Sunday, January 8, 2017

Jan 8 - The Epiphany of the Lord

+ On this Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord, our reflection is focused on two interrelated events: the manifestation of Christ the Newborn King as LIGHT OF THE NATIONS, LIGHT OF THE WORLD; and the adoration that is his due, by those whose lives were directly affected by his coming! This is why he came: to fulfill the prophecies about the people walking in darkness, who very much needed someone to lead them to safety and to the forgiveness of their sins. That One is Christ Emmanuel: the brightest Light that could ever shine on earth! It is only fitting that the Person of Light should be adored – even from the first moments of his birth!

The first reading today from the Prophet Isaiah tells us that the great Light is none other than the very glory of God in himself made visible. The reality of the Triune God, all by itself, generates, produces and disseminates an astounding array of Glory and Light: “and when the inhabitants of the earth, all of the nations, finally made a joint cry of longing and desire for a savior, a redeemer, the Father sent his Son to be his own Light and Glory in person, for all in the world to see!

The Word was made flesh; the Son of God became the Son of Man; the glory of God filled the earth: but only those with faith could see it. Only those with faith could see it then; only those with faith can see it now! The three magi, kings, who represented the believing world, saw the star, and were led to the place where the Child of Light resided with his parents! And as only fitting, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh; acknowledging him as king, priest and prophet!

It is the Father’s will that one day, all nations shall adore the King of the Universe, Christ the Lord – and it will happen. Perhaps a good New Year’s Resolution for all people everywhere, beginning with us, is to adore him NOW as king, priest, prophet, healer, friend and elder brother! When we believe in him, trust in him and love in him (by loving others) then his light comes into us and we make the world that much brighter – our parish, our families, our schools, our places of work, our government and the whole world!

O come let us adore him, all of us, Christ the Lord!


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