Lectio Divina for the Solemnity of
the Epiphany of the Lord
We begin our prayer:
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the
Holy Spirit. Amen.
May the splendor of your majesty, O Lord, we pray,
shed its light upon our hearts,
that we may pass through the shadows of this world
and reach the brightness of our eternal home.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the
Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
Collect, Solemnity of the Epiphany, Vigil Mass
Reading (Lectio)
Read the following Scripture two or three times.
Matthew 2:1-12
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the
days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east
arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is the newborn
king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and
have come to do him homage.” When King Herod
heard this, he was greatly troubled, and all
Jerusalem with him. Assembling all the chief priests
and the scribes of the people, he inquired of them
where the Christ was to be born. They said to him,
“In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it has been written
through the prophet:
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.”
Then Herod called the magi secretly and ascertained
from them the time of the star’s appearance. 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.” 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. They were overjoyed at seeing the star,
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. And having been warned in a dream not to
return to Herod, they departed for their country by
another way.
Meditation (Meditatio)
After the reading, take some time to reflect in
silence on one or more of the following questions:
• What word or words in this passage caught
your attention?
• What in this passage comforted you?
• What in this passage challenged you?
If practicing lectio divina as a family or in a group,
after the reflection time, invite the participants to
share their responses.
Prayer (Oratio)
Read the Scripture passage one more time. Bring to
the Lord the praise, petition, or thanksgiving that
the Word inspires in you.
Contemplation (Contemplatio)
Read the Scripture again, followed by this
reflection:
What conversion of mind, heart, and life is the Lord
asking of me?
When King Herod heard this, he was greatly
troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. What events
or circumstances cause anxiety for me? How can I
be a person who brings peace to my community?
Go and search diligently for the child. For what am
I searching? How can I be more diligent in my
efforts to grow in holiness?
They prostrated themselves and did him homage.
How do I show honor and reverence for God? How
can I grow in humility?
After a period of silent reflection and/or discussion,
all recite the Lord’s Prayer and the following:
Closing Prayer:
O God, with your judgment endow the king,
and with your justice, the king’s son;
He shall govern your people with justice
and your afflicted ones with judgment.
Justice shall flower in his days,
and profound peace, till the moon be no more.
May he rule from sea to sea, and from the River to
the ends of the earth.
The kings of Tarshish and the Isles shall offer gifts;
the kings of Arabia and Seba shall bring tribute.
All kings shall pay him homage,
all nations shall serve him.
For he shall rescue the poor when he cries out,
and the afflicted when he has no one to help him.
He shall have pity for the lowly and the poor;
the lives of the poor he shall save.
From Psalm 72
Living the Word This Week
How can I make my life a gift for others in charity?
When attending Mass this week, make a special
effort to be attentive to the prayers and actions of
the Eucharistic liturgy and to receive the Eucharist
with reverence.
Excerpts from the New American Bible, revised edition ©
2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine,
Washington, D.C. and are used by permission of the copyright
owner. Excerpts from the Lectionary for Mass for Use in the
Dioceses of the United States of America, second typical
edition © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of
Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC. Used with
permission. All rights reserved. No portion of this text may be
reproduced by any means without permission in writing from
the copyright owner.
Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal ©
2010, International Commission on English in the Liturgy
Corporation. All rights reserved.