JAN 5, 2025

HOMILY PREP

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Epiphany - YEAR C

Writing a Good Homily

OUTLINE the Mass readings and identify common themes
PRAY and reflect on the readings
Listen to or read other HOMILIES

Familiarize yourself with the HISTORICAL, SOCIOLOGICAL, AND THEOLOGICAL context of the readings
Consult COMMENTARIES

Relate the theme to PREACHING TOPICS, issues, current events, relevant to your congregation.
Align your message with Catholic teachings using CATECHISM of the Catholic Church
Refer to PAPAL HOMILIES and encyclicals.

Familiarize yourself with the LITURGY OF THE MASS, including MUSIC, prayers, PETITIONS, and other components
Offer ways to help parents and grandparents to engage with their CHILDREN in discussing the homily's message, creating a shared learning experience for families.

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PLANNING GUIDE
Liturgical Environment
MUSIC

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JUBILEE 2025

The Jubilee Year begins on Christmas Eve in Rome. Here are 16 pages with Resources to help you understand and celebrate the Jubilee and Holy Year of 2025!

Epiphany - YEAR C

SOURCE: Basilica of the The National Shrine. Crypt Church (TV Mass)

Celebrant & Homilist: Rev. Thomas Kalita
Choir: Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception Cantor & Organist, Washington, D.C.

DETAILED SUMMARY w/ TIMESTAMPS ✨

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⬇️ Planning Notes

Epiphany - YEAR C

Fr. Lawrence Mick

EXCERPT: Celebrating this feast gives us an annual reminder of God’s intent to save all peoples and of our kinship as brothers and sisters in Christ with people throughout the world. Pope Francis has been trying to help us embrace a more global view of things, as exemplified in his encyclical “Laudato Si’, on Care for Our Common Home” and in many of his addresses. The problems of the world today are global problems and solving them requires a global perspective.

Preachers and planners should keep this global view in mind as they prepare homilies and prayer texts and music for this weekend. Some parishes have had three children or adults dressed as kings as part of the entrance procession at Mass. Others, though, include representatives of the various ethnic communities making up the parish take part in the procession or in other visible roles in the liturgy for this feast. If you have a number of language groups in the parish, the petitions might be announced in those various languages, even if that means also repeating them in the dominant language of the assembly.

The readings for this solemnity are the same every year. The Missal now contains a separate set of collect prayers for a vigil Mass Saturday afternoon or evening. The readings are the same as Mass on the day itself. — READ MORE

SOURCE: CELEBRATION

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⬇️ Greeting

Epiphany - YEAR C

OPTION A: Bearers of Light to the World

OPTION A: Dear brothers and sisters, as we celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany, let us reflect on our call to be bearers of light in the world. The illumination that the magi sought in following the star to the newborn King is the same light that each of us carries within ourselves. By embracing our faith and sharing it with others, we help to dispel darkness and guide those around us to the love and joy that Jesus offers. On this day, let us renew our commitment to shining brightly in the world and embracing the hope that comes with the revelation of Christ.

OPTION B: Journey of Faith

OPTION B: Today, we celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany, a day that reminds us of the journey taken by the three wise men who followed a star in search of the Messiah. Just as they ventured forward with faith and hope, let us consider our own journey of faith and the divine guidance that leads us along our path. As we gather in worship, let us ask for the grace to remain steadfast and trusting on our journey, so that we may discover the gift of God's love, which surpasses all understanding.

OPTION C: Seeking the Lord

OPTION C: Youth is the time of new adventures and new experiences. Many youth simply jump from experience to experience without direction. Others spend their youth seeking, trying to find the answer to Life and Truth. Some just look for the next convenience. Others seek something worth their commitment.

To end the Christmas season, we turn to Matthew's story of the Magi, the wise men who rose above the mundane day-to-day experience to seek someone. The "light to the nations," the newborn King of the Jews.

SOURCE: WORD-SUNDAY

OPTION D: Making Christ's Presence Known

OPTION D: Today’s feast is filled with ironies for us. It celebrates those from afar who early acknowledged the Christ child and reminds us of those nearby who were threatened by him. Living in a current political climate that debunks globalism and challenges the meaning of Christianity, we must ask: “How do we make Christ’s presence known?” Who do we accept into our communities and our lives regardless of their origins? Christ’s coming has always turned things upside down.

SOURCE: CELEBRATION

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⬇️ Kyrie

Epiphany - YEAR C

Lord Jesus, you were born in Bethlehem, one small corner of the earth: Lord, have mercy.
Christ Jesus, you fulfilled God’s promise to be a light for all the nations: Christ, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, you call us to extend our arms and hearts to all people: Lord, have mercy.

SOURCE: CELEBRATION

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⬇️ Collect

Epiphany - YEAR C

SOURCE: Julie Storr

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⬇️ Lectionary Readings

Epiphany - YEAR C

COMMENTARY | BIBLE STUDY | HOLY SEE

Epiphany Proclamation

IN KEEPING WITH an ancient practice of the Holy Church, the moveable feasts of the coming year are announced on the Epiphany of the Lord. It is sung immediately following the Gospel (and before the homily).

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⬇️ Homily

Epiphany - YEAR C

POPE FRANCIS | POPE BENEDICT XVI

Here are several homily ideas inspired by Matthew 2:1-12:

The Light of the World: The star that guided the Magi can be seen as a symbol of Jesus as the light of the world. A homily could focus on the hope and guidance that Jesus offers in our lives, even in times of darkness or uncertainty.hould also include relevant references to Catholic doctrine and tradition.

The Journey of Faith: The Magi’s journey to find the newborn king can be seen as a metaphor for our own spiritual journeys. We may not have all the answers, but like the Magi, we can trust in God’s guidance as we seek truth and enlightenment.

