Gospel Reflection 6th January 2019 – Epiphany The Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord
All is Revealed…
I love magic and magicians. I never ceased to be amazed by the speed at which the magician seems to do something that looks impossible. There is a very serious rule among magicians all over the world; under no circumstances let no one know or tell them how the trick was done; it must be kept a secret. How the trick was done must never be revealed – ever.
Today, we celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord, a feast that is celebrated in many cultures and often more prominently than Christmas itself! In the gospel of Luke, it is the shepherds who are the first to visit the new born child and parents. Later, as an adult, Jesus will say I am the Good Shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep. In the gospel today, written by Matthew, it is the strange and colourful visitors from the east who are now coming to see the child Jesus and his parents, and they come bearing gifts. The Wise Men, the Magi are not from the Jewish People; they represent the whole world. Jesus is not just for the Jewish Nation; Jesus has come as the Saviour of the entire world and the whole universe!
The word ‘Epiphany’ actually means to show, to reveal or to make known. So unlike magicians who keep everything hidden and secret, today’s feast is about God fully, openly and clearly revealing Jesus Christ to the whole world, the entire universe, all nations and all peoples for all time. God doesn’t keep secrets from us!! As St. Paul writes in his letter to the Hebrews and to us today; ‘At many times in the past and in many ways, God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets; but in our time, God speaks to us in the person of Jesus Christ.’
These visitors are often called ‘wise’ – why? Tradition has it that they were astronomers who travelled from far-distant countries over a long period of time to find Jesus. Were they well-read and clever? Probably, but this is not where their ‘wisdom’ came from. We call them ‘wise’ because they set out on their pilgrimage in faith. They did not just rely on their own strength and efforts. They felt called by God to set out and find the Messiah. They followed the star that led them to Jesus. We are told that the sight of the star filled them with joy and delight. Does this suggest that for part of their sacred journey, they could not see the star, yet faithfully kept travelling forward?
As we enter in to these early days of this New Year, to whom are we listening and who are following? Can we be like these ‘wise’ visitors who put their faith, hope, and trust in God and follow where we are called and led. If we stay close to God, we will not go astray or get lost; we too will be led to meet and experience the love of God in the voice, face and actions of Jesus Christ.
As we enter into these early days of the New Year, may we let ourselves be led by God. May we too trust that God is indeed leading and guiding us in all that we say and do.
– Br Michael Moore OMI
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