Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord
Lectionary: 20
Lectionary: 20
Rise up in
splendor, Jerusalem! Your light has come,
the glory of the Lord shines upon you.
See, darkness covers the earth,
and thick clouds cover the peoples;
but upon you the LORD shines,
and over you appears his glory.
Nations shall walk by your light,
and kings by your shining radiance.
Raise your eyes and look about;
they all gather and come to you:
your sons come from afar,
and your daughters in the arms of their nurses.
Then you shall be radiant at what you see,
your heart shall throb and overflow,
for the riches of the sea shall be emptied out before you,
the wealth of nations shall be brought to you.
Caravans of camels shall fill you,
dromedaries from Midian and Ephah;
all from Sheba shall come
bearing gold and frankincense,
and proclaiming the praises of the LORD.
the glory of the Lord shines upon you.
See, darkness covers the earth,
and thick clouds cover the peoples;
but upon you the LORD shines,
and over you appears his glory.
Nations shall walk by your light,
and kings by your shining radiance.
Raise your eyes and look about;
they all gather and come to you:
your sons come from afar,
and your daughters in the arms of their nurses.
Then you shall be radiant at what you see,
your heart shall throb and overflow,
for the riches of the sea shall be emptied out before you,
the wealth of nations shall be brought to you.
Caravans of camels shall fill you,
dromedaries from Midian and Ephah;
all from Sheba shall come
bearing gold and frankincense,
and proclaiming the praises of the LORD.
R/ (cf. 11) Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
O God, with your judgment endow the king,
and with your justice, the king’s son;
He shall govern your people with justice
and your afflicted ones with judgment.
R/ Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
Justice shall flower in his days,
and profound peace, till the moon be no more.
May he rule from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth.
R/ Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
The kings of Tarshish and the Isles shall offer gifts;
the kings of Arabia and Seba shall bring tribute.
All kings shall pay him homage,
all nations shall serve him.
R/ Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
For he shall rescue the poor when he cries out,
and the afflicted when he has no one to help him.
He shall have pity for the lowly and the poor;
the lives of the poor he shall save.
R/ Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
O God, with your judgment endow the king,
and with your justice, the king’s son;
He shall govern your people with justice
and your afflicted ones with judgment.
R/ Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
Justice shall flower in his days,
and profound peace, till the moon be no more.
May he rule from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth.
R/ Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
The kings of Tarshish and the Isles shall offer gifts;
the kings of Arabia and Seba shall bring tribute.
All kings shall pay him homage,
all nations shall serve him.
R/ Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
For he shall rescue the poor when he cries out,
and the afflicted when he has no one to help him.
He shall have pity for the lowly and the poor;
the lives of the poor he shall save.
R/ Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
Brothers and
sisters:
You have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace
that was given to me for your benefit,
namely, that the mystery was made known to me by revelation.
It was not made known to people in other generations
as it has now been revealed
to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit:
that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body,
and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
You have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace
that was given to me for your benefit,
namely, that the mystery was made known to me by revelation.
It was not made known to people in other generations
as it has now been revealed
to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit:
that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body,
and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
When Jesus was born
in Bethlehem of Judea,
in the days of King Herod,
behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying,
“Where is the newborn king of the Jews?
We saw his star at its rising
and have come to do him homage.”
When King Herod heard this,
he was greatly troubled,
and all Jerusalem with him.
Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people,
He inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea,
for thus it has been written through the prophet:
And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
since from you shall come a ruler,
who is to shepherd my people Israel.”
Then Herod called the magi secretly
and ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearance.
He sent them to Bethlehem and said,
“Go and search diligently for the child.
When you have found him, bring me word,
that I too may go and do him homage.”
After their audience with the king they set out.
And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them,
until it came and stopped over the place where the child was.
They were overjoyed at seeing the star,
and on entering the house
they saw the child with Mary his mother.
They prostrated themselves and did him homage.
Then they opened their treasures
and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod,
they departed for their country by another way.
in the days of King Herod,
behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying,
“Where is the newborn king of the Jews?
We saw his star at its rising
and have come to do him homage.”
When King Herod heard this,
he was greatly troubled,
and all Jerusalem with him.
Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people,
He inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea,
for thus it has been written through the prophet:
And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
since from you shall come a ruler,
who is to shepherd my people Israel.”
Then Herod called the magi secretly
and ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearance.
He sent them to Bethlehem and said,
“Go and search diligently for the child.
When you have found him, bring me word,
that I too may go and do him homage.”
After their audience with the king they set out.
And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them,
until it came and stopped over the place where the child was.
They were overjoyed at seeing the star,
and on entering the house
they saw the child with Mary his mother.
They prostrated themselves and did him homage.
Then they opened their treasures
and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod,
they departed for their country by another way.
Scripture Study
January 5, 2014 - Feast of the Epiphany
FIRST READING: Isaiah 60:1-6. Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. Lift up your eyes round about, and see; they all gather together, they come to you; your sons shall come from far, and your daughters shall be carried in the arms.
Then you shall see and be radiant, your heart shall thrill and rejoice; because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you, the wealth of the nations shall come to you. A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall proclaim the praise of the Lord.
EXPLANATION:
The prophet (second-Isaiah probably) is trying to cheer the exiles by foretelling the glorious future of the new Jerusalem which is not yet rebuilt. The special radiance of God will illuminate it. Gentiles (who once despised, it) will bring their riches to it. From Fast and West peoples will flock to it.
glory of the Lord: The gloom of sadness and despair which enveloped the derelict Jerusalem during the exile will give way to a heavenly brightness, for God will dwell within it once more.
darkness...covers the earth: This divine brightness is first and foremost for the Chosen People.
nations shall come to your light: The Gentiles will partake of this divine blessing---their kings will come to share in the light of Zion.
all gather...come to you: The glory of Jerusalem will be such that all nations will come to it, and the scattered children of Israel will return home also (see 49: 22).
abundance...sea: The nations of the West (the sea the Mediterranean) will bring their riches in ships.
Midian, Ephah and Sheba: The eastern nations will come in camel caravans, the usual way of travel through the desert, bearing their gifts.
gold and frankincense: Two of the most valuable means of barter-trading of the time.
proclaim the praise of the Lord: They will come with their gifts to honor the God of Israel, forsaking their pagan idols for the true God.
APPLICATION: The feast of the Epiphany is the feast which commemorates the manifestation of God to the Gentiles. This manifestation began when the Wise Men from the East came to Bethlehem to pay their respects and offer their gifts to the newly-born king of the Jews (see Mt. 2 in today's gospel). Though the words of second-Isaiah were not understood by his hearers as referring to this event, it was only in the coming of the Magi, to welcome Christ, that they were really fulfilled. Jerusalem was in no sense an attraction for the nations in the intervening centuries. But the Magi at Bethlehem were the first-fruits of the thousands and millions of Gentiles who have since then seen the glory of God in the Babe of Bethlehem and who have figuratively come to Jerusalem from the West and from the East to form the new Chosen People, the new Kingdom of God.
