Isaiah 60: 1-6
Jerusalem is a beacon of hope, not only drawing the exiled Jews back to their home but also attracting all the nations to worship the Lord.

Ephesians 3: 2-3, 5-6
The revelation given to Paul is that the pagans share with the Jews the same inheritance and the same promise through the Gospel.

Matthew 2: 1-12
The wise men from the east follow the light of a star to find the new born king of the Jews so that they can worship him and offer him their gifts.

Ecclesiasticus 3: 2-6, 12-14
Love for our parents is a source of many blessings.

Colossians 3: 12-21
The children of God put on the clothes of virtue every day.

Matthew 2: 13-15, 19-23
The angel’s message to Joseph – protect your family.

Isaiah 7: 10-14
The prophecy in this reading from Isaiah speaks of the intervention of God in human history.  A child will be born, called Emmanuel, which means, “God is with us”.

Romans 1: 1-7
Salvation is offered through Christ Jesus, the Son of God, whose coming into the world is good news.

Matthew 1: 18-24
This is the fulfilment of the prophecy given in the first reading, telling the story of Mary conceiving a child through the Holy Spirit and giving birth to a son named Emmanuel.

Isaiah 35: 1-6, 10
A wasteland in flower, blind people whose eyes are opened – these are among the joyful wonders that will accompany the coming of God.

James 5: 7-10
The practical example of a farmer waiting patiently upon the weather without losing heart is given as a model for the Christian life.

Matthew 11: 2-11
Jesus’ deeds are signs of the coming of God as foretold by Isaiah in the first reading.

Isaiah 11: 1-10
Even when everything around seems full of upheaval and threat, the Lord’s justice and love for his people promises hope, and a future of peace and knowledge of his friendship.

Romans 15: 4-9
Hope in God’s great love for us is the foundation of a deep security, which frees us to offer true friendship to all people, regardless of how different they seem from us.

Matthew 3: 1-12
The coming of Jesus is a moment of promise but a moment, too, of a difficult message for those like the Pharisees.  The promise of God’s love in Jesus calls for repentance, a change of life built on an honest humility about who we really are.