The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary for the Feast of the Epiphany nudge us to ask how we are to spread the light of our relationship with Jesus during our journey in 2022.
Come to the Light
The reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah announces the Dawning of Divine Glory for Zion.
* [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 to the Ephesians speaks of Paul’s Commission to preach God’s Plan.
* [3:1–13] Paul reflects on his mission to the Gentiles. He alludes to his call and appointment to the apostolic office (Eph 3:2–3) and how his insight through revelation, as well as that of the other apostles and charismatic prophets in the church (Eph 3:4–5), has deepened understanding of God’s plan of salvation in Christ. Paul is the special herald (Eph 3:7) of a new promise to the Gentiles (Eph 3:6): that the divine plan includes them in the spiritual benefits promised to Israel. Not only is this unique apostolic role his; Paul also has been given the task of explaining to all the divine plan of salvation (Eph 3:8–9), once hidden. Through the church, God’s plan to save through Christ is becoming manifest to angelic beings (Eph 3:10; cf. Eph 1:21), in accord with God’s purpose (Eph 3:11). The fulfillment of the plan in Christ gives the whole church more confidence through faith in God (Eph 3:12). The readers of this letter are also thereby encouraged to greater confidence despite Paul’s imprisonment (Eph 3:13).3
In the Gospel of Matthew we learn of the Visit of the Magi.
* [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
Tom Shanahan, S.J. asks what might we draw from the familiar setting of the three Magi for our faith perspective?
The Magi provide examples of dogged determination, an invitation to keep faithfully on task in our prayer and ultimate goal of union with God. Personal desire to faithfully walk the path we're traveling is foretold in the wise men's staying on point, even though their goal continued to unfold as they followed their hearts. The final and eternal goal is revealed to us in fits and starts, but is always being shown to us by the Holy Spirit. And that's a source of great joy and gratitude. Loving God, walk with us as we travel our way towards you. Give us the hope and courage to seek you despite the many obstacles we encounter along the way. Let us, like the Magi, be bold in our choices and eager in our Journey towards you.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 Matthew 2:1-12 asks how can we honor Jesus? We don’t have gold, frankincense, and myrrh to offer.
“Jesus, King of kings, in place of gold, I honor you as my king by offering you my obedience and making you the Lord of my life…“Jesus, Son of God, instead of frankincense, I offer you my praise. Let it rise as incense to your throne (Psalm 141:2 )...“Jesus, Lamb of God, in place of the myrrh that anointed your body (John 19:39), I offer you myself, body and soul, along with all my joys and sorrows… “Jesus, you are my King, Lord, and Savior. May these gifts honor and glorify you!”7
Friar Jude Winkler shares how the text from Trito-Isaiah proclaims Jerusalem as a light that attracts all nations after the Exile. Early frescos show the Magi dressed in Persian attire as they represent the Revelation of Jesus to the Gentiles. Friar Jude suggests a connection of the alignment of Saturn, Mars, and Jupiter to the “star” followed by the Magi and their gifts to items that could be easily transported on a long and dangerous journey.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, comments that Jesus comes as a naked, vulnerable baby, totally dependent upon relationship with others. Naked vulnerability means that we are going to let otherness influence and change us. When we don’t give other people any power over our lives, when we block them by thinking we can stand alone, or that otherness can’t change us or teach us anything, we are spiritually dead. As the Center for Action and Contemplation 2022 theme puts it: Nothing Stands Alone. And it’s true! We are intrinsically like the Trinity, living in an absolute relatedness. We call this love.
We really were made for love, and outside of love we die very quickly. If we are going to start with Trinity, then loving relationship is the pattern, the very nature of being for us. But when we start with a philosophical concept of being and then try to convince everyone that this being is, in fact, love, we don’t have a lot of success. I’ve been a priest for almost fifty-two years and can say that most Christians seem to be afraid of God. We Christians aren’t more loving than anyone else; sometimes, we’re even less loving than other people! In some ways, that’s inevitable if we’re basically relating to God out of fear, and we haven’t been drawn into the love between the Father and the Son by the Spirit.8
The Epiphany reminds us that the Spirit calls us to act in love toward all people even as we struggle to complete our journey toward revelation of the fullness of life.
References
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