Let us thank God today for having called us, Gentiles, to his kingdom, his Church, and for giving us the means to reach heaven. Let us never imitate the Chosen People of the Old Testament who so often forgot how good God was to them, and who often so provoked him, that he allowed them to be taken into exile as slaves of a pagan nation. We too could bring exile on ourselves, an exile much more fatal than the Babylonian one. Whatever else may be my lot, whatever hardship I may have to suffer during the few years I am on earth, God forbid that I should ever, through my unfaithfulness, cause myself to be excluded from my true home, heaven, where "the glory of the Lord will shine" forever.
SECOND READING: Ephesians 3: 2-3; 5-6. I assume that you have heard of the
stewardship of God's grace that was given to me for you, how the mystery was
made known to me by revelation, which was not made known to the sons of men in
other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy Apostles and prophets
by the Spirit; that is, how the Gentiles are fellow-heirs, members of the same
body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
EXPLANATION:
stewardship...grace: Paul, writing from a prison in Rome to the Ephesians, whom he had converted to Christianity about 53-56, reminds them of the fact that he was "the Apostle of the Gentiles."
to me for you: This mission to bring the knowledge of Christ to the Gentiles Paul counted as a special grace from God, which it was, both for him and for his converts (see also Rom. 1: 5; 15: 15; Gal. 2: 9).
by revelation: His mission was revealed to him when Christ appeared to him on the road to Damascus (see Acts 9: 15; 22: 21).
in...generations: The expected Messiah of the Old Testament was understood to be for the Jews only---this was the common opinion of the Jewish people. Even the prophets, many of whom referred to the Gentiles in relation to the Messiah, had no clear understanding of him.
revealed...Apostles and prophets: That Christ the Messiah had come for the Gentiles as well as for the Jews was revealed to the Apostles and prophets---those Christians who in the early Church had special revelations from God for the community. To the Apostles Christ gave the command after his resurrection: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations" (Mt. 28: 19; see Mk. 16: 15; 24: 47).
members of the same body: The Gentiles are equal members with the Jewish converts in the mystical body of Christ, the Church.
promise...through the gospel: The eternal reward promised by Christ to his followers, in the gospel, and through living up to its teaching.
APPLICATION: St. Paul's thoughts in his prison in Rome are not for himself nor for the fate that awaits him. He is thinking instead of the mission Christ gave him, to evangelize the Gentile nations. He has done much already, and even in prison he does all he can to continue the good work. He writes to his Gentile converts from Rome, to remind them of their great privilege in being called to the Christian faith. They are now God's new Chosen People, they are now members of Christ's mystical body, they are now guaranteed heaven if they appreciate and live up to their vocation.
EXPLANATION:
stewardship...grace: Paul, writing from a prison in Rome to the Ephesians, whom he had converted to Christianity about 53-56, reminds them of the fact that he was "the Apostle of the Gentiles."
to me for you: This mission to bring the knowledge of Christ to the Gentiles Paul counted as a special grace from God, which it was, both for him and for his converts (see also Rom. 1: 5; 15: 15; Gal. 2: 9).
by revelation: His mission was revealed to him when Christ appeared to him on the road to Damascus (see Acts 9: 15; 22: 21).
in...generations: The expected Messiah of the Old Testament was understood to be for the Jews only---this was the common opinion of the Jewish people. Even the prophets, many of whom referred to the Gentiles in relation to the Messiah, had no clear understanding of him.
revealed...Apostles and prophets: That Christ the Messiah had come for the Gentiles as well as for the Jews was revealed to the Apostles and prophets---those Christians who in the early Church had special revelations from God for the community. To the Apostles Christ gave the command after his resurrection: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations" (Mt. 28: 19; see Mk. 16: 15; 24: 47).
members of the same body: The Gentiles are equal members with the Jewish converts in the mystical body of Christ, the Church.
promise...through the gospel: The eternal reward promised by Christ to his followers, in the gospel, and through living up to its teaching.
APPLICATION: St. Paul's thoughts in his prison in Rome are not for himself nor for the fate that awaits him. He is thinking instead of the mission Christ gave him, to evangelize the Gentile nations. He has done much already, and even in prison he does all he can to continue the good work. He writes to his Gentile converts from Rome, to remind them of their great privilege in being called to the Christian faith. They are now God's new Chosen People, they are now members of Christ's mystical body, they are now guaranteed heaven if they appreciate and live up to their vocation.
Today, on the feast of the Epiphany, we are celebrating the
coming of the first Gentiles to the feet of Christ. They were the first of the
long stream of Gentile peoples and nations that flowed steadily toward Christ's
mystical body, the Church, down through the years. We have the privilege of
being part of that stream, and St. Paul, who today in heaven is as interested
in us as he was in his Ephesian converts, is exhorting us, through these words
of his, to appreciate the privilege which is ours. Through the grace of God and
not through any merits of our own, we are Christians and are on the road to
heaven. "Rejoice and persevere" is St. Paul's advice to us today. If
we truly rejoice it means we truly appreciate what the gift of the true faith
means. We know where we came from, we know where we are going, and we are
certain there is a place, a wonderful, eternal place, to go to. We know too how
to get there. This is no mean knowledge in the world of today, where so many
seem content to make this world their heaven, and let the future look after
itself---if there be a future (and logically to ease their consciences they
must hope there isn't one).
Thank God, our faith and our ordinary intelligence tell us there has to be a future life---God would be a cruel joker if he gave us the nature we possess with its spiritual gifts and desires only to have them end in a grave after a few short years. We can rejoice then because we appreciate the great privilege given us, and if we appreciate it we shall hold on to it and follow the path it indicates. We may have to climb some hills and they may look as steep as Calvary, but after Calvary comes the Mount of Olives, the mount of the Ascension.
Thank God, our faith and our ordinary intelligence tell us there has to be a future life---God would be a cruel joker if he gave us the nature we possess with its spiritual gifts and desires only to have them end in a grave after a few short years. We can rejoice then because we appreciate the great privilege given us, and if we appreciate it we shall hold on to it and follow the path it indicates. We may have to climb some hills and they may look as steep as Calvary, but after Calvary comes the Mount of Olives, the mount of the Ascension.
GOSPEL: Matthew 2:1-12. When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea
in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to
Jerusalem, saying, "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we
have seen his star in the East, and have come to worship him." When Herod
the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and
assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them
where the Christ was to be born. They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea;
for so it is written by the prophet: 'And you, 0 Bethlehem, in the land of
Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come
a ruler who will govern my people Israel."'
Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star appeared; and he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him bring me word, that I too may come and worship him." When they had heard the king they went their way; and lo, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy; and going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshipped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.
EXPLANATION:
Wise men: The term was usually reserved for men learned in the sciences, and among the Persians these were especially the priestly caste.
from the East: From Mesopotamia, of which Persia was the only country of any importance then.
to Jerusalem: Evidently God had revealed to them that a new King of the Jews had been born, and they understood from God that he was a special King; they did not come when Herod or Herod's son was born.
we have seen his star: Astrology was one of the sciences studied by Magi. There was a firm conviction that each human being had his own star and that his fate in life was governed by that star. This was not and is not so, but God made use of their superstition to teach them truth. Some unusual light in the sky aroused their interest; God did the rest.
Herod . . . troubled: He knew the Magi had not come to honor his son---all his sons were grown up at the time, so he immediately thought of an opponent who would oust him from the throne.
all Jerusalem with him: Not because Herod might lose his throne, but for fear of what excess Herod would go to if any opposition arose.
Christ was to be born: Herod, who was a pagan, may have had some idea of the messianic promises which were the kernel of the Old Testament. But when the question of a special king of the Jews arose, some of his household must have told him that this must be the expected Messiah (a Hebrew word meaning the Anointed, or the Christ).
the priests and scribes: They knew their bible, they remembered the prophecy of Micah (see Cycle C (3) 4th Sunday of Advent), and so informed Herod that Bethlehem was to be the birthplace of the Christ.
time the star appeared: Herod had already formed his plans---he would destroy that infant. The Magi had probably spent months on their journey. The star may have appeared some months before they left. The Baby could possibly be a year old. But Herod took no chances: when ordering the murder of all the male children of Bethlehem (3:16), he said: "from two years and under."
I may . . . come and worship: He may have deceived the Magi but could not deceive God.
star . . . over the place: This heavenly light directed them to the place (not the stable, as it says, they "entered the house") where they found the Child.
with Mary his mother: The omission of Joseph may be due to the simple fact that he was absent because he had found employment in Bethlehem as a carpenter. It is, however, more likely that Matthew who has already (1 : 18-25) told of the virginal conception of Christ, is emphasizing here the fact that Joseph was only the foster-father of Christ.
worshiped him: That is, they paid him reverence by prostrating themselves before him. It does not prove they recognized him as God but they did recognize him as a special King.
gold . . . myrrh: Precious gifts to show their respect and esteem.
departed . . . another way: Herod had told them to return to him but God had other plans---the Magi were instructed to return not via Jerusalem but by another route. This gave time to Joseph to remove the Child before Herod could lay hands on him.
Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star appeared; and he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him bring me word, that I too may come and worship him." When they had heard the king they went their way; and lo, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy; and going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshipped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.
EXPLANATION:
Wise men: The term was usually reserved for men learned in the sciences, and among the Persians these were especially the priestly caste.
from the East: From Mesopotamia, of which Persia was the only country of any importance then.
to Jerusalem: Evidently God had revealed to them that a new King of the Jews had been born, and they understood from God that he was a special King; they did not come when Herod or Herod's son was born.
we have seen his star: Astrology was one of the sciences studied by Magi. There was a firm conviction that each human being had his own star and that his fate in life was governed by that star. This was not and is not so, but God made use of their superstition to teach them truth. Some unusual light in the sky aroused their interest; God did the rest.
Herod . . . troubled: He knew the Magi had not come to honor his son---all his sons were grown up at the time, so he immediately thought of an opponent who would oust him from the throne.
all Jerusalem with him: Not because Herod might lose his throne, but for fear of what excess Herod would go to if any opposition arose.
Christ was to be born: Herod, who was a pagan, may have had some idea of the messianic promises which were the kernel of the Old Testament. But when the question of a special king of the Jews arose, some of his household must have told him that this must be the expected Messiah (a Hebrew word meaning the Anointed, or the Christ).
the priests and scribes: They knew their bible, they remembered the prophecy of Micah (see Cycle C (3) 4th Sunday of Advent), and so informed Herod that Bethlehem was to be the birthplace of the Christ.
time the star appeared: Herod had already formed his plans---he would destroy that infant. The Magi had probably spent months on their journey. The star may have appeared some months before they left. The Baby could possibly be a year old. But Herod took no chances: when ordering the murder of all the male children of Bethlehem (3:16), he said: "from two years and under."
I may . . . come and worship: He may have deceived the Magi but could not deceive God.
star . . . over the place: This heavenly light directed them to the place (not the stable, as it says, they "entered the house") where they found the Child.
with Mary his mother: The omission of Joseph may be due to the simple fact that he was absent because he had found employment in Bethlehem as a carpenter. It is, however, more likely that Matthew who has already (1 : 18-25) told of the virginal conception of Christ, is emphasizing here the fact that Joseph was only the foster-father of Christ.
worshiped him: That is, they paid him reverence by prostrating themselves before him. It does not prove they recognized him as God but they did recognize him as a special King.
gold . . . myrrh: Precious gifts to show their respect and esteem.
departed . . . another way: Herod had told them to return to him but God had other plans---the Magi were instructed to return not via Jerusalem but by another route. This gave time to Joseph to remove the Child before Herod could lay hands on him.
APPLICATION: The Magi are the central personages in today's feast of
Epiphany. They were pagans who did not know the true God of the Jews. Yet that
true God revealed to them that the King he had promised to the Jews had come.
The expected Prince was born. They came to Jerusalem, the capital of Judah,
expecting, of course, to find the city and the whole country rejoicing. Instead
they found suspicion and hatred in the reigning king---a hatred which in a few
days turned to murder. Among the religious leaders they found knowledge of
their past history, but utter indifference as regards the present and the
future. These leaders knew the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem; they must
have realized that the Magi were very sure of the truth revealed to them---they
would not have come such a long journey on a "fool's errand." In
spite of that, the thought of going to Bethlehem with the Magi never entered
their minds. These were the leaders who some years later refused to listen to
Christ and in spite of his miracles refused to admit his claim that he was not
only the promised Messiah, but the true Son of God. These were the men who
rejected him because he had mercy on sinners, and spoke of a future life. What
they wanted from their Messiah was political power and earthly freedom and
prosperity. Like Herod they ended with murder---the crucifixion of the
"King of the Jews." The pagan king was not much worse than the
indifferent leaders of God's Chosen People.
