January 8, 2017

Epiphany of the Lord A Isaiah 60: 1-6; Ephesians 3: 2-3, 5-6; Matthew 2: 1-12

Christmas has come and gone yet we continue the Christmas season. We have thanked St. Francis of Assisi during these days because he is the one who ‘invented’ the creche to help remind us attractively of what happened on Christmas Day. When we set up our manger, most of us put the magi or kings a ways away since they came later…the shepherds with the sheep, we presume came first. So today with the magi in our scene the manger is very crowded. Today we celebrate the Epiphany of the Lord. What does ‘epiphany’ mean? The Dictionary tells us, “1 Epiphany [singular]: a Christian festival held on January 6 in honor of the coming of the three kings to the infant Jesus Christ 2 [count] : a moment in which you suddenly see or understand something in a new or very clear way. Seeing her father again when she was an adult was an epiphany that changed her whole view of her childhood. She experienced an epiphany.” Some cultures celebrate this day as their main Christmas celebration. Some celebrate this as the last day of the Christmas season, others say next week the Baptism of the Lord ends the Season. In some countries this feast is called ‘little Christmas’. Since Matthew says that the visitors who came this day were from the East, many thought that they were learned and wise men from Babylonia. They would have had contact with ideas about the Jewish Messiah (Daniel 2:2). The word Matthew uses for them is ‘magoi’ which is difficult to translate. Later on it was translated as ‘kings’ but the original does not mean kings. Psalm 72 says, “May the kings of Tarshish and the Islands bring tribute, the kings of Arabia and Seba offer gifts. May all kings bow before him, all nations serve him.” We know that many cultures felt that one could foretell one’s future from the stars, and that your destiny was sealed by the star under which you had been born. Many also believed that the births of great men were marked by unusual signs in the heavens. We can spend time in research but what does this Epiphany mean to me…Mary ‘reflected in her heart’…what can I reflect on…where does it lead me? How about the second description from the dictionary: has there been moment(s) in my life in which I suddenly see or understand something of this feast in a different way? I review Isaiah’s words in the first reading: “Your light has come, the glory of the Lord shines upon you…upon you the Lord shines, and over you appears His glory…raise your eyes and look about..then you shall be radiant at what you see…all shall come and proclaim the praises of the Lord.” The community had been complaining because God has let their enemies be victorious and they want to be assured that they will be victors. Isaiah responds by predicting this season’s theme: ‘God is with you…Emmanuel…and you will be victorious.’ Now very often I feel that I am alone. Where can God possibly be? Why am I not hearing Him? Am I doing something wrong? Isaiah predicted that a child would lead us (Isaiah 11: 6-10). How can a child possibly be the symbol of hope? Perhaps I try to answer everything by my own reasoning and I’m not open to mystery and God’s mysterious design for the whole world. I should be spending time on looking at the characters of the story, the shepherds and magi. At that time the shepherds were an unsavory lot…they were looked upon as thieves and the word was to ‘watch out…be careful…don’t trust them…avoid them.’ They came to the manger as ‘people who were inquisitive…who were open to wonder…who in living in the open fields it was easier for them to ‘see God’ in the nature that surrounded them. The Magi were gentiles, foreigners who worshipped differently. They were people of good will, open to God, ready to hear and follow His call. They were prepared to follow a star wherever it might lead them. They came to honor a little child because they saw God in Him. And God loved them. The Jewish religious leaders were convinced that they knew ‘the truth’ and how God would come and manifest Himself to them, and certainly not as a child. They missed Jesus’ coming. Paul tells us that God’s hidden plan includes all people: “That the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and co-partners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the Gospel.” All are related in love…all are called…God cares for all. Sometimes it’s easy to put my trust in God. Then challenging times come when health is not good, money is scarce, tempers are short and I worry about tomorrow. Epiphany means that God is with me. Do I move ‘toward the light of Christ in faith and hope and in love, or do I stay with my ghosts? Paul is reminding me that God’s ways are not my ways. The Twelve who followed Jesus wouldn’t grasp this. Paul originally had nothing to do with outsiders, gentiles. Now the Lord shared with him that God is not just with ‘us’; He’s also with ‘them’. The Magi came and could see in this baby… how old…probably younger than two…the answer to all the riddles in their lives. How did they do this? They believed in God’s ways and were blessed that the Lord showed them this sign. They saw love..they saw God. I remember a ‘new father’ told me once that before he was married, he was petrified to hold an infant, for fear of dropping the baby. Yet when he lifted his ‘hours’ old son he was filled with a total blessing that encompassed love…beauty…wonder…miracle…everything whole and good and he said, “I felt that I was touching God.” You were AND more especially God was touching you AND continues to touch you…touch me…touch everyone. Do I let God love me? So I reflect on: • I take time to look back and see an ‘epiphany’ that came to me through some simple or commonplace experience. Can I see God there? • Where has the presence of God surprised me and made me ‘stretch’ my understanding? • The magi had to travel a distance and must have been willing to alter their course when difficulty arose, but they kept on moving. Am I open to where God is leading me on my journey or do I feel I know the way? • Am I open to God’s signs and go in search of a clear vision of where those signs lead me? • What gifts do I give today to the Lord and others? What gifts do I hold back? Why? • What piece of the future would I like to know? How would I suppose Jesus would answer this? • Do I ask the Spirit to help me pour the wealth of my heart before Jesus and to accept His salvation and mercy? Sacred Space 2017 states: “The wise men are remembered for their gifts. The gift most worth giving at any age is our love. In prayer, ask God to accept your love for husband or wife, friend, children, neighborhood. Think of those you love, and bring your love for them to the crib where Jesus lies. This is the full unveiling (epiphany) of a mystery: The Lord has come among us to take an intimate hand in the future of the human race. We have God’s word in Scripture: ‘I am about to do a new thing.’ I try to allow this to sink in.”