We commonly think of the Epiphany as that one event in
Christ's life where the Magi, led by a star, make their way to see him and
offer him gifts fitting a new king. However, the Catholic liturgy considers the
Epiphany to be threefold; 1. the visit by the Magi, 2. the baptism of Jesus by
John, and 3. the miracle of the wine at the wedding feast of Cana.
The Greek word, “epiphaneia”, was used to signify the
coming of a king or emperor. It was also used for the self-manifestation of a
god or for his miraculous intervention; this later, likely the original use of
the word.
St. Paul used the word "epiphany" three times.
The first was in reference to Jesus first coming;
He saved us and
called us to a holy life, not according to our works
but according to his own design and the grace bestowed on us in Christ Jesus
before time began, but now made manifest through the appearance
(epiphaneias) of our Savior Christ Jesus, who destroyed death and brought life
and immortality to light through the gospel. 2 Tim. 1:9-10. The other two
uses refer to Jesus second coming; (Titus 2:13) and (2 Thess. 2:8)
“. . . not according to our works
but according to his own design and the grace bestowed on us in Christ Jesus
before time began.”
What an extraordinary statement Paul is making here. We need to unpack it and ponder it. “. . . not according to our works but according to his own design and the grace”. Last Sunday in his homily for the feast of the Epiphany, Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire) identified a trend that is becoming more and more common in society today. People are leaving the tradition practice of their Christian Faith and embracing what they call “spirituality”. They describe themselves as no long religious but spiritual.
Being spiritual is their seeking to attain an inner peace
by their own efforts using things like meditation, yoga, communing with nature
and the like. The opposite to this, Bishop Barron points out, is Faith, faith in divine revelation. It
is not us seeking God bur God seeking us. A Voice outside of ourselves is
calling us to go outside of ourselves to hear and embrace truth and wisdom
being taught by the very voice of God.
A person of faith recognizes that Jesus is the very Voice of God incarnate, speaking and
teaching. A person of faith also realizes that if God did not reveal Himself, did
not come down to us and teach us by his very own word, we could never arrive at
such truth on our own. This is why these days of Epiphany, days of making him visible
are so important.
“And a voice came from heaven: ‘You are My Son the beloved; with You I am well pleased’. Later in Mark’s gospel in the Transfiguration, “Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: ‘This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!’ Mk. 9:7
So the question for today is, am I listening? And a
further question as well, to whom am I listening? There is a great competition
happening today for our attention, made so by the rapid advances of electronic communication:
radio, T.V., internet etc. So many voices speaking at us. But which voices are
speaking the true Word of God? Jesus warned us this challenge.
“See to it that you are not deceived. For many will come in My name, claiming, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them. When you hear of wars and rebellions, do not be alarmed. These things must happen first, but the end is not imminent.” Lk. 21:8-9
The responsibility of discerning and protecting us was
given to the Church which Jesus founded on Peter, promising that He would
remain with his church in every age. That is why we are not surprised when we
see Satan waging vicious attacks against the church. So now we are entering a
new period of Ordinary Time, Year C in the liturgical cycle. This year we take
up Luke’s gospel as our main focus, our main instrument for hearing the voice
of God speaking, teaching us and protecting us from the deceiver.
* * * * * *
For this blog I thought it appropriate not only to behold
these wondrous appearances but also to listen to the voices of those who were
the first to see.
THE MAGI
"Where is the
child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its
rising, and have come to pay him homage."
Prayer: O
Lord, where in my heart is such wonder and awe, such hunger to find you, that I
might surrender my whole heart to your kingship? My eyes are no longer fixed
heaven ward, but rather on the empty and passing things that surround me, like
dark clouds covering my view of the stars. Let the brilliance of your true
presence break through my darkness and lead me once again in search of you.
JESUS BAPTISM BY
JOHN
"I baptize you
with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to
untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and
fire."
Prayer: O
Lord, is there a day, soon to come, when a new fire will burn in my heart. Has
my baptism become but a single ember, barely glowing? Fan into flame once
again, that fire of faith I was given. Baptize me anew in your Holy Spirit and
awaken in me the fire of your Love. Let me hear once again, in my heart, your
voice speaking to me, "You are my
child, my beloved; with you I am well pleased."
CANA
Mary said,
"They have no wine." ... "Do whatever he tells you."
Prayer: Mary,
these words you speak are now about me. The wine of my faith and the wine of my
hope and the wine of my love have surely run out. I am but a clay pot, idle and
empty. Where would I be now, if your motherly love for me was not speaking to
me these words of wisdom. I will do what your Son now tells me. I will take the
water of my humble prayers, the water of my study of his word, the water of my
examination of mind and heart to fill my idleness and emptiness, while I await
his transforming grace of renewal.
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