We too know the true facts concerning Christ, his mission, and his present and future kingdom. Like the leaders of the Jews of his day, we also could become absorbed in the affairs of this life and the quest for wealth, pleasure and power. We could become so totally absorbed in such things as to have neither the interest nor the time to pay our respects to Christ or to welcome him into our homes and our hearts, as our true Lord. God forbid it should ever be thus with us. Rather let us resolve this morning to make the Magi our models, to follow them to Bethlehem and offer him all that we have and are. He will accept our offering and we will return by another way, wiser and better men.
We too know the true facts concerning Christ, his mission, and his present and future kingdom. Like the leaders of the Jews of his day, we also could become absorbed in the affairs of this life and the quest for wealth, pleasure and power. We could become so totally absorbed in such things as to have neither the interest nor the time to pay our respects to Christ or to welcome him into our homes and our hearts, as our true Lord. God forbid it should ever be thus with us. Rather let us resolve this morning to make the Magi our models, to follow them to Bethlehem and offer him all that we have and are. He will accept our offering and we will return by another way, wiser and better men.
Meditation: "They fell down and worshiped Jesus"
: If Jesus truly is who he claims to be, the eternal Son of
God and Savior of the world, then why is he not recognized by everyone who
hears his word and sees his works? John the Evangelist states that when Jesus
came into the world the world knew him not and his own people received
him not (John 1:10-11). Jesus was born in obscurity. Only the lowly
shepherds recognized him at his birth. Some wise men also found their way to
Bethlehem to pay homage to the newborn King of Israel. These men were not
Israelites, but foreigners. They likely had read and discussed the Messianic
prophecies and were anxious to see when this Messianic King would appear. God
led them by means of an extraordinary star across the desert to the little town
of Bethlehem where Jesus was born.
John Chrysostom (347-407), in his homily on this passage from
Matthew 2, explains the significance of the star of Bethlehem:
"Note how fitting was the order of events: the wise men saw
the star, were received by the Jews and their king; they heard prophecy to
explain what had appeared; the angel instructed them; and then they journeyed
from Jerusalem to Bethlehem by the guidance of the star. From all this we learn
that this was not an ordinary star, for no other star has this capacity to
guide, not merely to move but to beckon, to “go before them,” drawing and
guiding them along their way. The star remained after bringing them to the
place, in order that the child might also be seen. For there is nothing
conspicuous about the place. The inn was ordinary. The mother was not
celebrated or notable. The star was needed to manifest and illumine the lowly
place, until they had reached their destination at the manger." [The
Gospel of Matthew, Homily 7:3]
In their thirst for knowledge of God, the wise men from the East
willingly left everything, their home and country, in pursuit of that quest. In
their diligent search they were led to the source of true knowledge – to Jesus
Christ, the Light and Wisdom of God. When they found the newborn King they
humbly worshiped him and gave him gifts fitting for a king. How could they
recognize this infant as both divine and a human king - born of flesh yet sent
from heaven? The early church fathers taught that only divine revelation could
open the minds and hearts of people to recognize and receive Christ as their
King and Savior. Chromatius (died 406 or 407), a contemporary bishop and friend
of Ambrose, Jerome, and John Chrysostom, wrote:
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).” [Tractate on Matthew,
5:1]
The Lord of the universe who revealed the star of Bethlehem to
the Gentiles of the East so they could come and worship Jesus, the Prince of
Peace (Isaiah 9:6) and King of Kings (Revelations 19:16), gives each one of us
the same light of revelation to recognize and accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior.
Faith is an entirely free gift that God makes to us. It is through the help of
the Holy Spirit, who moves the heart and opens the eyes of the mind, that we
are able to understand, accept, and believe the truth which God has revealed to
us through his Son, Jesus Christ. In faith, the human will and intellect
cooperate with grace. "Believing is an act of the intellect
assenting to the divine truth by command of the will moved by God through
grace" (Thomas Aquinas).
To know and to encounter Jesus Christ is to know God personally.
In the encounter of the wise men with Jesus we see the plan of God to give his
only Son as King and Savior, not just for the Jewish people but for all the
nations as well. The Lord Jesus came that both Jew and Gentile might find true
and lasting peace with God. Let us pray today that Jew and Gentile alike
will find the Lord and Savior on their journey of life. Do you bring the light
of Jesus Christ to those you meet through the witness of your life and
testimony?
"Lord Jesus Christ, we thank you for bringing salvation to
all the nations. May the gospel of salvation be proclaimed to every nation
today and to every person on the face of the earth. Help me to be a good
witness of the joy of the gospel to all I meet."
|
I Came, I Saw and I
Was Conquered
|
|
Solemnity of the
Epiphany of the Lord
|
|
Matthew 2:1-12
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea,
in the days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem,
saying, "Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its
rising and have come to do him homage." When King Herod heard this, he
was greatly troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Assembling all the chief
priests and the scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah
was to be born. They said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it
has been written through the prophet: ´And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are
by no means least among the rulers of Judah; since from you shall come a
ruler, who is to shepherd my people Israel.´" Then Herod called the magi
secretly and ascertained from them the time of the star´s appearance. He sent
them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search diligently for the child.
When you have found him, bring me word, that I too may go and do him
homage." After their audience with the king they set out. And behold,
the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and
stopped over the place where the child was. They were overjoyed at seeing the
star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They
prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures
and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been
warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by
another way.
Introductory Prayer: Lord, thank you for your perfect gift of
yourself: coming as a humble child born of Mary. The thought of you as
a helpless little babe lying in a manger fills my heart with confidence. I
know that you could never be capable of deceiving me, since you have divested
yourself of all greatness so that I can gaze upon you. You deserve all my
hope and all my love, which I humbly offer you now.
Petition:Lord, I ask you for a heart truly receptive to your message.
1. We Saw His Star: Those who are sincere of heart find God in
their life. In the case of the Magi, their sincerity is shown by what they
are willing to sacrifice to attain their goal. The journey required
abandoning the comforts of their homeland, the needs of their family members,
and the pursuit of wealth. The intention was pure, not muddled with self-centered
wants, for it was nothing less than the desire to encounter God’s living
presence. Their openness of heart permitted God to speak through many things
in their world—from astrology to Herod, from the star to the child in the
crib. What will it take for me to find God today? I must put aside all but
him and let his hand lead me to that definitive encounter with his divine
presence.
2. Warned Not to Return to Herod: No star is offered to Herod or to the
worldly, only darkness. The worldly may like the idea of God, and even be
curious about him, but they disregard his call. They rarely leave their
palace, sacrifice their time, or place themselves at the service of the
divine. The prideful lovers of comfort leave their palaces and then oddly
claim God is nowhere to be found in the world. They fear the loss of a
comfortable world. I pray that my heart be open to all that the living Gospel
requires in my life. May Christ find no obstacle in me; rather, may he find
in me the will to leave my palace so that I might find and follow him.
