Feast of the Epiphany - January 4, 2009

Daily Prayer
"Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise."

Entrance Antiphon:
The Lord and ruler is coming; kingship is his, and government and power.

Opening Prayer:
Let us pray(that we will be guided by the light of faith) Father, you revealed your Son to the nations by the guidance of a star. Lead us to your glory in heaven by the light of faith.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Alternative Opening Prayer:
Let us pray(grateful for the glory revealed today through God made man)
Father of light, unchanging God, today you reveal to people of faith the resplendent fact of the Word made flesh.

Your light is strong, your love is near; draw us beyond the limits which this world imposes, to the life where your Spirit makes all life complete.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Today's Readings:
Daily Meditation:
Your light has come, the glory of the Lord shines upon you. Isaiah 60

May the kings of Tarshish and the islands bring tribute, the kings of Arabia and Seba offer gifts. May all kings bow before him, all nations serve him. For he rescues the poor when they cry out, the oppressed who have no one to help. He shows pity to the needy and the poor and saves the lives of the poor. Psalm 72

The Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. Ephesians 3

This great feast celebrated in the East as the Baptism of the Lord - is a feast of "revelation." Jesus is the beloved Son of God, a light for the whole world, the very one who comes to us in time, this year,to be our savior: to rescue the poor, to hear our cry,to save us in our need, in our poverty.

May we bring him the gifts of our faith and trust and hope. May we recognize him as our savior who gave his own life to set us free from the power of sin and death.Come, let us adore him.

Today's Daily Reflection
Intercessions:
Today our Savior was adored by the Magi. Let us also worship him with joy as we pray Light from Light, shine on us this day.

Christ, you revealed yourself in the flesh, sanctify us through prayer and the word of God.
Christ, your witness was the Spirit, free our lives from the spirit of doubt.
Christ, you revealed yourself to the angels, help us to feel the joy of heaven on earth.
Christ, you were proclaimed to the nations, by the power of the Holy Spirit open the hearts of all.
Christ, you generated faith in the world, renew the faith of all believers.
Christ, you were taken up in glory, enkindle in us a longing for your kingdom.

Closing Prayer:
Light of the world, You have come into my life; you are here for me in my poverty. I am dazzled by the gifts you bring to me on this day:"Your light is strong, your love is near."

Truly you have drawn me far beyond the limits of the world,and into the limit less boundaries of your dizzying love. My gifts are small, and often filled with fear. They are my trust and my hope.

Please accept them and heal me and let me be free enough to rejoice that you are the Beloved Sonand that you have come for me.

May the Lord bless us, protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life. Amen.