The First Sunday after the Epiphany
O LORD, we beseech thee mercifully to receive the prayers of thy people who call upon thee; and grant that they may both perceive and know what things they ought to do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to fulfil the same; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
O GOD, who by the leading of a star didst manifest thy only-begotten Son to the Gentiles; Mercifully grant that we, who know thee now by faith, may after this life have the fruition of thy glorious Godhead; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.Source Sacramentary of Bishop Gregory of Rome [600 AD]. It is based on James 4:17, John 13:17, and Luke 12:47 -[Barbee and Zahl] = DO WHAT IS RIGHT!
Collect of Epiphany - said in the Octave of Epiphany
Isaiah lx. 1, Psalm 47, 48 | 66, 67;
Romans xii. 1 & St. Luke ii. 41
Homilies
Isaiah lx. 1 Romans xii. 1 St. Luke ii. 41
We read that when the Lord Jesus was twelve years old, he went up with his parents to Jerusalem ; and then he first began his work of teaching. The number of his years was the same as the number of the Apostles whom he afterwards sent forth to preach the Faith. Nor is it without meaning that he, (seemingly unmindful of his human parents, though his humanity was filled with wisdom and grace from God,) was pleased, after three days to be found in the Temple. For thereby he foreshadowed that, after the three days of his victorious passion, he, who had meanwhile been reckoned with the dead, would present himself, living, to our faith, seated on his heavenly throne in his divine majesty.
Of his parents he asketh : How is it that ye sought me? But note that there are two generations in Christ ; the one by which he is begotten of his divine Father, the other by which he is born of his human Mother. That from his Father is his Eternal Generation as God the Son ; that from his Mother is the same whereby he is invested with all that belongeth to our nature, and rendered a victim to our miseries. Therefore, any acts of his which are beyond his natural faculties, age, and condition, are not to be attributed to his human strength, but to the power of his Godhead. At a later time his Mother moveth him to work a miracle ; at which time he made answer on such wise as to shew, that what was of the Godhead should not be treated as though it had been of the Manhood. On this present occasion it is said that he was twelve years old, but on the other we are told that he already had disciples. Hence we perceive that his Mother, who had seen his wonders on this earlier occasion, was taught of her Son to call on the mightier nature for a work of power.
And he came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them. No wonder that the great Teacher of virtue should practice filial piety. And shall we marvel that he, who was subject to his Mother, went deferentially about his Father's business? His subjection to his Mother proceeded, not from weakness, but from dutiful affection. Nevertheless, the false serpent lifteth its head from its cruel lair, and spitteth poison from its venomous breast. The heretics say that, as the Son was sent by the Father, therefore the Father is greater than the Son ; and, if the Father be greater than the Son, there is then somewhat in which the Son is less than the Father ; yea, and that he, since he was as one sent, hath of necessity, need of some strengthening from outside himself, But was he subject to his Mother? Was he less than she? God forbid!
Augustine on Psalm XLVII | XLVIII | LXVI
A Homily by Ambrose
On the Gospel
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