3. Then They Opened Their Treasures: In order to give love, I must have been
impacted by love. How can I hold to the demands that others place upon me?
How can I keep true to my vocation and mission when little affirmation and support
come my way? Every morning I need to seek out the God who gives
unconditionally so that his giving may impact me. Be it at Mass, in prayer,
or in the workings of divine providence, every day a necessary epiphany
awaits me. It empowers me to open my coffer and bring forth the gift of self.
If I do not experience this love, my life remains closed—no interior strength
is found to give myself totally. John tells us: “In this is love, not that we
love God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be an atoning sacrifice
for our sins. Brothers, if God so loved us, we too ought to love each other….
We love because he first loved us” (1 John 4:8, 20).
Conversation with Christ:Christ, your love for me compels me to give
myself and hold nothing back. I have touched a moment in human history that
overwhelms my comprehension and conquers my heart for you. May I give myself
as you give yourself to me: at Mass, in prayer, and in souls you call me to
serve.
Resolution:I will work to improve my charity with the
members of my family today, loving them as Christ does.
|
SOLEMNITY OF THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD
SUNDAY, JANUARY 5, MATTHEW 2:1-12
(Isaiah 60:1-6; Psalm 72; Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6)
SUNDAY, JANUARY 5, MATTHEW 2:1-12
(Isaiah 60:1-6; Psalm 72; Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6)
KEY VERSE: "We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage" (v 2).
READING: Matthew wrote his gospel to a Jewish audience to show that Jesus was the fulfillment of their longings for a Messiah (see genealogy, Mt 1:1-17). He also wanted to show that God's salvation would reach "to the end of the earth" (Is 49:6). Matthew communicated this intention by having gentiles (Greek, ethnos) coming to visit the Holy Family in Bethlehem. These "wise men" (Greek: magi) are thought to have been astrologers of the Zoroastrian religion. They believed that a new star signaled the birth of a ruler. They followed the star to Jerusalem where they asked King Herod the Great where they could find the newborn king of the Jews because they "observed his star at its rising" (Nm 24:17). Herod's advisors told him that the prophet Micah foretold the birth of a Messiah in Bethlehem, the birthplace of David where he was also anointed king (Mi 5:2). Fearing that this child would be a threat to his throne, Herod sent the magi to search for the newborn king on the pretense of offering him homage. The star illuminated the way to the Christ child and Mary his mother. The magi offered him gifts that signified his kingship (gold), priesthood (frankincense) and his saving death (myrrh, used in anointing a body). The magi were warned in a dream not to return to Herod, so they returned "by another way" (v 12). We are all invited to discover the Lord through the different journeys of faith we undertake; however, we cannot return to our old ways. We must travel in a different direction--the path that leads to Jesus.
REFLECTING: What are the gifts that I can offer the Lord?
PRAYING: Lord Jesus, help me to seek you in all I do.
NOTE: The word "epiphany" means a manifestation or an appearance of a supernatural being. Because the magi brought three gifts, legend made them "three kings," and they were given the names of Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar.
Lord, every nation on earth will adore you
Our hearts are stirred to resolve always to follow the light of
faith, which is our star.This classic story beckons to us to search and find the Child, ‘with Mary his Mother’. We kneel in homage, in worship, saying with the centurion at Calvary, ‘Surely this is the Son of God’, and with St Thomas after the resurrection, ‘My Lord and my God’. From our prayer and worship come desires to open the treasure of our heart, to give ourselves to the following of Jesus. ‘I offer you all the prayers, works, joys and sufferings of each day, as my gifts of gold, incense and myrrh.’ Jesus, in babyhood, is utterly dependent on his mother and St Joseph. This reminds us that he has left the carrying forward of the light of faith, from generation to generation, to those who believe in him. This scene rekindles our resolve to let the humble light of our own faith shine, so that others may perhaps see it, and come to believe.
January 5
St. John Neumann
(1811-1860)
St. John Neumann
(1811-1860)
Perhaps because the United States got a later start in the history
of the world, it has relatively few canonized saints, but their number is
increasing.
John
Neumann was born in what is now the Czech Republic. After studying in Prague,
he came to New York at 25 and was ordained a priest. He did missionary work in
New York until he was 29, when he joined the Redemptorists and became its first
member to profess vows in the United States. He continued missionary work in
Maryland, Virginia and Ohio, where he became popular with the Germans.
At 41, as
bishop of Philadelphia, he organized the parochial school system into a
diocesan one, increasing the number of pupils almost twentyfold within a short
time.
Gifted
with outstanding organizing ability, he drew into the city many teaching
communities of sisters and the Christian Brothers. During his brief assignment
as vice provincial for the Redemptorists, he placed them in the forefront of
the parochial movement.
Well-known
for his holiness and learning, spiritual writing and preaching, on October 13,
1963, John Neumann became the first American bishop to be beatified. Canonized
in 1977, he is buried in St. Peter the Apostle Church in Philadelphia.
Comment:
Neumann took seriously our Lord’s words, “Go and teach all nations.” From Christ he received his instructions and the power to carry them out. For Christ does not give a mission without supplying the means to accomplish it. The Father’s gift in Christ to John Neumann was his exceptional organizing ability, which he used to spread the Good News.
Neumann took seriously our Lord’s words, “Go and teach all nations.” From Christ he received his instructions and the power to carry them out. For Christ does not give a mission without supplying the means to accomplish it. The Father’s gift in Christ to John Neumann was his exceptional organizing ability, which he used to spread the Good News.
Today the Church is
in dire need of men and women to continue in our times the teaching of the Good
News. The obstacles and inconveniences are real and costly. Yet when Christians
approach Christ, he supplies the necessary talents to answer today’s needs. The
Spirit of Christ continues his work through the instrumentality of generous
Christians.
Quote:
“All people of whatever race, condition or age, in virtue of their dignity as human persons, have an inalienable right to education. This education should be suitable to the particular destiny of the individuals, adapted to their ability, sex and national cultural traditions, and should be conducive to amicable relations with other nations in order to promote true unity and peace in the world. True education aims to give people a formation which is directed towards their final end and the good of that society to which they belong and in which, as adults, they will have their share of duties to perform” (Vatican II, Declaration on Christian Education, 1, Austin Flannery translation).
“All people of whatever race, condition or age, in virtue of their dignity as human persons, have an inalienable right to education. This education should be suitable to the particular destiny of the individuals, adapted to their ability, sex and national cultural traditions, and should be conducive to amicable relations with other nations in order to promote true unity and peace in the world. True education aims to give people a formation which is directed towards their final end and the good of that society to which they belong and in which, as adults, they will have their share of duties to perform” (Vatican II, Declaration on Christian Education, 1, Austin Flannery translation).
