The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to contemplate the meaning of the Revelation of Christ for all people to our mission in 2021.
A light for 2021 revealed
The reading from the Prophet Isaiah is a vision of the ingathering of the dispersed from exile in Babylon.
* [60:1–9] The light the prophet proclaims to Zion symbolizes the blessing to come to her: the glory of the Lord, the return of her children, the wealth of nations who themselves will walk by her light. The passage is famous from its use in the Latin liturgy for the feast of Epiphany.1
Psalm 72 is a prayer for guidance and support for the King.
* [Psalm 72] A royal Psalm in which the Israelite king, as the representative of God, is the instrument of divine justice (Ps 72:1–4, 12–14) and blessing (Ps 72:5–7, 15–17) for the whole world. The king is human, giving only what he has received from God. Hence intercession must be made for him. The extravagant language is typical of oriental royal courts.2
The reading from the Letter of Paul to the Ephesians declares his ministry to the Gentiles.
* [3:3–4] The mystery: God’s resolve to deliver Gentiles along with Israel through Christ; cf. notes on Eph 1:10; 3:9.3
In the Gospel of Matthew we hear of the Visit of the Wise Men to Bethlehem.
* [2:2] We saw his star: it was a common ancient belief that a new star appeared at the time of a ruler’s birth. Matthew also draws upon the Old Testament story of Balaam, who had prophesied that “A star shall advance from Jacob” (Nm 24:17), though there the star means not an astral phenomenon but the king himself.4
Vivian Amu comments today's readings invite us to reflect upon what has been revealed to us… what is still being revealed to… where our faith leads us to… and whom we might meet along our spiritual journey.
As the new year begins, I have had a renewed sense of hope and positivity, a renewed appreciation for human connection, life-giving moments, and a sense of purpose. I feel overjoyed and willing to be led by the light of Christ to a destination that will surely be a revelation of God’s love, even when my faith wavers. This new year, I am ready to discover manifestations of hope laying calmly in unexpected places, but what would that look like and feel like? Would hope, as we expect it, be a familiar presence, or be a stranger? It is hard to say since so many are still trying to find their way to a place of hope. All I know is that when we follow the path illuminated by our faith, we will find hope, and hope, will know us by name.5
Don Schwager quotes “The glory of Christ's divinity is revealed,” by Chromatius (died 406 AD).
"Let us now observe how glorious was the dignity that attended the King after his birth, after the magi in their journey remained obedient to the star. For immediately the magi fell to their knees and adored the one born as Lord. There in his very cradle they venerated him with offerings of gifts, though Jesus was merely a whimpering infant. They perceived one thing with the eyes of their bodies but another with the eyes of the mind. The lowliness of the body he assumed was discerned, but the glory of his divinity is now made manifest. A boy he is, but it is God who is adored. How inexpressible is the mystery of his divine honor! The invisible and eternal nature did not hesitate to take on the weaknesses of the flesh on our behalf. The Son of God, who is God of the universe, is born a human being in the flesh. He permits himself to be placed in a manger, and the heavens are within the manger. He is kept in a cradle, a cradle that the world cannot hold. He is heard in the voice of a crying infant. This is the same one for whose voice the whole world would tremble in the hour of his passion. Thus he is the One, the God of glory and the Lord of majesty, whom as a tiny infant the magi recognize. It is he who while a child was truly God and King eternal. To him Isaiah pointed, saying, 'For a boy has been born to you; a son has been given to you, a son whose empire has been forged on his shoulders (Isaiah 9:6).'" (excerpt from TRACTATE ON MATTHEW 5:1)6
The Word Among Us Meditation on Isaiah 60:1-6 comments that it is Jerusalem itself, symbol of God’s chosen people, that is attracting the Gentiles, not a sudden blaze of glory coming from the heavens. It’s the shining witness of a people who have bound themselves to the Lord and to each other. That’s where the nations will find the glory of God.
If you light one candle on a darkened, moonless night, you may be able to see it from a few feet away. But if you bring hundreds of people together and give each of them a lighted candle, you might see their brightness from a mile away. Bring enough people together, and you’d see the light from outer space! That’s God’s vision for us. He wants us to put aside selfish, sinful, or prideful attitudes so that we can love each other and serve each other—and so be his light. He wants us to follow him, not just because it’s good for us, but because he knows that a life of discipleship brings us closer together and makes us shine out to the world even more brightly.7
Friar Jude Winkler connects the passage from Trito Isaiah to the release of the Israelite captives in Babylon. The Epiphany and Paul’s mission are revelation to pagans and Gentiles. Friar Jude reviews some of the traditional understanding of the Magi in the Gospel.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, comments that the beginning of the new year seems like a good time to pause, “pull back the veil,” and ask, “Where is this all going? What is the end goal for all of us, and—for that matter—for the cosmos itself?” Is our “late, great planet Earth” really headed toward Armageddon? In these fractious, unmoored, and disillusioned times, he can hardly think of more relevant concerns.
While more and more people seem to believe that the universe has no form, direction, or final purpose, as Christians, we can be confident that the final goal does have shape and meaning. The biblical symbol of the Universal and Eternal Christ (Alpha and Omega) stands at both ends of cosmic time. This assures us that the clear and full trajectory of the world we know is an unfolding of consciousness with “all creation groaning in this one great act of giving birth” (Romans 8:22). Why do I think this is such an important image to remember? Frankly, because without it we become very impatient with ourselves and others, particularly when we encounter setbacks (both personal and communal). Humans and history both grow slowly.8
Let the light of the Epiphany radiate in our lives to bring hope to those we meet in 2021.
References
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