In Jurisdictions where Epiphany is commemorated on January 6
FIRST READINGSirach 24:1-2, 8-12
Wisdom praises herself,
and tells of her glory in the midst of her people.
In the assembly of the Most High she opens her mouth,
and in the presence of his hosts she tells of her glory:
‘Then the Creator of all things gave me a command,
and my Creator chose the place for my tent.
He said, “Make your dwelling in Jacob,
and in Israel receive your inheritance.”
Before the ages, in the beginning, he created me,
and for all the ages I shall not cease to be.
In the holy tent I ministered before him,
and so I was established in Zion.
Thus in the beloved city he gave me a resting-place,
and in Jerusalem was my domain.
I took root in an honoured people,
in the portion of the Lord, his heritage.
RESPONSORIAL PSALMPsalm 147:12-13, 14-15, 19-20
Verbum caro factum est, et habitavit in nobis.
R. The Word of God became man and lived among us. or: R. Alleluia.
Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem :
sing praises to your God, O Zion.
For he has strengthened the bars of your gates :
and blessed your children within you. R. The Word of God became man and lived among us. or: R. Alleluia.
He makes peace within your borders :
and satisfies you with the finest wheat.
He sends his command to the earth :
and his word runs very swiftly. R. The Word of God became man and lived among us. or: R. Alleluia.
He made his word known to Jacob :
his statutes and judgements to Israel.
He has not dealt so with any other nation :
nor have they knowledge of his laws. Alleluia. R. The Word of God became man and lived among us. or: R. Alleluia.
SECOND READINGEphesians 1:3-6, 15-18
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who has blessed us in Christ
with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,
just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world
to be holy and blameless before him in love.
He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ,
according to the good pleasure of his will,
to the praise of his glorious grace
that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.
I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus
and your love towards all the saints,
and for this reason I do not cease to give thanks
for you as I remember you in my prayers.
I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory,
may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him,
so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened,
you may know what is the hope to which he has called you,
what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints.
ALLELUIA
Gloria tibi, Christe, praedicato gentibus; gloria tibi, Christe, credito in mundo.
Glory to you, O Christ, proclaimed to the Gentiles;
Glory to you, O Christ, believed in throughout the world!
GOSPEL (Longer Form - Shorter Form below) John 1:1-18
In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with God.
All things came into being through him,
and without him not one thing came into being.
What has come into being in him was life,
and the life was the light of all people.
The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness did not overcome it.
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
He came as a witness to testify to the light,
so that all might believe through him.
He himself was not the light,
but he came to testify to the light.
The true light, which enlightens everyone,
was coming into the world.
He was in the world, and the world came into being through him;
yet the world did not know him.
He came to what was his own,
and his own people did not accept him.
But to all who received him, who believed in his name,
he gave power to become children of God,
who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man,
but of God.
And the Word became flesh and lived among us,
and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son,
full of grace and truth.
John testified to him and cried out,
‘This was he of whom I said,
“He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.” ’
From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.
The law indeed was given through Moses;
grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
No one has ever seen God.
It is God the only Son,
who is close to the Father’s heart,
who has made him known.
GOSPEL(Shorter Form)John1:1-5, 9-14
In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with God.
All things came into being through him,
and without him not one thing came into being.
What has come into being in him was life,
and the life was the light of all people.
The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness did not overcome it.
The true light, which enlightens everyone,
was coming into the world.
He was in the world, and the world came into being through him;
yet the world did not know him.
He came to what was his own,
and his own people did not accept him.
But to all who received him, who believed in his name,
he gave power to become children of God,
who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man,
but of God.
And the Word became flesh and lived among us,
and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son,
full of grace and truth.
Readings from The New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, 1995 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. . Psalm text from the Alternative Service Book Liturgical Psalter, 1980