Gospel Reflection for the Epiphany of our Lord.

January 7th – The People in darkness have seen a great light

The word Epiphany means to reveal or to make known. This Sunday, these strangers whom we call kings, who were led and drawn by the light of star to come and do homage to Jesus. They arrive with strange gifts as they bend low and kneel in front of the King of Kings. These kings from far off lands are humbled in the presence of Jesus. The birth of Jesus is no longer meant just for the People of Israel, but for the whole human race.

People reacted differently to the birth of Jesus. The shepherds recognised one of their own in that animal shed; someone who would later say of himself, ‘I am the Good Shepherd.’ The kings, too saw one like themselves; someone would later say of himself, ‘Yes, I am a King.’ Herod, however who was a powerful and influential king was worried, anxious and even threatened by this child. It was Jesus who had the real power, not Herod

Angels came and told the shepherds where Jesus was to be found. The kings followed the light of a star that led to Jesus. Today, we experience God in far more ordinary ways. God continues to break and burst into our world and our lives in many different ways. We have to be looking for them or else we will miss them. An act of kindness, compassion or generosity from someone reminds us that God is with us. A silent hand on our shoulder when we are struggling can reveal God to us. An apology made and a hand offered as a sign of peace; these are all small daily epiphanies. These are the ways and times that God continues to break into our world time and time again each and every day. The feast of the epiphany of the Lord is not about something that just happened along ago – this great feast reminds us to look for and find God within and around us.

The Irish poet Patrick Kavanagh wrote that God is in the bits and pieces of every day. The ways we experience God are not always in loud and dramatic ways. God often just whispers to us gently and nudges us to hear something, notice something or do something. We have to be looking and searching for these signs or we will miss them. We have to be listening or we will miss the whisper.

The kings had the wisdom and courage to follow the star wherever it led them. Today in my own daily life, do I have the courage, wisdom and faith to let God guide and direct me?

On this great feast of the Epiphany of our Lord, we pray for ourselves and all people of good will who are searching for God. May we have the light of faith to guide us through the ordinary events of our daily lives.

• Michael Moore OMI