Epiphany
Webmaster • January 5, 2024
The word “epiphany” comes from the Greek epiphainen, a verb that means "to shine upon," "to manifest," or “to make known.” Thus, this Solemnity celebrates the many ways that Christ has made Himself known to the world. In Pope Francis’ Epiphany homily last year, he said that if the Magi had remained comfortable, they never would have encountered the Lord in Bethlehem. The Pope also said: “The purpose of everything is not to achieve a personal goal or to receive glory for ourselves, but to encounter God. To let ourselves be enveloped by his love, which is the basis of our hope, which sets us free from evil, opens our hearts to love others, and makes us a people capable of building a more just and fraternal world”.
Blessed Epiphany Chalk
will be available this weekend for parishioners to take, as part of blessing one’s home in the New Year.
(Chalk & Blessing Prayer can be found in front of the Crib)
The Holy Family You may wonder when the Incarnated Word dwelt amongst us, why He did not appear into the world by Himself? Instead, God sent Angel Gabriel to ask Mary whether she agrees to be the Mother of God and then sent Angel Gabriel again to Joseph to 'persuade' him to stay and be the earthly father of Jesus Christ. Why all these efforts? Do you remember when God first created human, he created a man and a woman, then He said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it..." (Gen 1:28) This is the beginning of human family. We are being created to have the beginning of our human life within a family - a child is to be born into this world with a father and a mother, not with just a mother or just a father (unless circumstances outside human control happened), nor with two fathers or two mothers. Since God desired to be with us, wished to be one with us, thus God's Only Begotten Son took our human flesh to become truly God yet truly human, therefore it is only natural for Jesus Christ to have His Life on earth starting from a family - the Holy Family. “Don’t think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets. I didn’t come to destroy, but to fulfil.” (Matt 5:17) Since Jesus came to this world not only to fulfil but also to save us, since He told us that He is ‘the way, the truth, and the life’, and Simeon described Him as ‘a light for revelation to the nations’, therefore everything He did should be a true example for us to imitate, and that means starting from the family
“And when Jesus was baptized...and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.’” (Matthew 3:16-17) Almighty ever-living God, who, when Christ had been baptized in the River Jordan and as the Holy Spirit descended upon him, solemnly declared him your beloved Son, grant that your children by adoption, reborn of water and the Holy Spirit, may always be well pleasing to you. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
White Flower Appeal 2026 The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) is holding its annual appeal this weekend. SPUC exists to transform culture so that abortion is not only abolished but becomes unthinkable. The Society is actively leading the fight in courts, classrooms and culture to achieve this mission, in order to restore a respect for the sanctity of human life from conception until natural death. This year’s appeal postcards allow supporters to join the fightback campaign against the current threats in Parliament to expand abortion and allow assisted suicide. Your support means everything to them. Please be as generous as you can to help SPUC at this critical time for our country. There will also be a Second Collection THIS WEEKEND
What might the Three Kings think about their visit... On our journey to You - the newborn King whom we wish to pay homage to, no one knows who we are looking for and what we are talking about, they laughed at us, mocked us, looked at us suspiciously, they thought that we are mad…but we hold onto what we believe is true - that a Saviour is born, whom will lead us to the worship of the true God. We keep on searching, we did not give up. We can never forget the joy and excitement we experienced when we first met You, whom our ancestors yearn to see and waited for two thousands years. We can finally see You, our previous hardships and sufferings are all worth it. At the moment we saw You, You wiped away all our doubts, worries, and sadness; and overflowing our heart with Love, Joy and Peace. One of us cannot help but shedding his joyful tears, like a child who has finally found what he loves. We are not your 'chosen' ones, yet You revealed to us that Your Salvation does not exclude anyone. You gave us signs from this nature, You lead us and guide us discreetly, so whoever wish to seek You will surely find You. We praise You with all our hearts for that. You are truly human yet You are truly God, in front of our very eyes. How impossible became possible! What a wonder which surpasses all other wonders that we have ever seen. So amazing in sight but also so touching in heart, that God has came down from His Heavenly Throne so to be with us all. Your appearance did not cause us to worship you in fear, but draw us to love you and then adore you from our hearts. The precious gift offerings of gold, frankincense, and myrrh we brought could never be worthy enough in Your Eyes, since all things belong to You. But we wish that You will except them as our humble honour to You - our true God, King of all Kings, the Creator of all.
Holy Day of Obligation Tuesday 6th January Mass at 10am Blessed Epiphany chalk will be available from this Mass in front of the Crib for parishioners to take. Taizé Service at 7pm Led by the 9.30am Sunday Mass music group. There will be refreshments afterwards. All welcome! At the time of Jesus’ birth, it was commonly believed that a new star would appear whenever a new ruler was born. The Father in Heaven used this belief to honor His Son Who was born as the new King. The three Magi from the East were astrologers. When they saw this “new star,” they chose to follow it to discover the new King. Creation itself, in the form of a star, pointed the way, thus giving glory to the newborn King, manifesting Him to the whole world as symbolized by the Magi. The word “Epiphany” means “manifestation.” Therefore, as we honor this moment in time when the Christ Child was made manifest to the world, we need to look into our own hearts. There, we discover Christ’s ongoing manifestation to us so that we can worship Him Who has also chosen to be born within our hearts. We must diligently seek out that manifestation of God within us and respond to it in the same ways that the Magi responded.
“The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” (John 1:9,11-12) Almighty ever-living God, splendour of faithful souls, graciously be pleased to fill the world with your glory, and show yourself to all peoples by the radiance of your light. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Tuesday 6th January 7pm Led by the 9.30am Sunday Mass music group. There will be refreshments after the service.
It has been a tradition in the Catholic Church to bless chalk for Epiphany, and then use the blessed chalk as part of blessing one’s home in the New Year. It will be distributed at the10am Mass on Tuesday 6th January.
The memories of a shepherd I thank You, Lord, Our God Most High, that You fulfilled Your Promise spoken through the prophets, that You finally give us a Saviour to save us from our slavery and from our enemies. How blessed I am, that You sent Your Angel to bring us the good news that the Messiah is born, that I hear with my own ears such enchanting singing from the Choir in Heaven. Although I am so lowly, but because I kept watch over the flocks at night, I was privileged to be one of the first to receive this good tidings. The vision filled me with so much joy and love, thus driven me eagerly to meet Our Promised Saviour in Bethlehem. But poor as I am, the little lamb I carried with me was the most luxurious gift I can afford. But I know God knows my heart. When I arrived at the Cave, I witnessed something truly amazing, a baby was lying in a manger, the golden light and halo coming out from Him indicated that He is not from this world; His Light shone forth like a sun. But my eyes also noticed the terrible environment He was in, He appeared to be even poorer than I am! Nevertheless, I was attracted by this Child, not merely because of His beautiful and adorable Face or His glorious light or His pitiable state, but because He filled me with His Love. He is Love Itself. O Lord, Your descent from Heaven, Your humble birth in a cave, was not being announced like a huge thunder in the sky for everyone to know and fear of and demand attention; because of Love, You came silently in the middle of the night, since You wish us to search for You and gently draw us into Your Presence. O Lord, Your Divinity was hidden in our flesh, it is Your Love too which drove you to become like one of us in human nature, so to let us physically see and understand you are so close with us. Emmanuel! Emmanuel! God is with us, God is with His people, it is all true! You are visible, You are touchable, You are real, to make us cannot deny that Emmanuel is really with us. God Love us, God has not abandon His people. You make our hope and longing in You no longer a dream. But a dream come true. I believe. I truly believe You are the Messiah! You are the Anointed One!