• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer
Liverpool Cathedral

Liverpool Cathedral

  • About Us
  • What’s On
  • Opening Hours
  • Safeguarding
  • About Us
  • What’s On
  • Opening Hours
  • Safeguarding

Exploring the Sunday Gospel – Epiphany

Welcome > News > Exploring the Sunday Gospel – Epiphany
Posted on January 2, 2025

Today we are anticipating the Feast of the Epiphany. Matthew’s Gospel completes the Christmas story with the narrative of the visitors from the East. This is a rich narrative that contains many important images. One of these images is the Christmas gifts. According to the tradition the wise men brought three gifts to the infant Jesus. Each of these gifts is associated traditionally with a special meaning. The gift of gold speaks of Jesus’ kingship. The gift of frankincense speaks of Jesus’ priesthood. The gift of myrrh speaks of Jesus’ death.

For those of you who wanted to do some thinking and preparation for today’s service during the preceding week, I invited reflection on the image of Christmas gifts. In today’s picture from his book, Christmas time with Teddy Horsley, Teddy Horsley and Betsy Bear join with the people of God in bringing their gifts to celebrate Jesus’ birth.


Lord Jesus Christ,
You accepted the gifts brought by the wise men.
Inspire us by their example,
to acknowledge you as our king,
our high priest, and our saviour;
for you are our God,
now and always.
Amen.


Next Sunday we celebrate the Baptism of Christ, with the narrative from Luke’s Gospel. The image to stimulate reflection on Luke’s account of the baptism of Jesus is doves. You can find out more about that theme by looking at the Educational Resources and the Preparation Resources.

Preparation Resources
Family Resources

Prayer Requests

Would you like to submit a prayer request? You can do so through the Prayer for Liverpool website.

Notice Sheet

Would you like to sign up to receive the Cathedral’s weekly notice sheet? You can do so here.

Previous Post:Exploring the Sunday Gospel – Christmas Day
Next Post:Goodbye 2024

Sidebar

More Like This
All News
29 May 2025
Seventh Sunday of Easter – Exploring the Sunday Gospel

Today is the Seventh Sunday of Easter and the Sunday after Ascension Day. Today’s Gospel reading continues the theme of …

23 May 2025
Confronting the Past – The Slavery Truth Project at Liverpool Cathedral

The Slavery Truth Project at Liverpool Cathedral Over the past two months, Liverpool Cathedral has taken a powerful and necessary …

22 May 2025
Upgrading the Sound System

Upgrading the Sound System The first phase of upgrading the sound system has taken place with a new console, controls …

22 May 2025
Sixth Sunday of Easter – Exploring the Sunday Gospel

Today is the Sixth Sunday of Easter, when the Gospel reading is taken from John’s account of Jesus’ last supper …

15 May 2025
Fifth Sunday of Easter – Exploring the Sunday Gospel

Today is the Fifth Sunday of Easter, when the Gospel reading is taken from John’s account of Jesus’ last supper …

13 May 2025
Welcoming Revd. Bec Hill to Liverpool Cathedral

We’re delighted to announce that the Revd. Bec Hill will be joining our clergy team at Liverpool Cathedral as a …

Sign up to our newsletter

Safeguarding at Liverpool Cathedral
  • About the Cathedral
  • Education at the Cathedral
  • Cathedral Music
  • Exploring Faith
  • News
  • Accessibility
  • Visiting the Cathedral
  • Upcoming Events
  • Tours
  • Dining
  • Cathedral Shop
  • How to Find Us
  • Contact Us
  • Policies
  • Venue Hire
  • Support Us
  • Vacancies
  • Cookie Preferences

Liverpool Cathedral is a registered Charity 1205970

Follow Us

  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • X
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn
Association of English cathedrals
Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King Liverpool
Churches Together in Merseyside
Visit England Gold Visitor Attraction 2021-22.
Visit Liverpool
Tripexpert Experts' Choice Award - Reviews you can trust