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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.
Méditation
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.
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.
Une parole pour la route
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