--- title: "Lectio the Liturgy: Sunday, January 4, 2026" description: Julie Storr shares a reflection on the Prayer After Communion for the Feast of the Epiphany.  image: https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Lectio%20the%20Liturgy%20Banner.png --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/lectio-the-liturgy-sunday-january-4-2026#) [FAITH](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/tag/faith) # Lectio the Liturgy: Sunday, January 4, 2026 Jan 3, 2026 1:00:00 PM  |  by [Julie Storr](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/julie-storr) ![featured image](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Lectio%20the%20Liturgy%20Banner.png) *Julie Storr shares a reflection on the Prayer After Communion for the Feast of the Epiphany. * --- This week we Lectio the Liturgy with the Prayer After Communion for Epiphany, Mass During the Day. > *Go before us with heavenly light, O Lord, always and everywhere, that we may perceive with clear sight and revere with true affection the mystery in which you have willed us to participate. Through Christ our Lord.* ## The Visible Glory of God Did you notice the prayer says *heaven light* and not *star?* As I prayed into the prayer, I got a sense that *heavenly light* was actually a pretty good description because this star wasn’t any ordinary star, it truly was a heavenly light. The star that guided the Magi is the glory of God.  Which got me to wondering, what other examples do we have of the visible glory of God? The first thing that came to me was the Israelites. While not as white as a star, when the Israelites left Egypt, the glory of God in the form of a pillar of cloud and a pillar of fire led them to the Promised Land. Quite possibly just as bright or maybe even brighter, the glory of God was seen as a heavenly light at the Transfiguration when Jesus' face shone like the sun and His clothes became dazzling white. The first reading of this Mass also talks about a light and the glory of God: “Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem! Your light has come, the glory of the Lord shines upon you.” (Isaiah 60:1) In Revelation 21:23, we read that the city, the new Jerusalem shines with the glory of God, and the Lamb is its lamp. The glory of the Lord is shining on you, Church. The new Jerusalem is a symbol of the bride of Christ. ## The Glory of God Shines in Us Not only does the light shine on us, it shines in us. This light is going to enable us to see with clear sight and have true affection for the mystery in which He calls us to participate. The mystery we find in the prayer is Christ’s command to “do this in memory of me” and when we do, that light, veiled in the bread and wine, permeates within us. In John 12:46, Jesus declares that He is the light of the world and when we believe in Him we are no longer in darkness. His light symbolizes His presence, grace, and truth, brought to the world through the Church and each of us. His light in us brings light to the world. ![Lectio the Liturgy Sunday January 4 2026](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Lectio%20the%20Liturgy%20Sunday%20January%204%202026.png?width=1080&height=1350&name=Lectio%20the%20Liturgy%20Sunday%20January%204%202026.png)   --- Copyright 2026 Julie Storr Images: Holy Cross Family Ministries ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Flectio-the-liturgy-sunday-january-4-2026%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Flectio-the-liturgy-sunday-january-4-2026%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Flectio-the-liturgy-sunday-january-4-2026%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Lectio%20the%20Liturgy%3A%20Sunday%2C%20January%204%2C%202026) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Flectio-the-liturgy-sunday-january-4-2026%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Flectio-the-liturgy-sunday-january-4-2026%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Julie Storr](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Julie%20Storr%20-%20Julie%20Storr.jpg) ### [Julie Storr](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/julie-storr) Julie Storr surprised herself when she went from “never ever going to be Catholic” to a lover of the lectionary. Her thirst for the Faith is never quenched and she is always surprised at the depth of the relationship with Christ that one can find in the Catholic Church. She and her husband live in Pocahontas, Iowa. Visit her website at [LectioTheLiturgy.com](https://www.lectiotheliturgy.com). [**](https://www.facebook.com/LectioTheLiturgy) ## Related Blog Articles [ Lectio the Liturgy: Sunday, February 19, 2023 Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/lectio-the-liturgy-sunday-february-19-2023) [ Lectio the Liturgy: Sunday, January 29, 2023 Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/lectio-the-liturgy-sunday-january-29-2023) [ Lectio the Liturgy: November 7, 2021 Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/lectio-the-liturgy-november-7-2021) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! Sign up to receive our free daily digest email. Copyright © 2026 CatholicMom.com. All Rights Reserved.