LECTIO DIVINA:
EPIPHANY OF THE LORD (A)
Lectio:
Sunday, January 5, 2014
The Magi’s journey of faith
The adoration of the child Jesus as King and Lord
Matthew 2: 1-12
The adoration of the child Jesus as King and Lord
Matthew 2: 1-12
1. Opening prayer
Merciful Father, you have called me to meet you in this word of the Gospel, because you wish that I may have life, you wish to give me yourself. Send, I pray you, your Holy Spirit upon me so that I may let myself be led along the holy way of this passage of Scripture. May I, today, get out of my prison to set out on a journey to seek you. May I recognise the star that you have lit as a sign of your love on my journey to follow it tirelessly, intensely, committing my whole life. May I, finally, enter your house and there see the Lord; may I bend low humbly before you to adore you and offer my life to you, all that I am and all that I have. Lord, by your grace, may I return by a new route, without ever passing through the old paths of sin.
Merciful Father, you have called me to meet you in this word of the Gospel, because you wish that I may have life, you wish to give me yourself. Send, I pray you, your Holy Spirit upon me so that I may let myself be led along the holy way of this passage of Scripture. May I, today, get out of my prison to set out on a journey to seek you. May I recognise the star that you have lit as a sign of your love on my journey to follow it tirelessly, intensely, committing my whole life. May I, finally, enter your house and there see the Lord; may I bend low humbly before you to adore you and offer my life to you, all that I am and all that I have. Lord, by your grace, may I return by a new route, without ever passing through the old paths of sin.
2. Reading
a) Placing the passage in its context:
This passage belongs to the first two chapters of Matthew’s
Gospel, which constitute a kind of prologue to the whole work. Here we are
presented with the historical origin of the Messiah as son of David, as well as
his divine origin as Jesus Christ, God-with-us. Matthew immediately leads us
into a very deep and engaging meditation, placing before us a precise choice
through the persons he introduces in his story: we either recognise and welcome
the Lord who is just born, or we remain indifferent even to wanting to
eliminate him, kill him. This passage offers us the beautiful story of the
journey of the Magi, who come from afar because they want to seek and welcome,
love and adore the Lord Jesus. But their long journey and tireless search, the
conversion of their heart are facts that speak of us, facts already written on
the scroll of our own sacred story.
b) An aid to the reading of the passage:
The passage may be divided into two main parts, determined by
the locality where the scenes take place: the first part (2: 1-9a) takes place
in Jerusalem, whereas the second part is focussed around Bethlehem (2: 9b-12).
Mt 2: 1-2: The passage begins with precise indications as to the place and time of the birth of Jesus: in Bethlehem of Judea, at the time of king Herod. Within this quite specific description, the Magi suddenly appear, who, coming from afar, arrive in Jerusalem under the guidance of a star. It is they who announce the birth of the Lord king. They ask where they might find him because they wish to adore him.
Mt 2: 3-6: On hearing the words of the Magi, king Herod, and with him all of Jerusalem is disturbed and afraid. Rather than welcoming the Lord and opting for him, they seek to eliminate him. Herod calls the authorities of the Jewish people and the experts in Scripture. It is they, by the help of ancient prophecies, who speak and reveal Bethlehem as the place to find the Messiah.
Mt 2: 7-8: Herod calls the Magi in secret because he wants to use them for his own evil ends. His detailed interest is entirely directed towards the elimination of Christ.
Mt 2: 9a: The Magi, urged by strength of faith and led by the star, leave again and go towards Bethlehem.
Mt 2: 9b-11: The star reappears, moves with the Magi and leads them to the exact spot where the Lord Jesus is. Full of joy, they enter the house and prostrate themselves; they offer precious gifts because they recognise that he is king and Lord.
Mt 2: 12: When they have contemplated and adored the Lord, the Magi receive a revelation from God; it is He who speaks to them. They are new men; they have in them a new heaven and a new earth. They are free of the deceits of Herod and, therefore, they go back to their lives by an entirely new way
Mt 2: 1-2: The passage begins with precise indications as to the place and time of the birth of Jesus: in Bethlehem of Judea, at the time of king Herod. Within this quite specific description, the Magi suddenly appear, who, coming from afar, arrive in Jerusalem under the guidance of a star. It is they who announce the birth of the Lord king. They ask where they might find him because they wish to adore him.
Mt 2: 3-6: On hearing the words of the Magi, king Herod, and with him all of Jerusalem is disturbed and afraid. Rather than welcoming the Lord and opting for him, they seek to eliminate him. Herod calls the authorities of the Jewish people and the experts in Scripture. It is they, by the help of ancient prophecies, who speak and reveal Bethlehem as the place to find the Messiah.
Mt 2: 7-8: Herod calls the Magi in secret because he wants to use them for his own evil ends. His detailed interest is entirely directed towards the elimination of Christ.
Mt 2: 9a: The Magi, urged by strength of faith and led by the star, leave again and go towards Bethlehem.
Mt 2: 9b-11: The star reappears, moves with the Magi and leads them to the exact spot where the Lord Jesus is. Full of joy, they enter the house and prostrate themselves; they offer precious gifts because they recognise that he is king and Lord.
Mt 2: 12: When they have contemplated and adored the Lord, the Magi receive a revelation from God; it is He who speaks to them. They are new men; they have in them a new heaven and a new earth. They are free of the deceits of Herod and, therefore, they go back to their lives by an entirely new way
c) The text:
1 After Jesus had been born at Bethlehem in Judaea during the
reign of King Herod, suddenly some wise men came to Jerusalem from the east 2
asking, 'Where is the infant king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose and
have come to do him homage.'
3 When King Herod heard this he was perturbed, and so was the whole of Jerusalem. 4 He called together all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, and enquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, 'At Bethlehem in Judaea, for this is what the prophet wrote: 6 And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, you are by no means the least among the leaders of Judah, for from you will come a leader who will shepherd my people Israel.'
7 Then Herod summoned the wise men to see him privately. He asked them the exact date on which the star had appeared 8 and sent them on to Bethlehem with the words, 'Go and find out all about the child, and when you have found him, let me know, so that I too may go and do him homage.' 9 Having listened to what the king had to say, they set out. And suddenly the star they had seen rising went forward and halted over the place where the child was. 10 The sight of the star filled them with delight, 11 and going into the house they saw the child with his mother Mary, and falling to their knees they did him homage. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh.
12 But they were given a warning in a dream not to go back to Herod, and returned to their own country by a different way.
3 When King Herod heard this he was perturbed, and so was the whole of Jerusalem. 4 He called together all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, and enquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, 'At Bethlehem in Judaea, for this is what the prophet wrote: 6 And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, you are by no means the least among the leaders of Judah, for from you will come a leader who will shepherd my people Israel.'
