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Saint Gertrude Parish - Lasne
January 4, 2026
On this page you will find:
The readings for Mass, the Mass leaflet with the choice of hymns
A sample universal prayer available for download, in PDF and editable Word formats.
A meditation on the Sunday Gospel, a spiritual text and commentary by Marie-Noëlle Thabut
Epiphany of the Lord
Solemnity
“We saw his star
and we came
we prostrate ourselves before him
Matthew 2:2
Readings from the Mass
Mass leaflet
Universal Prayer
Consult the Lectio Divina page, which invites you to read the Gospel in a prayerful atmosphere so that you may be touched in your heart. It is important not to rush to read commentaries or homilies before having this personal experience of encountering Christ in Scripture.
Next, if you wish, you can read the meditations below which will enrich your personal reading and meditation.
Meditation by Pope Francis
In today's Gospel, the story of the Magi, who came from the East to Bethlehem to worship the Messiah, lends the Feast of the Epiphany a breath of universality. And this is the breath of the Church, which desires that all the peoples of the earth may encounter Jesus and experience his merciful love. This is the Church's desire: that they may find the mercy of Jesus, his love.
Christ has just been born; he cannot yet speak, and all peoples—represented by the Magi—can already meet him, recognize him, and worship him. The Magi say, “We saw his star and have come to worship him” (Mt 2:2). Herod heard this as soon as the Magi arrived in Jerusalem. These Magi were distinguished men from distant lands and diverse cultures, and they had set out for the land of Israel to worship the newly born king. From time immemorial, the Church has seen in them the image of all humanity, and with today’s celebration of the Feast of the Epiphany, she seeks to reverently point out to every man and woman in this world the Child who was born for the salvation of all.
On Christmas night, Jesus appeared to the shepherds, humble and despised men—some even call them brigands—; they were the first to bring a little warmth to that cold cave in Bethlehem. Now come the Magi, from distant lands, also mysteriously drawn to this Child. The shepherds and the Magi are very different from one another; but they have something in common: heaven. The shepherds of Bethlehem ran at once to see Jesus, not because they were particularly good, but because they were keeping watch at night and, looking up at the sky, they saw a sign, they heard his message, and they followed him. And so it was with the Magi: they scanned the heavens, they saw a new star, they interpreted the sign, and they set out on their journey from afar. The shepherds and the Magi teach us that to meet Jesus, it is necessary to know how to lift our gaze to heaven, not to be withdrawn into ourselves, into our selfishness, but to have our hearts and minds open to the horizon of God, who always surprises us, to know how to welcome his messages and respond quickly and generously.
The Magi, the Gospel tells us, “when they saw the star […] rejoiced with exceeding great joy” (Mt 2:10). For us too, it is a great consolation to see the star, that is, to feel guided and not abandoned to our fate. And the star is the Gospel, the Word of the Lord, as the psalm says: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path” (118:105). This light guides us to Christ. Without listening to the Gospel, it is impossible to encounter him! Indeed, by following the star, the Magi arrived at the place where Jesus was. And there, “they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they bowed down and worshiped him” (Mt 2:11). The experience of the Magi urges us not to settle for mediocrity, not to merely "get by," but to seek the meaning of things, to passionately explore the great mystery of life. And it teaches us not to be scandalized by pettiness and poverty, but to recognize majesty in humility and to know how to kneel before it.
May the Virgin Mary, who welcomed the Magi to Bethlehem, help us to lift our gaze beyond ourselves, to let ourselves be guided by the star of the Gospel to encounter Jesus, and to humble ourselves in adoration of him. In this way, we can bring a ray of her light to others and share with them the joy of this journey.
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SOLEMNITY OF THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD
POPE FRANCIS
ANGELUS
Place Saint-Pierre, Wednesday, January 6, 2016
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Homily
Draw from the source
The three readings for this Epiphany Sunday help us understand that God's salvation is for everyone, without exception. This is important because, since the dawn of humanity, enemies have been constantly fighting each other. From the very beginning, history has been marked by violence and fury. But today's biblical texts bring us good news: reconciliation and love will have the final say.
The Book of Isaiah (first reading) announces the end of a dark period: “Arise, shine! For light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you!” It is God’s salvation given to his people. A new and joyful era begins. Even distant lands will recognize the Lord. These multitudes setting out toward the light remind us of the Magi from the East. Like them, we are all called to go to the one who is the light of the world.
The Apostle Paul echoes this sentiment. His message stems from the extraordinary transformation he experienced on the road to Damascus. There, he received a profound revelation: God's salvation is not reserved for the people God has chosen. It is also offered to the Gentile nations throughout the world. All are "fellow heirs." This extraordinary revelation fills Paul's heart with joy. In the risen Jesus, it is God's universal love that triumphs over violence and rejection.
In his Gospel, Saint Matthew offers us much more modest passages. He tells us of the Magi who came from the East. They discovered a star that announced the birth of a new king. They left everything and set out to worship this King. Thus, pagans became the first worshippers of the Son of God. This is already a foreshadowing of what will happen after the resurrection: the light that shines in the night of Bethlehem will radiate to the ends of the earth.
On their journey, the Magi encountered the chief priests and the scribes. These men knew everything about the Bible. This Messiah, whom they awaited with all their prayers, was to be born in Bethlehem; they knew this, but they did nothing. They remained trapped in their certainties, their "deepest conviction." They did not allow God the chance to reveal himself as he saw fit. The entire Gospel tells us that the Lord came for all; but nothing will happen if we do not leave our certainties and our comfort zone to go and meet the one who is the light of the world.
Saint Matthew also tells us about Herod. He is a violent, powerful, and murderous king. He does not hesitate to kill all those who oppose him, including members of his own family. When he hears about this newborn king, he sees him as a dangerous rival who must be eliminated. This is the first act of the war against Jesus, which will lead to the deaths of innocent people. And throughout the centuries, the followers of this king will be persecuted, put to death, or ridiculed. And how can we not think of all the secular and atheist fundamentalisms that do everything they can to eliminate the Christian faith?
But nothing can prevent God from calling all people to himself. His salvation is offered to all. Through the Magi who come to the cradle of the infant king, all peoples are called. He is the one who desires to show mercy to the sinful world. Foreigners and pagans have their rightful place in his heart. On the evening of the Ascension, he himself will address his apostles, sending them on their mission: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”
This feast of the Epiphany is therefore that of the universal Church. Its mission is not to save itself, but to be united with Christ who desires to save the world. Like the Magi, we come to Jesus to kneel before him and receive from him the love with which he wants to fill us. We can no longer remain confined within the limits of our church steeple and our parish; we absolutely must go beyond them. Otherwise, we would be like the chief priests and the scribes who missed this encounter with the Messiah King.
Each year, our prayers and solidarity are especially for the Christian communities of Africa. Many suffer from poverty, war, famine, and persecution. They need the prayers and fraternal support of Catholics in France and Europe. May hope prevail on this feast day! May all peoples recognize that the little child found by the Magi is their savior.
"Today the light shone, all the people saw it rise; this is a day that will be the first of a light of love and peace."
Sources: Liturgical journals Feu nouveau – Sunday biblical readings (Albert Vanoye) – Words for the Road (Jean Yves Garnot) – Personal files
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