O Lord, open my lips.
And my mouth shall proclaim Your praise.

O God, come to my assistance, O Lord, make haste to help me.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be, world without end.

Amen.

The Epiphany of Christ

" 'Epiphany' means 'showing forth' or 'manifestation'." In today's feast we celebrate three phases of the historical manifestations of the Divine Word in human flesh.

1. To the Magi at Bethlehem, as King of our souls and bodies;
2. In the baptismal water of the Jordon, as eternal Son of God;
3. In the Cana miracle, as Ruler of all creation.

We conclude today the celebration of our Lord's redemptive 'partaking of our humanity': the celebration which began with the feast of the Nativity and which is our unfailing reminder that, through the humility and love exercised by Jesus Christ, we are enabled to "become partakers of His divinity".

The whole purpose of Christian worship is to unite us so closely with our Lord that we may be filled with His life and love and power, and that thereby we may be reunited, through the Son with His Father and ours. In the prayer (page 5), we voice our longing for this eternal union, begun here and now, to be brought to fruition hereafter in the beauty of the perfect manifestation of the Blessed and Adorable Trinity.

Acclamations For Reflection:—

• Bring your offerings to the Lord, you sons of God; adore the Lord in His holy court.

• Sing praise to our God, sing praise; sing praise to our King, with wisdom sing praise.

• Let all the earth adore You and sing to You: Let it sing a psalm to your name, O Lord.