Christian Reflection and Prayer

Gospel
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.”
When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:

“‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.’“

Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”
After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
—Matthew 2:1-12, NIV


Give the gift of wise rule to the king, O God,
the gift of just rule to the crown prince. Maye he
judge your people rightly, be honorable to your
meek and lowly. Let the mountains give exuberant
witness; shape the hills with the contour of right
living. Please stand up for the poor, help the
children of the needy, come down hard on the
cruel tyrants. Out last the sun, outlive the moon-
age after age after age. Be rainfall on cut grass,
earth refreshing rain showers. Let righteousness
burst into blossom and peace abound until the
moon fades to nothing.
kings remote and legendary will pay homage,
kings rich and resplendent will turn over their
wealth. All kings will fall down and worship, and
godless nations sign up to serve him, Because
he rescues the poor at the first sign of need,
the destitute who have run out of luck. He
opens a place in his heart for the down-and-out,
he restores the wretched of the earth. He frees
them from tyranny and torture- when they bleed;
when they die, he dies. (Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14}

Prayer of Adoration:

O God, the source of eternal light:
Let you unending day open upon
all of us who watch for you, that our
lips may praise you, or lives may bless you and
our worship glorify you. Through Jesus Christ
our Lord, Amen.