7 Then Herod summoned the wise men to see him privately. He asked them the exact date on which the star had appeared 8 and sent them on to Bethlehem with the words, 'Go and find out all about the child, and when you have found him, let me know, so that I too may go and do him homage.' 9 Having listened to what the king had to say, they set out. And suddenly the star they had seen rising went forward and halted over the place where the child was. 10 The sight of the star filled them with delight, 11 and going into the house they saw the child with his mother Mary, and falling to their knees they did him homage. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh.
12 But they were given a warning in a dream not to go back to Herod, and returned to their own country by a different way.
3. A moment of prayerful silence
I listen deeply to the silent voice of the Lord and let the
breath of the Spirit come to me and infuse me. In this silence I seek the Lord
and repeat in my heart: “Where are you, my God?”
4. A few questions
a) I take the first words that come from the mouths of the Magi
and make them my own: “Where is the infant king of the Jews?” Do I
really feel attracted to the place where the Lord is because I desire to be
with him? Am I ready to leave the dark and old places of my habits, of my
comfort, to undertake a journey of faith in search of Jesus?
b) “We have come to adore him”. Here the Word of the Lord tests me, puts me through a crucible: do I really live in a relationship of love with God? Am I able to open my life in his presence and allow him to enter into my very heart-beats?
c) “From you will come a leader who will shepherd my people”. Am I capable of placing and giving my whole existence to the guidance of the Lord, to trust in him, in his love, in his so real presence even though he remains invisible?
d) “Going into the house they saw the child”. It is precisely because they accept to go into the house, to enter into communion, to give themselves fully and truly that their eyes can see, contemplate and recognise. Why is it that I am not aware of the fact that the more I stay outside, the more I am distant from the life of my brothers and sisters and the more I become sad and empty?
b) “We have come to adore him”. Here the Word of the Lord tests me, puts me through a crucible: do I really live in a relationship of love with God? Am I able to open my life in his presence and allow him to enter into my very heart-beats?
c) “From you will come a leader who will shepherd my people”. Am I capable of placing and giving my whole existence to the guidance of the Lord, to trust in him, in his love, in his so real presence even though he remains invisible?
d) “Going into the house they saw the child”. It is precisely because they accept to go into the house, to enter into communion, to give themselves fully and truly that their eyes can see, contemplate and recognise. Why is it that I am not aware of the fact that the more I stay outside, the more I am distant from the life of my brothers and sisters and the more I become sad and empty?
5. A key to the reading
I look for some key words, some basic themes, that may guide and
help me better penetrate the meaning of this passage of the Gospel, so that my
life may be enlightened and changed by this Word of the Lord.
* The journey: This passage seems to be shot through with the grand theme
of a journey, an exodus, a going out. The Magi, these mysterious characters,
get moving, go far away from their land and go seeking the king, the Lord.
Matthew presents this fact by means of some verbs that proceed along
development of the event: came, we have come, sent them, go,
set out, went before them, going into, not to go
back, returned. The physical journey of the Magi hides a much more
important and meaningful journey, the journey of faith. This is the movement of
the soul born from a desire to meet and know the Lord. At the same time it is
God’s invitation, who calls and attracts us with his own power; it is he who
gets us to stand up and sets us in motion, who offers us signs and does not
cease to walk with us. Scripture gives us many important examples and these
help us enter into this path of grace and blessings. To Abraham God
said: “Leave your country, your family and your father’s house, for the land I
will show you” (Gen 12: 1). Jacob too was a pilgrim of faith
and conversion; in fact, of him is written: “Jacob left Beersheba and set out
for Haran” (Gen 28: 10) and: “Moving on, Jacob went to the land of the sons of
the East” (Gen 29: 1). Many years later, the Lord spoke to him and said: “Go
back to the land of your forefathers and to your kindred; and I will be with
you” (Gen 31: 3). Moses too was a man on a journey; God himself showed him the
way, the exodus, in his heart, in his depths, and made of his whole life a long
march of salvation for him and for his brothers and sisters: “So come, I send
you to Pharaoh to bring the sons of Israel, my people, out of Egypt!” (Ex 3:
10). Also the new people of God, we the children of the promise and of the new
covenant, are called to go out all the time and to set out on a journey in the
footsteps of the Lord Jesus. The exodus never ceased; the liberation that comes
from faith is still always active. Let us look at Jesus, at his apostles, at
Paul: not one of them stands still, not one of them hides. All these witnesses
speak to us today by their deeds and they repeat: “Blessed is he who finds in
you his strength and one who decides in his heart to go on the holy journey”
(Ps 83: 6).
* The star: This is a very important and
central element in this passage because the star has the role of guiding the
Magi to their destination, of enlightening their nights along the journey, of
indicating precisely the place of the presence of the Lord, of giving great joy
to their hearts. Throughout the Bible, stars appear as signs of blessing and
glory, almost a personification of God, who does not abandon his people, and,
at the same time, a personification of the people that does not forget its God
and praises and blesses him (cfr. Ps 148: 3; Bar 3: 34). The word star appears
for the first time in Scripture in Genesis 1: 16, when, on the fourth day, the
story of creation tells us of the appearance in the heavens of the sun, the
moon and stars, as signs and as light, to set order and give light. The Jewish
term for “star” kokhab is very beautiful and full of meaning.
In fact, the letters that make up the word reveal the immensity of the presence
that these celestial elements bring with them. We find two letters caf,
which signify “hand” and which enclose the letter waw, which
means man, understood in his vital structure, in his backbone, which keeps him
erect, which makes him rise towards heaven, towards contact with his God and
Creator. Thus, within the stars there are two hands, caf and caf,
that lovingly hold within them waw, man: these are the hands
of God that never cease to hold us, if only we entrust ourselves to them. Then
appears the letter bet, which means house. Thus the stars speak to
us of our journey towards our house, of our constant migrating from and
returning there, whence we have come, from the day of our creation and even
from all eternity. Often God compares the descendants of Abraham to the stars
in the heavens, almost as if each person is a star, born to give light in the
night: “Look up to heaven and count the stars if you can” and then he adds:
“Such will be your descendants” (Gen 15: 5). Jesus also is a star, the star
that takes its rise from Jacob (Num 24: 17), that rises from on high, that is
the radiant morning star, as the Apocalypse says (22: 16). In fact, in him has
taken flesh the infinite love of God, which bends itself down towards us, his
children, and opens the palms of his hands to gather and welcome us. Only such
love can give our infinite weakness the capacity and courage, the perseverance
and joy of accepting to leave, to go on the long and arduous journey of faith,
which takes us to Bethlehem, to the place where God appears to us.
