Sunday 4 January 2026 Solemnity -Epiphany of the Lord

Sunday 4 January 2026
Solemnity -Epiphany of the Lord
Antiphons and Readings on p.146 of Daily Missal and p.69 of Sunday Missal

Entrance Antiphon
Behold the Lord, the Mighty One, has come; and kingship is in his grasp, and power and dominion. 

First Reading: Isaiah 60:1-6

A reading from the book of Isaiah

Arise, shine; for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. 
For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, 
and thick darkness the peoples; 
but the Lord will arise upon you, 
and his glory will be seen upon you. 
And nations shall walk by your light, and kings in the brightness of your rising. 

Lift up your eyes round about, and see; 
they all gather together, they come to you; 
your sons shall come from far, 
and your daughters shall be carried in the arms. 
Then you shall see and be radiant, 
your heart shall thrill and rejoice; 
because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you, 
the wealth of the nations shall come to you. 
A multitude of camels shall cover you, 
the young camels of Midian and Ephah; 
all those from Sheba shall come. 
They shall bring gold and frankincense, 
and shall proclaim the praise of the Lord.

The word of the Lord.

Responsorial psalm: Ps 72: 1-2. 7-8. 10-11. 12-13 (R.cf. 11)

 R/: All nations on earth shall fall prostrate before you, O Lord.

O God, give your judgement to the king,

to a king’s son your justice,

that he may judge your people in justice, 

and your poor in right judgement.

In his days shall justice flourish,

and great peace till the moon is no more.

He shall rule from sea to sea,

from the River to the bounds of the earth.

The kings of Tarshish and the islands

shall pay him tribute.

The kings of Sheba and Seba

shall bring him gifts.

Before him all kings shall fall prostrate,

all nations shall serve him.

For he shall save the needy when they cry,

the poor, and those who are helpless.

He will have pity on the weak and the needy,

and save the lives of the needy.

R/: All nations on earth shall fall prostrate before you, O Lord.

Second reading: Ephesians 3:2-3a. 5-6

A reading from the Letter of St Paul to the Ephesians

Brothers and sisters,
I assume that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace 
that was given to me for you, 
how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, 
which was not made known to the children of men in other generations 
as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; 
that is, how the Gentiles are fellow heirs, 
members of the same body, 
and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the Gospel.

The word of the Lord.

Please stand for the Gospel
Alleluia. Alleluia.
We have seen his star in the east,
and have come to worship the Lord.
Alleluia.

Gospel:Matthew 2: 1-12

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew 

Now, when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea 
in the days of Herod the king, 
behold, Wise Men from the East came to Jerusalem saying, 
“Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? 
For we have seen his star in the East, 
and have come to worship him.” 

When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, 
and all Jerusalem with him; 
and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, 
he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 
They told him, “In Bethlehe