I’m still amazed at how the Lord has called me to this vocation. As I write this, I prepare for my priestly ordination—finally, after years of formation. But when you read this, by God’s grace, I would be a 10-month-old priest celebrating his birthday today!

I remember the things I had to slowly let go of as I journeyed to where I am now. I gave up my roles as Feast Builder, professional educator, singer, entrepreneur, and life coach. People thought I was crazy since they saw me as successful.

But as I continued to find God in my life, embracing the simple, obedient, and celibate life of a priest gave me much joy and peace. Saint Paul put it best when he said, “I even consider everything as a loss because of the supreme good of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (Philippians 3:8).

Things will still be tough. Life will still knock you down. But when we find our One True Love—Jesus—we know there’s no turning back. 

Fr. Migs Ramirez (migsramirez2024@gmail.com)

reflect

How did you find Jesus last year? Where is He leading you this year?

Father, help me find You as I navigate life. Cling to me so I may not go back to where I was before. Amen.

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, religious, pray for us.

First Reading | Isaiah 60:1-6

The image of light is powerful. We use light to dispel darkness and make it possible for us to see. When we speak of light in relation to Christ, a Christian is reminded that it is the light of His truth that dispels the darkness of sin from our lives. Darkness has no place where there is light.

¹ Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem! Your light has come, the glory of the Lord shines upon you. ² See, darkness covers the earth, and thick clouds cover the peoples; but upon you the Lord shines, and over you appears his glory. ³ Nations shall walk by your light, and kings by your shining radiance. ⁴ Raise your eyes and look about; they all gather and come to you: your sons come from afar, and your daughters in the arms of their nurses. ⁵ Then you shall be radiant at what you see, your heart shall throb and overflow, for the riches of the sea shall be emptied out before you, the wealth of nations shall be brought to you. ⁶ Caravans of camels shall fill you, dromedaries from Midian and Ephah; all from Sheba shall come bearing gold and frankincense, and proclaiming the praises of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13

R: Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

¹ O God, with your judgment endow the king, and with your justice, the king’s son; ² he shall govern your people with justice and your afflicted ones with judgment. (R) ⁷ Justice shall flower in his days, and profound peace, till the moon be no more. ⁸ May he rule from sea to sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth. (R) ¹⁰ The kings of Tarshish and the Isles shall offer gifts; the kings of Arabia and Seba shall bring tribute. ¹¹ All kings shall pay him homage, all nations shall serve him. (R) ¹² For he shall rescue the poor when he cries out, and the afflicted when he has no one to help him. ¹³ He shall have pity for the lowly and the poor; the lives of the poor he shall save. (R)

Second Reading | Ephesians 3:2-3, 5-6

As stewards of God’s grace, we are accountable for all the gifts He has bestowed upon us, including the environment we live in and even the knowledge we have gleaned from human studies and science. How well do we preserve our heritage for those who will come after us? Do we care for the environment? Do we use the knowledge of science well?

² Brothers and sisters: You have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for your benefit, ³ namely, that the mystery was made known to me by revelation. ⁵ It was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: ⁶ that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the Gospel.  

Gospel | Matthew 2:1-12

The Magi went to look for the Christ Child because they felt it was right to pay homage to Him. How well do we respect the daily presence of Christ within us? Do we truly recognize His presence, or do we doubt Him because we cannot touch Him with our hands, in the same way that Thomas once did? Christ is with us wherever we may be, and it is our duty and privilege as Christians to make Him manifest to the world. Let us find new ways to do this today.

Gospel Acclamation

We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.

¹ When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, ² saying, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.” ³ When King Herod heard this, he was greatly troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. ⁴ Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. ⁵ They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it has been written through the prophet: ⁶ And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; since from you shall come a ruler, who is to shepherd my people Israel.” ⁷ Then Herod called the magi secretly and ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearance. ⁸ He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search diligently for the child. When you have found him, bring me word, that I too may go and do him homage.” ⁹ After their audience with the king they set out. And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. ¹⁰ They were overjoyed at seeing the star, ¹¹ and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. ¹² And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way.

Read the Bible in one year! Read JOHN 13 - 16 today.

Jesus Is Born for You

Today is the Feast of the Epiphany. Epiphany literally means the unveiling, the revelation, the manifestation. Today, the Baby Jesus is unveiled, revealed, and manifested by Mary to the Magi from the East. They were non-Jews, but Mary found no reason to hide the Child from them.

The typical Nativity scene portrayed on Christmas cards or displayed in malls and homes is usually composed of these characters: the Holy Family, the shepherds, the Magi, some domestic animals, angels, and the star. But did you know that this composition is not biblically accurate, but a combined depiction of the different biblical narratives?

In Luke’s Gospel, only the shepherds, prompted by the angels who announced unto them the birth of the Child, visited Joseph, Mary, and the Infant Jesus. In today’s Gospel from Matthew, the Magi, prompted by the appearance of the star, visited the Holy Family and brought with them gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. No angels nor shepherds. Is it wrong then to display in our homes and churches a combined version of the Gospel event? I don’t think so. Unless you are a stickler for biblical accuracy.

The purpose of some of our liturgical representations is not strictly history but theology. And for the purpose of today’s Feast of the Epiphany, which is the manifestation of Jesus as Savior of all, the combined representation of the Gospel narrative can be both insightful and inspiring.

Jesus is born as Savior and King for all of humanity. Whether you are a person of power, position, wealth, education, or influence (represented by the Magi), or a common, ordinary individual (represented by the shepherds), Jesus was born for you. No one has more access to Jesus compared to others. No one is disqualified before His presence. Every single person, male or female, sinner or saint, can come before the Lord. 

That is the good news of the Epiphany! 

Fr. Joel O. Jason

reflection question

In what area of your life does discrimination have a foothold on?

May all people and nations worship before You, O Lord. Amen.

Today, I pray for: _______________________________________