Our Sabbath Scripture Stories – Epiphany – Cycle A

Read or listen to this Sunday’s Mass readings here.

  • Isaiah 60:1-6
  • Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6
  • Matthew 2:1-12

Brr-r-r-r!  Last night was another cold, frosty night. The Pauline family came downstairs still wrapped in robes, slippers, goose down comforters, and warm socks.

“Uff-da!  Is it cold!” Vincent said in his best Minnesotan.  “But did you see how clear the sky was last night?”

“That’s right, Vincent,” Dad agreed.  “When the sky is really clear, the temperatures really drop.  But that’s also when you see thousands and thousands of stars!”

“Speaking of stars … ” Mom said as she came into the kitchen.  “Our Gospel reading for today talks about one big star.  Does anyone remember what feast day this is?”

“I know!” Mary Clare volunteered.  “Today is the feast of the Epiphany of the Lord!  The Wise Men followed the Bethlehem star and found Jesus!”

“Exactly, Mary Clare!” Mom nodded.  “And to celebrate this feast of the Epiphany, we are all going to have a … TEST!”

“Huh?” they all asked.

“That’s right, Kids,” Dad said, as he passed out paper and pencils around the kitchen table.  “First, we will hear our Gospel reading, and then we will test your knowledge of the reading.  Sounds fun, doesn’t it?”

“Fun as any test can be, I suppose,” Vincent lamented.

Dad read the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 2.  Then he exclaimed, “Okay!  Pencils up!”

Everyone did as they were told in true obedience to their father. 

“Okay, number your paper from one to five,” he instructed them.  Dad began.  “Question number one: Who was the king that dispatched the three Wise Men?” 

Everyone wrote down a quick answer.  Four-year-old Hillary whispered her answer to Mom since she couldn’t spell yet.

Dad continued.  “Question number two: What did they observe in the sky that lead them to Jesus?”

“Easy!” they all shouted as they hurriedly wrote down their answer.

Dad smiled and went on.  “Question number three: In what town did the prophets say the Messiah would be born?”

They all wrote, and whispered their answers, and looked up, waiting for question number four.

“All-righty then!” Dad said.  “Question number four: What gifts did the Wise Men give to Jesus?”

When they had finished writing, Dad gave them question number five. 

“And the last question … ” he said,  “did the Wise Men go back and tell the king where he could find Jesus?”

Vincent wrote his answer in big, bold, block letters on his page.  It was quite an emphatic reply to the question.

“And now for the answers,” Dad told them.  “The answers to the five questions are: HEROD; THE STAR; BETHLEHEM; GOLD, FRANKINCENSE, AND MYRRH; AND NO!”

Everyone checked their answers.  On the table were five perfect papers!  They had all listened to the Gospel and knew the answers to the questions.

“We did great, Dad!” Vincent cheered.  “Now, what do we get for all of us getting perfect papers?”  Vincent was always aiming for edible rewards.

With a twinkle in his eye, Mr. Pauline replied.  “Vincent, what feast day is it today?”

“Epiphany, of course!” Vincent acknowledged.

“Then in honor of Epiphany, this is your reward!”  And with that comment, Dad plastered a big star at the top of his son’s paper.

“Well,” Vincent lamented, as he looked at his inedible star.  “I guess my only hope is to wait to celebrate Saint Polycarp Day!”

And with that groaning “fishy” reference, the family quickly got dressed and headed off to Mass! 

Would you prefer a print a copy of this story?

Cycle A, Epiphany, SSSDownload

Our mission is to help parents respond to the Church’s call to be “the first and foremost educators of their children” and to help families grow in the transforming love of God by understanding and living our beautiful Catholic Faith!

Are you looking for more ways to help your family reclaim Sundays and grow closer to Jesus together?