In many countries, Epiphany is no longer celebrated as a holiday of obligation. It is then normally transferred to the Sunday after New Year, replacing the Second Sunday after Christmas. The weekdays of the Christmas season after New Year thus come in two groups: the weekdays between New Year and Epiphany, and the weekdays between the Sunday of Epiphany and the Baptism of the Lord. The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord is itself not celebrated on the Sunday after Epiphany if the transferred Epiphany would fall on January 7 or 8. If so, the Lord’s Baptism is celebrated on the Monday following Epiphany and at the same time this feast marks the beginning of Ordinary Time.

The general theme of these days is to try to get us better acquainted with Christ, that we may see better who he is.

January 2, 2006 - Monday Before Epiphany

Readings:
1 Jn 2:22-28; Ps 98:1,2,3,4; Jn 1:19-28

First Reading: 1 Jn 2:22-28

Who is the liar?
The one who denies that Jesus is the Christ.
This is an antichrist, who denies both the Father and the Son. The one who denies the Son is without the Father, and those who acknowledge the Son also have the Father.
Let what you heard from the beginning remain in you. If what you heard from the beginning remains in you, you, too, will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise he himself gave us: eternal life.

I write this to you thinking of those who try to lead you astray.

You received from him an anointing, and it remains in you, so you do not need someone to teach you. His anointing teaches you all things, it speaks the truth and does not lie to you; so remain in him, and keep what he has taught you.

And now, my children, live in him, so that when he appears in his glory, we may be confident and not ashamed before him when he comes.

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Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 98:1-4

All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.

O sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things. His right hand and his holy arm have gotten him victory.

The LORD has made known his victory; he has revealed his vindication in the sight of the nations.

He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.

Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises.

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Gospel Reading: Jn 1:19-28

This was the testimony of John when the Jews sent priests and Levites to ask him, "Who are you?" John recognized the truth and did not deny it. He said, "I am not the Messiah."

And they asked him, "Then who are you? Elijah?" He answered, "I am not." They said, "Are you the Prophet?" And he answered, "No." Then they said to him, "Tell us who you are, so that we can give some answer to those who sent us. How do you see yourself?" And John said, quoting the prophet Isaiah, "I am the voice crying out in the wilderness: Make straight the way of the Lord."

Those who had been sent were Pharisees; so they put a further question to John: "Then why are you baptizing if you are not the Messiah, or Elijah, or the Prophet?" John answered, "I baptize you with water, but among you stands one whom you do not know; although he comes after me, I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandal."

This happened in Bethabara beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

Commentary

John testifies to the truth of this child grown to be a man and refuses to let the questioners dwell on who he is: he is the prophet, the forerunner, the voice in the wilderness. What is crucial is to focus on who is already in their midst: the one who stands unknown among them who they do not know. And John's words are sobering: "I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandal." And what of us? Is this One among us? Do we know him? And will we bend before him to serve and worship him?

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