Gospel Reflection for the Epiphany of the Lord

6th/8th January – Let there be light

In the Book of Genesis, we hear these words dramatic words from God, ‘Let there be light.’    (1.3). In John’s gospel, Jesus describes himself with these equally profound words, ‘I am the light of the world.’ (8.12). Today we celebrate the great festival of light, the Epiphany of the Lord. As the church, we remember and celebrate that Jesus who was born in the darkness of night in an animal shed is the light of and for the world. The word ‘epiphany’ means to make known or to reveal. The angels made known and revealed to the shepherds the joy of the birth of Jesus. In the same way, the star led these strangers from the East and revealed the same Jesus to them.

Our first reading from the Prophet Isaiah calls us to ‘Arise, shine out because our light has come, the glory of the Lord is rising in us, though night still covers the earth and darkness the people. Through the birth of Jesus and today’s wonderful feast, we are the people on whom a great light has shone.

Traditionally, we believe that the shepherds did not stay at stable after seeing Jesus, Mary and Joseph; they left glorifying and praising God. They left filled with the good news of this wondrous child. Just as the angels had proclaimed the good news to them, the shepherd in their turn shared their good news with others. In the same way, the visitors from the east, after they had given Jesus their gifts also left the stable. They didn’t stay there either. We are only told that they did not back to Herod but went home another way. We can only assume, that they too told everyone what they had seen and heard in that small stable in Bethlehem.

As we look upon the crib, we cannot stay there. Like the shepherds and the magi, we too are called to move away and take the light of Jesus with us. We are asked not only to admire the light, but to be people of light. As Jesus himself tells us, you are the light of the world and your light must shine.’ The light of the Epiphany is given to us as a gift, but we cannot keep it to or for ourselves. Through the quality of our daily lives and how we treat each other, we are called to make our families, homes, parish communities and the wider world a better and brighter place for all people, especially the poor and the marginalised.

May Christ the Light and the Light of Christ fill all our homes, families and our parish communities this day and always.

• Michael Moore OMI