7 th January: Epiphany: Isaiah 60.1–6; Matthew 2.1–12.

The article focuses on the prophetic Song from Isaiah 60 and its connection to the Epiphany story in the Gospel of Matthew. It highlights the Song's message of hope and restoration for the exiled Israelites returning from Babylon, contrasting this idealized vision with the harsher realities faced by the returnees as recorded in biblical texts like Nehemiah and Ezra. The article also examines the Magi—referred to as "magoi," or astrologers from the East—in Matthew's narrative, noting their role as unexpected figures who symbolize the Messiah's significance for all nations, not just Israel. Additionally, it discusses the darker elements of Matthew's birth story, including the flight to Egypt and Herod's massacre, as portrayed in Pier Paolo Pasolini's film adaptation, emphasizing the complex and sometimes unsettling nature of the Epiphany celebration.