Opening Song:     Allelu (Liam Lawton)
Allelu, Allelu, Allelu
The heart of Christ with a song for all to hear
The wind will rise and will whisper when you’re near
The song of love that will take
my soul to flight
My song of freedom beyond my brighest light.

Allelu, Allelu, Alleu, let rivers flow
Song of surrender, song to remember
Allelu, forevermore.

Reflection:   'Shadows'

And if tonight my soul find her peace
in sleep, and sink into good oblivion,
and in the morning wake like a new opened flower
then I have been dipped again in god, and new created ...

... And if in the changing phases of a man's life
I fall in sickness and in misery
my wrists seem broken and my heart seems dead
and my strength is gone and my life
is only the leavings of a life:

and still among it all, snatches of lovely oblivion and snatches
of renewal, odd wintry flowers upon the withered stem,

yet new strange flowers such as my life has not brought forth before,

new blossoms of me.
Then I know that still I am in the hands of the unknown god,

he is breaking me down to his oblivion to send me forth

on a new morning a new man.     D.H. Lawrence

WORD OF GOD     Book of Numbers
GOD spoke to Moses: "Tell Aaron and his sons, This is how you are to bless the People of Israel. Say to them, GOD bless you and keep you, GOD smile on you and gift you, GOD look you full in the face and make you prosper. In so doing, they will place my name on the People of Israel– I will confirm it by blessing them."

Psalm 67
Response:   May God bless us in his mercy.

God, mark us with grace and blessing! Smile!
The whole country will see how you work,
all the godless nations see how you save. R/

God! Let people thank and enjoy you.
Let all people thank and enjoy you.
Let all far-flung people become happy
and shout their happiness because
You judge them fair and square,
you tend the far-flung peoples. R/

God! Let people thank and enjoy you.
Let all people thank and enjoy you.
Earth, display your exuberance!
You mark us with blessing, O God, our God.
You mark us with blessing, O God.
Earth's four corners--honour him! R/
 

Galatians 4:4-7
But when the time arrived that was set by God the Father, God sent his Son, born among us of a woman, born under the conditions of the law so that he might redeem those of us who have been kidnapped by the law. Thus we have been set free to experience our rightful heritage. You can tell for sure that you are now fully adopted as his own children because God sent the Spirit of his Son into our lives crying out, "Papa! Father!" Doesn't that privilege of intimate conversation with God make it plain that you are not a slave, but a child? And if you are a child, you're also an heir, with complete access to the inheritance.

Matthew 2:1-12     Scholars from the East
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem village, Judah territory--this was during Herod's kingship--a band of scholars arrived in Jerusalem from the East. They asked around, "Where can we find and pay homage to the newborn King of the Jews? We observed a star in the eastern sky that signalled his birth. We're on pilgrimage to worship him."

When word of their inquiry got to Herod, he was terrified--and not Herod alone, but most of Jerusalem as well. Herod lost no time. He gathered all the high priests and religion scholars in the city together and asked, "Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?"

They told him, "Bethlehem, Judah territory. The prophet Micah wrote it plainly: It's you, Bethlehem, in Judah's land, no longer bringing up the rear. From you will come the leader who will shepherd-rule my people, my Israel."

Herod then arranged a secret meeting with the scholars from the East. Pretending to be as devout as they were, he got them to tell him exactly when the birth-announcement star appeared. Then he told them the prophecy about Bethlehem, and said, "Go find this child. Leave no stone unturned. As soon as you find him, send word and I'll join you at once in your worship."

Instructed by the king, they set off. Then the star appeared again, the same star they had seen in the eastern skies. It led them on until it hovered over the place of the child. They could hardly contain themselves: They were in the right place! They had arrived at the right time!

They entered the house and saw the child in the arms of Mary, his mother. Overcome, they kneeled and worshiped him. Then they opened their luggage and presented gifts: gold, frankincense, myrrh.

In a dream, they were warned not to report back to Herod. So they worked out another route, left the territory without being seen, and returned to their own country.

HYMN:  The First Nowell

INTENTIONS
We unite ourselves with the Magi who come before the Lord bearing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, and with humble trust we pray: Bring us peace O Lord.

For the Church during this Year of the Eucharist: that the glory of the Lord will shine upon the Church. R/

For all world leaders: that Christ will enlighten their hearts and fill them with compassion for those suffering the effects of (some natural disaster). R/

For migrants, refugees, and those seeking asylum: that they will experience the welcome and tenderness of Christ who has pity for the lowly and the poor. R/

For all families: that this New Year will be a time of profound peace and the flowering of deep and abiding love. R/

For those who face the hardships of life without the benefit of faith, that the Christ present in the person of others will bring them compassion and help. R/

For the grace this week to surrender selfish ways and to follow the Way who is Christ. R/

Loving Father, may every nation on earth adore you. Hear our petitions and, united with the Blessed Virgin Mary, draw us close to your Son, who is our Lord now and for ever. Amen.

CLOSING SONG:      Let There Be Peace On Earth