Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13
Eph 3:2-3a, 5-6
Mt 2:1-12
On Epiphany, we celebrate the humble adoration of the Magi for the Christ child. The magi were Gentiles, not Jews, and their determination to meet the Jewish savior of the world says much about what the word "epiphany" means. The magi are good examples of believing in the importance of Jesus even without understanding what it would mean to them personally or to the rest of the world.
They worshiped Jesus as the Messiah before they knew how he would become king or how his kingship would change the world. As schol-ars in search of truth, they studied religious writ-ings from beyond the scope of their own culture. Then, they acted on faith in response to the Spirit of God who activated them, and it changed their lives.
Only the Spirit of God can move someone to have faith, because faith is a gift of the Holy Spirit (see 1 Corinthians Chapter 12). The word "epiphany" means discovery, a revelation that changes our lives. Epiphanies are gifts from God, given because we want them.
We can imagine how the magi's epiphany in the presence of the Christ child might have felt. Al-though they did not understand how this baby from a poor, unknown family could become king, they remembered him for the rest of their lives and listened for news from the land of Israel about Jesus. We know that they heard about his crucifixion and learned what his followers were teaching about it, for they became Christians — their relics have been venerated since very early times.
Questions for Personal Reflection:
What sign from God, like the star that the magi followed, are you waiting to see? What signs is God already showing you? These are evidence that he is working in your life. What epiphany — new understanding — is Jesus giving you about what God is doing in your life?
Questions for Community Faith Sharing:
Why is it impossible to understand everything about the ways that Jesus is the Messiah for you and for all the world? God has given you faith to believe in Jesus as the Messiah. How do you act on this faith? And how do these actions evangelize non-believers?
I sat at a computer to write this short reflection, and then someone took it—via the Internet—to edit and prepare so that it might be heard on our Web site or over the radio waves. If you wish, you could download the very text I originally typed. I still marvel at all the ways we can communicate today.
Today's feast of the Epiphany of the Lord is a feast that celebrates communication. The Gospel we read today portrays Jesus, the Word Made Flesh, revealed to the nations, as the wise men arrive to pay him homage. Whatever the historical facts behind the story, the message of faith is that God is reaching out to us, communicating to us the Word Made Flesh. That's communication that has transformed human history.
God's revelation in Jesus has a power surpassing all our modern technological "miracles," because it speaks to our hearts. Are we listening? Are we open to the Word?
Let's become modern channels of God's communication to the world in this new year, using our gifts—whatever they may be—to pass on the message of the Good News, that Love is born in our midst.
•For he shall rescue the poor when he cries out, and the afflicted when he has no one to help him. (Psalm 72:12)
•…it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: that the Gentiles are coheirs (Ephesians 3:5-6)
•They were overjoyed at seeing the star, (Matthew 2:10)
•…they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. (Matthew 2:11)
•…they departed for their country by another way. (Matthew 2:12)
•Is “another way” followed by the Magi defined by physical place?
•What did the Magi seek? What did they find? What did they leave behind? What did they take with them?
•Why is Herod such a sad figure? Is it because he cannot see beyond the false hope of dominance over physical space and time?
•Do those who seek transcend the limits of the world?
It is like one who sees something never seen before, where of he has not even seen the like; although he might understand its nature and have experience of it, he would be unable to give it a name, or say what it is, however much he tried to do so, and this in spite of its being a thing which he had perceived with the senses. How much less, then, could he describe a thing that has not entered through the senses! For the language of God has this characteristic that, since it is very intimate and spiritual in its relations with the soul, it transcends every sense and at once makes all harmony and capacity of the outward and inward senses to cease and be dumb.
Published by Jacob Soo
Credits to American Catholic.org and Good News Ministries
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