The Epiphany of the Lord - Year AReading 1: IS 60:1-6
Response: Psalm 72
Reading: 2 Eph 3:2-3A, 5-6
Gospel: MT 2:1-12
As we view the three kings coming from different parts of the world, we are reminded that Jesus came for all people. We are brothers and sisters of our one heavenly Father.
The Magi are bringing the traditional, symbolic gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to the newborn Savior Jesus. The gold, a metal of great value, reminds us of Jesus’ divinity.
On the other hand, the gift of frankincense, a white gummy substance found in a tree, symbolizes Jesus’ holiness. The tree is cut so that the gummy substance can flow out. When the substance is burned, it emits a beautiful fragrance. It was used as part of the sacrificial offerings to God. Thus, it reminds us of Jesus’ willingness to become a sacrificial offering for our salvation.
Finally, The gift of myrrh is also a substance taken from a tree. It is a spice used in embalming and sometimes mixed with wine to form a stupefying drink, referred to as “gall.” It symbolizes bitterness and suffering. As a man, this Infant would experience great suffering. Ultimately, he would suffer a painful and ignominious death to redeem us.
Bishop Joseph Cassidy, the late Catholic Archbishop of Tuam, Ireland, suggested that we could look at three additional gifts at the Christmas scene. An even greater gift than the first three was the fourth, the faith, the trust that the Magi placed in the baby Jesus, recognizing a Savior in a vulnerable infant.
Bishop Cassidy didn’t see the encounter and gifting as a one-sided affair, rather he saw an exchange. The Magi received far more than they gave. In the epiphany, meaning “the showing forth” Jesus gave the fifth gift, the revelation that He is the King of Kings, inviting all peoples to be His subjects giving them hope and love, the very gift of Himself.
The Bishop suggested that the sixth gift could be ours. Could we set aside 5 minutes a day to look inside and take an honest look at what we do and don’t do? In that way, we can make any needed adjustments which would make us more loving subjects of the King of Love, Jesus
our Savior.
Spanish Translation of Reflection Above...
Fiesta de la Epifanía
A medida que vemos a los tres reyes provenientes de diferentes partes del mundo, nos recuerda que Jesús vino para todas las personas. Somos hermanos y hermanas de nuestro único Padre celestial.
Los Magos están trayendo los dones tradicionales, simbólicos de oro, incienso y mirra al recién nacido Salvador Jesús. El oro, un metal de gran valor, nos recuerda la divinidad de Jesús.
Por otra parte, el don de incienso, una sustancia blanca y pegajosa que se encuentra en un árbol, simboliza la santidad de Jesús. El árbol se corta de modo que la sustancia gomosa pueda fluir hacia fuera. Cuando la sustancia se quema, emite una fragancia hermosa. Se usó como parte de las ofrendas de sacrificio a Dios. Por lo tanto, nos recuerda la disposición de Jesús a convertirse en una ofrenda de sacrificio para nuestra salvación.
Por último, el regalo de la mirra es también una sustancia tomada de un árbol. Es una especia que se usa en el embalsamamiento ya veces se mezcla con el vino para formar una bebida estupefaciente, conocida como "hiel". Ella simboliza la amargura y el sufrimiento. Como un hombre, este niño experimentaría gran sufrimiento. En última instancia, sufriría una muerte dolorosa e ignominiosa para redimirnos.
El obispo Joseph Cassidy, el difunto arzobispo católico de Tuam, Irlanda, sugirió que podíamos ver tres regalos adicionales en la escena navideña. Un regalo aún mayor que los tres primeros fue el cuarto, la fe, la confianza que los Magos colocaron en el niño Jesús, reconociendo a un Salvador en un niño vulnerable.
El obispo Cassidy no vio el encuentro y el regalo como un asunto unilateral, sino que vio un intercambio. Los magos recibieron mucho más de lo que dieron. En la epifanía, que significa “la manifestación”, Jesús dio el quinto regalo, la revelación de que Él es el Rey de los Reyes, invitando a todos los pueblos a ser sus súbditos, dándoles esperanza y amor, el mismo don
de sí mismo.
El obispo sugirió que el sexto regalo pudiera ser nuestro. ¿Podemos dejar de lado 5 minutos al día para mirar dentro y echar un vistazo honesto a lo que hacemos y no lo hacemos? De esta manera, podemos hacer los ajustes necesarios que nos harían más adorables súbditos del Rey del Amor, Jesús nuestro Salvador.
The three magi followed a star to the place where Jesus was, prostrated themselves, and did him homage. What an awesome scene that must have been – a true moment forever etched in the hearts of Joseph and Mary.
