January 6, 2013

The Feast of Epiphany

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

Christmas continues with the story of the wise men…magi coming with their gifts. Sometimes I rush too much to finish the story of Jesus’ birth and I miss some wonderful insights. Here was Jesus birth: divinity presented itself at that time, in Bethlehem to all people in a visible form. This is a first…never before…never again. The child was like any other child: He slept, He cried, He was hungry, Het needed to be changed but this child was “the Word …become flesh.” One of the most beautiful, scholarly and must read books is ‘The Lord’ by Romano Guardini. The New York Times described it in this way, “Monsignor Guardini…has written more than just a life of Jesus. He places that life in the context of history and shows how the teachings of Jesus are related to the whole body of church doctrine and practice.” This book is always at my fingertips when I write. Here’s what he says about the Incarnation: “…this child is God in essence and in being. If an inner protest should arise here, give it room. It is not good to suppress anything; if we try to, it only goes underground, becomes toxic, and reappears later in far more obnoxious form. Does anyone object to the whole idea of God-become-man? Is he willing to accept the Incarnation only as a profound and beautiful allegory, never as literal truth? If doubt can establish a foothold anywhere in our faith, it is here. Then we must be patient and reverent, approaching this central mystery of Christianity with calm, expectant, prayerful attention; one day its sense will be revealed to us. In the mean time, let us remember the directive ‘But love does such things.’…

Jesus did not ‘experience’ God; He was God. He never at any given moment ‘became God; He was God from the start. His life was only the process by which this innate divinity came into its own.” AND His life was love…God loving me…God loving each person; everyone in all the history and future of the world.
With this in mind, I wonder if the Magi’s ‘appearance’ and disappearance has a deeper meaning for me. Down through the years there has been speculation about how many there were; does it really matter? Much has been proposed concerning their origin: were they kings; rulers in their own countries or different countries did they know each other? Were they astronomers, or just plain star gazers? What about the star; was it a rogue star or from some special constellation? They brought gifts; were there only three and why these three? Tradition says that gold symbolizes the kingship of Christ, frankincense indicating divinity, and myrrh representing redemptive suffering of this baby. WELL does it matter? Does it really matter which one or how many of the above are accurate. Matthew does not spend time on these. His whole point as St. Anthony Messenger Press points out, “… is to see the hand of God at work in these magi, guided only by a star and making a long journey from the east—all for the purpose of pointing out and paying homage to the birth of the newborn king of the Jews. (This is my italic) Those who should have recognized this did not have the slightest clue. Those who had no apparent reason even to be remotely interested come and make manifest the Lord.” How much of God do I miss because I’m looking the other way OR I never thought that God would do this in this particular way OR I don’t really think that He is concerned about me and this trivial problem I’m facing OR that I’m not feeling particularly ‘godly’ at this time and I don’t want to. WELL God interrupted the life of Mary and Joseph; God interrupted the shepherd’s life routine; God definitely BIG TIME interrupted the lives of these people from the east. They came a long way; spent much money I’m sure; and for them it was worth it because they knew that God cared about them. And God cares about me just as much but what am I doing when I realize His love, care, concern and constant presence with me?
Like the magi, my life is a journey each day to discover this God who is ‘crazy in love with me…all the time’. This journey brings me along the path of a search for meaning, for living a purposeful life, to discover even more about God and the things of God. That’s the purpose my life; of each person’s life. When I look at my life I have to see what ‘stars’ I follow. Am I concerned with wealth; or possessing more and more things; do I want to have success and be looked upon in admiration; is the concern for power or prestige more than it should be. Do I give credit to God, because I can’t really do anything without Him? Do I realize that God is always pointing me to live Jesus; I do this with bringing peace, compassion, mercy, honesty and forgiveness every step of the way. And what gifts am I bringing to God today? The gift really must be the using and sharing of the gifts God has blessed me with and not keeping them captive within me; and me taking credit for their origin. I keep telling myself and sharing that ‘it is about God not me’. Am I living it each day…did I live it today? What do I need from God to live it tomorrow? Do I ask for His gifts or do I forget once again that I am that important to God that He not only needs me to be Jesus but He helps me to live as Jesus. I have to swallow myself and take the journey that could be long and hazardous, as the magi did, and know that He is with me. So I reflect on:

• Do I search for Jesus in my daily life, He’s there I know? What happens when I find Him where I least expect?
  
• Does my judging of people keep me from finding Jesus present there?
  
• How does Jesus come to me in my difficulties? Do I always want Him to solve them the way that I want? Do I see that they can be the cross He is giving me to be closer to Himself?
  
• Where do I see Jesus in my family, this is important?
  

Sacred Space 2013 gives an important message:

“Herod was interested in Jesus in an intellectual way, careful that his own position not be affected. I realize that my prayer draws me into a relationship and ask that I be ready to accept the consequences that may come to light.

The comfortable and established did not recognize Jesus, but the travelers and strangers appreciated who He was. I ask that I be open to the voices of the stranger and to wisdom from other traditions.”