Seeking and Finding: The Magi followed the star to find Jesus, demonstrating the importance of seeking God with persistence and faith. This story encourages us to pursue our relationship with God, even when the path seems uncertain.

Gifts for the King: The gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh symbolize different aspects of Jesus’ identity and mission. A homily could explore the significance of these gifts and challenge listeners to consider what gifts they can offer to God in their own lives.

Welcoming the Stranger: The Magi were foreigners who came to worship Jesus, highlighting the inclusive nature of God’s love. This can lead to a reflection on welcoming those who are different from us and extending God’s love to all people.

FEATURED HOMILIES

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⬇️ Prayers of the Faithful

Epiphany - YEAR C

Discover a vast collection of over 100 petitions that are thoughtfully updated each week, ensuring a strong connection to the Sunday Readings. These petitions, designed for the Prayers of the Faithful during Mass, provide a relevant and meaningful way for your parish community to unite in prayer and intercession.

CHURCH | WORLD | SPECIAL NEEDS | COMMUNITY

Presider We pray now for all families and for all who attempt to live lovingPresider On this holy feast, we extend our prayer intentions to the ends of the earth.

Minister For the church: that it may vigorously embrace and celebrate all cultures and people across the earth, we pray:

For those nations in the Middle East torn apart by animosity or war, especially Israel and Palestine; and for the conflicts still to be resolved by the major faiths in Jerusalem, we pray:
For those who do not recognize that God is made manifest in other religious traditions or belief systems; and for all who seek meaning in life, we pray:
For all who struggle to expand their horizons beyond the familiar and who resist or are afraid to reach out to those of different races, languages, politics, religions or cultures, we pray:
For the United Nations and other multi-national organizations whose work is dedicated to solving problems and issues that affect our planet and all who live on it, we pray:
For those in this community who struggle to look beyond our own families, friends, neighbors or neighborhoods; and for the courage to share God’s love beyond our boundaries, we pray:

Presider God of all nations, this holy feast calls us to expand our horizons in love to all people, even those who seem radically different. Help us to remember that this message was inherent in Jesus — God coming among us in the form of humanity. May we remember that our faith in Christ urges us onward and outward. In the name of God, the boundless One, we pray.

SOURCE: CELEBRATION

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⬇️ Preface

Epiphany - YEAR C

SOURCE: Julie Storr

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⬇️ Prayer After Communion

Epiphany - YEAR C

SOURCE: Julie Storr

AUGUSTINE INSTITUTE (5:26) – Dr. Michael Patrick Barber

Epiphany - YEAR C

20+C+M+B+YEAR Meaning

Blessing of the Home and Household on Epiphany

Jubilee Holy Year 2025

The Jubilee Year begins on Christmas Eve in Rome. Be sure to download Fr. Horning’s 16 page e-book with Resources to help you understand and celebrate the Jubilee and Holy Year of 2025!

What You Need to Know

Official Hymn for the 2025 Jubilee

Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy

Solemnity of the Lord’s Epiphany

118. Many traditions and genuine manifestations of popular piety have been developed in relation to the Solemnity of the Lord’s Epiphany, which is of ancient origin and rich in spiritual content. Among such forms of popular piety, mention may be made of:

the solemn proclamation of Easter and the principal dominical feasts; its revival in many places would be opportune since it served to make the connection between the Epiphany and Easter, and orientate all feasts towards the greatest Christian solemnity;
the exchange of “Epiphany gifts”, which derives from the gifts offered to Jesus by the three kings (cf. Mt 2,11) and more radically from the gift made to mankind by God in the birth of Emmanuel amongst us (cf. Is 7, 14; 9, 16; Mt 1, 23). It is important, however, to ensure that the exchange of gifts on the solemnity of the Epiphany retain a Christian character, indicating that its meaning is evangelical: hence the gifts offered should be a genuine expression of popular piety and free from extravagance, luxury, and waste, all of which are extraneous to the Christian origins of this practice;
the blessing of homes, on whose lentils are inscribed the Cross of salvation, together with the indication of the year and the initials of the three wise men (C+M+B), which can also be interpreted to mean Christus mansionem benedicat, written in blessed chalk; this custom, often accompanied by processions of children accompanied by their parents, expresses the blessing of Christ through the intercession of the three wise men and is an occasion for gathering offerings for charitable and missionary purposes;
initiatives in solidarity with those who come from afar; whether Christian or not, popular piety has encouraged a sense of solidarity and openness;
assistance to the work of evangelization; the strong missionary character of the Epiphany has been well understood by popular piety and many initiatives in support of the missions flourish on 6 January, especially the “Missionary work of the Holy Child”, promoted by the Apostolic See;
the assignation of Patrons; in many religious communities and confraternities, patron saints are assigned to the members for the coming year.

Liturgical Norms for Christmas:

The normal liturgical color for Christmas is white, but the General Instruction of the Roman Missal also states in n. 346:

g) On more solemn days, festive, that is, more precious, sacred vestments may be used even if not of the color of the day.

h) The colors gold or silver may be worn on more solemn occasions in the Dioceses of the United States of America.

These liturgical colors draw the parallel between the liturgical Times of Christmas and Easter, the two most important Times around which the Church Year turns.

From Universal Norms on the Liturgical Year and the General Roman Calendar:

32. After the annual celebration of the Paschal Mystery, the Church has no more ancient custom than celebrating the memorial of the Nativity of the Lord and of his first manifestations, and this takes place in Christmas Time.

33. Christmas Time runs from First Vespers (Evening Prayer I) of the Nativity of the Lord up to and including the Sunday after Epiphany or after January 6.

34. The Vigil Mass of the Nativity is used on the evening of December 24, either before or after First.