ReplyDeleteYou mention that the three kings coming from different parts of the world remind us that Jesus came for all people. This touches a special place in my heart in that I learned on Wednesday that Michael van Der Mast, the leader of the European Union Personhood group, “One of Us,” died in December. Michael was very active in the European Pro-Life movement and was passionate about eliminating the exceptions, like rape, incest, etc., in legislation arguing that every exception codifies the murder of those innocent children who are part of the “exceptions.” “Children conceived in marriage, healthy, wanted, AND ALSO those conceived in rape, incest with downs syndrome…are “One of Us.” Children made in the Image of God – fully human and fully loved by their creator. Vulnerable infants like the baby Jesus.
The image of the Holy Family, for me, represents life as God intended–holy and sacred, even in less than optimal circumstances. All lives matter and have a purpose.
Thursday’s Mass commemorated St. John Neumann who is quoted as writing the following: “Everyone who breathes…has a mission, has a work. We are not sent into this world for nothing; we are not born at random…God sees every one of us; He creates every soul…for a purpose.” The reverence and respect shown by the Magi toward the infant Jesus and his parents in their dismal environment(and the controversial pregnancy as we discussed in past weeks) is a model for us in our approach to worshipping Jesus as Savior, interacting with “our neighbor,” and to valuing life itself.
In his commentary on the importance of character, Dr. Gabriel Cousens reminds his readers that they are expressions of the Divine. “Every one of us is a spark of God and possesses inherent value because we are here as the spark of God to be unique expressions of the Divine.”
One of the most meaningful parts of your post for me is Bishop Cassidy’s mention of the fifth gift concerning the exchange of gifts. When we give of ourselves to Jesus, to others, and contribute to life itself, we receive many spiritual gifts, the most valuable being the “very gift of Himself.”
I recognize that I have digressed a bit, so I’d like to refocus on today’s gospel by highlighting three thoughts from a reflection,“The Great Manifestation,” by Richard Gaillardetz. The visitation of the Magi reflects a public manifestation and acknowledgement of Jesus’ true identity. Next, while Christmas invited us to contemplate the mystery of the Incarnation: God became human in Jesus; the feast of Epiphany enlarges the view to take in a range of human responses to the Incarnation. Lastly,“If Christmas celebrates the Incarnation, Epiphany calls forth the spiritual habits of recognition.”
Gaillardetz poses two powerful reflection questions: “Do we have the spiritual vision to identify the humble and unexpected epiphanies occurring daily in our own lives? Are we as driven as the wise men to seek out the presence of God in the embrace of our spouse or child, in the face of an annoying coworker, in the panhandler on the street corner?”
Gaillardetz’s questions lead right into Bishop Cassidy’s idea of the 6th gift- of taking the time to evaluate each day’s activities to see if they brought us closer to Jesus. Daily introspection certainly increases our awareness of the presence of God within us and assists us in accessing our inner sanctuary where the very Spirit of God dwells. What beautiful suggestions these two spiritual writers offer as we begin a new year desiring to grow closer to God.
Yes, it is extremely important to remember that Jesus came to earth for each and all of us, isn't it? The feast of the Epiphany is a glorious one for the entire world.
ReplyDeleteThe following excerpts are from a homily delivered by Pope Francis:
"'Lumen requirunt lumine'. These evocative words from a liturgical hymn for the Epiphany speak of the experience of the Magi: following a light, they were searching for THE light. The star appearing in the sky kindled in their minds and in their hearts a light that moved them to seek the great Light of Christ. The Magi followed faithfully that light which filled their hearts, and they encountered the Lord.'
"The destiny of every person is symbolized in this journey of the Magi of the East: our life is a journey, illuminated by the lights which brighten our way, to find the fullness of truth and love which we Christians recognize in Jesus, the Light of the World. ... Listening to the gospel, reading it, meditating on it and making it our spiritual nourishment especially allows us to encounter the living Jesus, to experience him and his love.'
"On the feast of the Epiphany, as we recall Jesus' manifestation to humanity in the face of a Child, may we sense the Magi at our side, as wise companions on the way. Their example helps us to lift our gaze towards the star and to follow the great desires of our heart. They teach us not to be content with a life of mediocrity, of 'playing it safe', but to let ourselves be attracted always by what is good, true and beautiful...by God, who is all of this, and so much more! And they teach us not to be deceived by appearances, by what the world considers great, wise and powerful. We must not stop at that. It is necessary to guard the faith. Today this is of vital importance: to keep the faith. We must press on further, beyond the darkness, beyond the voices that raise alarm, beyond worldliness, beyond so many forms of modernity that exist today. We must press on towards Bethlehem, where, in the simplicity of a dwelling on the outskirts, beside a mother and father full of love and of faith, there shines forth the Sun from on high, the King of the universe. By the example of the Magi, with our little lights, may we seek the Light and keep the faith. May it be so."
Pope Francis
Homily 01/06/14
Vatican Basilica