The Solemnity of the Epiphany is a call to rejoice in the
gift of Salvation offered and proclaimed to all the nations. We are reminded that the Good News is meant
for the whole world, not for us alone.
St. Paul speaks of the Mystery that was made known that the Christ was
sent not for the Jewish people alone, but also for the Gentiles. We who have received the glad tidings are
charged to be ambassadors of God, making known to everyone the wondrous mercy
that creates the possibility for us to be one with our God and with all whom He
has chosen to be His own.
Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh, the gifts of the Magi, symbolize
the truth that Christ is King, God and the One Who gives Himself to God as a
sacrifice for our redemption. The arrival
of this feast on the 12th Day of Christmas tells us that Jesus
Christ is the fulfillment of the promises of the prophets and of the longings
of human hearts.
Those who are able to visit Bethlehem for themselves will
see an ancient church, the Basilica of the Nativity, which serves to unite us
across the centuries with all who have adored Him, Christ the Lord, in the wondrous
Mystery of His Birth. Like the Magi, we
are sent home to live the truths revealed to us and to carry the gift of the
Redeemer to all we encounter.
May we open our hearts to the Joy that comes to the world
because the Lord has come. May we offer
to the Baby in the Manger the gift of our response. Our treasures become more valuable when we
offer them to the One Who can multiply their effects. Our worship of Him as the Son of God, the
Word made flesh, deepens our realization of the meaning of our own lives and
the purpose for which we were created.
Acceptance of the necessity of sacrifice unites our suffering to the
salvific passion of the Lord, who came to give His Life as a ransom for the
many.
Recall that the Christmas season continues another full
week until the celebration of the Baptism of the Lord. For those who wish to hold onto it a bit
longer, the 40 days from Christmas until February 2nd, the Presentation
of the Lord, is another observance that is traditional, especially among
religious communities. Let’s enjoy the
fullness of the Season of the Incarnation and continue to adore Christ the
Lord. This Mystery frees us to live the
full and joyful life that our God wants to share with us and with the whole
world.
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