* The adoration: The act of adoration is as old as humankind itself, because
since the beginning, the relationship with the divinity has been accompanied by
this demand of love, of humility, of self-offering. Before the greatness of
God, we, little people, feel and discover that we are nothing, a speck of dust,
a drop from a bucket. In the Old Testament, the act of adoration appears as an
act of deep love towards the Lord, an act that demands the involvement of the
whole person: the mind, the will to choose, love full of desire and a body that
bows and prostrates itself even to the ground. It is said in several places
that the act of adoration is accompanied by a prostration with the face
touching the ground; the face of man, his gaze, his breath returns to the dust
whence he has his origin and there he recognises himself as creature of God, as
a breath of God’s nostrils. “Come in, let us bow, prostrate ourselves, and
kneel in front of Yahweh our maker” (Ps 94: 6): this is the invitation of
Scripture to us every day, showing us the way to walk so that we may again and
again come to the truth and so live fully.
The New Testament goes even deeper in its spiritual reflection on this fact and seems to want to accompany us on a pedagogical journey of conversion and of maturity in our interior life. In the Gospels we see the disciples, men and women, adoring the Lord Jesus after his resurrection (Mt 28: 9; Lk 24: 52), because they recognise him as God. Jesus’ words in his dialogue with the Samaritan woman give us a deep insight into the truth of this act, which, after all, involves the whole of life and is an attitude of the heart: adoration is for God the Father and does not happen here or there but in Spirit and in truth, that is, in the Spirit and the Son, Jesus. We must not deceive ourselves; it is not by moving from one place to another, nor by seeking this or that spiritual person that we can adore our God. The movement, the journey is an interior one and takes place in our deepest being and is a complete surrender of ourselves, our life, our whole being, to the wings of the Holy Spirit and into the arms of Jesus, wide open on the cross and ever ready to attract all things to himself. St. Peter says clearly: “Simply reverence the Lord Christ in your hearts” (1 Pt 3: 15). The act of bowing to the ground, of prostrating ourselves before the Lord comes from the heart. If we let ourselves be touched and reach into our hearts, if we allow the Lord to enter our hearts, that sacred space, then He will change us completely, transform the whole of our person and make of us new men and women.
The New Testament goes even deeper in its spiritual reflection on this fact and seems to want to accompany us on a pedagogical journey of conversion and of maturity in our interior life. In the Gospels we see the disciples, men and women, adoring the Lord Jesus after his resurrection (Mt 28: 9; Lk 24: 52), because they recognise him as God. Jesus’ words in his dialogue with the Samaritan woman give us a deep insight into the truth of this act, which, after all, involves the whole of life and is an attitude of the heart: adoration is for God the Father and does not happen here or there but in Spirit and in truth, that is, in the Spirit and the Son, Jesus. We must not deceive ourselves; it is not by moving from one place to another, nor by seeking this or that spiritual person that we can adore our God. The movement, the journey is an interior one and takes place in our deepest being and is a complete surrender of ourselves, our life, our whole being, to the wings of the Holy Spirit and into the arms of Jesus, wide open on the cross and ever ready to attract all things to himself. St. Peter says clearly: “Simply reverence the Lord Christ in your hearts” (1 Pt 3: 15). The act of bowing to the ground, of prostrating ourselves before the Lord comes from the heart. If we let ourselves be touched and reach into our hearts, if we allow the Lord to enter our hearts, that sacred space, then He will change us completely, transform the whole of our person and make of us new men and women.
6. A moment of prayer: Psalm 84
A hymn concerning the trust of man
on his journey to the house of God
on his journey to the house of God
Res. I have seen your star, Lord,
and I have come to adore you!
and I have come to adore you!
How lovely are your dwelling-places, Yahweh Sabaoth.
My whole being yearns and pines for Yahweh's courts,
My heart and my body cry out for joy to the living God.
Even the sparrow has found a home,
the swallow a nest to place its young: your altars,
Yahweh Sabaoth, my King and my God.
How blessed are those who live in your house;
they shall praise you continually.
Blessed those who find their strength in you,
whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.
As they pass through the Valley of the Balsam,
they make there a water-hole,
and -- a further blessing -- early rain fills it.
They make their way from height to height,
God shows himself to them in Zion.
Yahweh, God Sabaoth, hear my prayer,
listen, God of Jacob.
God, our shield, look,
and see the face of your anointed.
Better one day in your courts than a thousand at my own devices,
to stand on the threshold of God's house
than to live in the tents of the wicked.
For Yahweh God is a rampart and shield,
he gives grace and glory;
Yahweh refuses nothing good to those whose life is blameless.
Yahweh Sabaoth,
blessed is he who trusts in you.
My whole being yearns and pines for Yahweh's courts,
My heart and my body cry out for joy to the living God.
Even the sparrow has found a home,
the swallow a nest to place its young: your altars,
Yahweh Sabaoth, my King and my God.
How blessed are those who live in your house;
they shall praise you continually.
Blessed those who find their strength in you,
whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.
As they pass through the Valley of the Balsam,
they make there a water-hole,
and -- a further blessing -- early rain fills it.
They make their way from height to height,
God shows himself to them in Zion.
Yahweh, God Sabaoth, hear my prayer,
listen, God of Jacob.
God, our shield, look,
and see the face of your anointed.
Better one day in your courts than a thousand at my own devices,
to stand on the threshold of God's house
than to live in the tents of the wicked.
For Yahweh God is a rampart and shield,
he gives grace and glory;
Yahweh refuses nothing good to those whose life is blameless.
Yahweh Sabaoth,
blessed is he who trusts in you.
7. Closing prayer
Lord, my Father, I have really seen your star, I have opened my
eyes to your presence of love and salvation and I have received the light of
life. I have contemplated the night changed into light, pain into joy and
solitude into communion; yes, all this happened before you, in your Word. You
have led me through the desert; you have led me to your house and opened the
door for me to enter. There I saw you, your Son Jesus, Saviour of my life;
there I prayed and adored, I cried and found your smile, I kept silence and
learnt to speak. In your house, merciful Father, I have found life once
more!
And now I am going back, I have resumed my journey, but the way is not the one I took before and my life is not what it was before. Your Word has left me with a new heart, capable of opening itself to love, to listen, to welcome and become home to so many brothers and sisters whom you have placed in my way. I was not aware, Lord, but you have made me into a child again, you have given birth to me with Jesus. Thank you, Father, my Father!
And now I am going back, I have resumed my journey, but the way is not the one I took before and my life is not what it was before. Your Word has left me with a new heart, capable of opening itself to love, to listen, to welcome and become home to so many brothers and sisters whom you have placed in my way. I was not aware, Lord, but you have made me into a child again, you have given birth to me with Jesus. Thank you, Father, my Father!
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét