’s people. This is why
we join the magi in paying homage
to our newborn King and join with our
psalmist in singing, "Blessed be the Lord;
Blessed be His glorious name."
Amen