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.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
We saw his star at its rising
and have come to do him homage.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
We saw his star at its rising
and have come to do him homage.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
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.
January 3, 2016
Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord
Note: Where a Scripture text is underlined in the body of this
discussion, it is recommended that the reader look up and read that passage.
Opening Prayer
Holy and generous God, in your great love you have revealed
yourself in creation. But you have done even more – you have revealed yourself
in your Son, our Lord Jesus. By believing in and following Him, we are led to
eternal life with you. Help us not to be like King Herod, who, threatened by
your revelation, tried to kill Jesus. Help us to be like the magi so that when
we see your revelation, we will be filled with delight. We make our prayer in
the name of Jesus the Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Introduction
Epiphany means revelation or manifestation. Epiphany was
originally an Eastern Church celebration. It was originally and primarily a
celebration of baptism, the first Epiphany or manifestation. As the celebration
moved westward, it took on the meaning of the revelation of Jesus to the
Gentiles. The central point of this celebration is that God’s salvation is
intended not only for the people of Israel, but for all people.
Epiphany is now celebrated as the 12th day of Christmas and its
celebration seems to predate the celebration of Christmas itself. The Greek
word “epiphany”, meaning manifestation or appearance was used most often in
ancient times to describe the king or ruler “showing himself” before the people
of the nation. During epiphany we see how God epiphanies Himself through Jesus.
It is the people of God empowered with the gifts of the Holy Spirit who reveal
the risen Christ to the world through acts of creation, love, healing, and
liberation. We of the Church are called to be an ever-unfolding epiphany of
God’s love and power to the dark world seeking desperately for such epiphanies.
The 12th night is a familiar title of a Shakespearian play and
comes from European heritage where 12th night parish parties are (or were)
celebrated. These parties have carried over into the Mardi Gras tradition.
During the party, at the appointed time, the king cake is brought out. Hidden
in the cake are three beans or coins. Those who find the “prizes” are crowned
kings or queens for the evening. While the “royalty” are being outfitted for
their office, the Christmas tree is stripped of all ornaments (German Lutherans
call this “plundering the tree”). The tree is removed from the room and saved
for the Lenten season when it is stripped of its branches and made into a
processional cross.
Tradition also celebrates the arrival of the wise men at this
time.
1st Reading - Isaiah 60:1-6
Today’s Old Testament reading is one of Isaiah’s “Songs of the
First Return” which are a lyrical description of the new Jerusalem as Israel is
gathered from different places and restored.
1 Rise up in splendor! Your light has come, the
glory of the Lord shines upon you.
An extraordinary illumination, as though God were, by His
presence in the city, radiating a dazzling light [see Deuteronomy 33:2, Malachi
4:1 (3:19 in NAB & NJB) where fiery love (the fire of judgment and
refining) is described]. Like a sunrise, darkness immediately surrenders to the
brilliant light, there is neither dawn nor dusk. [Verses 1-3 have been seen by
some commentators as the source of Revelation 12].
2 See, darkness covers the earth, and thick
clouds cover the peoples; But upon you the LORD shines, and over you appears
his glory. 3 Nations shall walk by your light, and kings
by your shining radiance. 4 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.
Literally, verse 4d reads “your daughters are carried on the
hips of their nurses.”
5 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. 6 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.
Those who are from Midian, Ephah, and Sheba are all descendants
of Abraham (Genesis 25:1-4). God’s chosen people who were scattered long ago
now come to participate in their ancient inheritance promised by God’s covenant
with Abraham. One day all nations will become God’s children (Romans 4:17;
8:16-17).
2nd Reading - Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6
Our second reading was written while Paul was in prison (verses
4:1; 6:20). “Prisoner” is a title of honor, a distinction that the preacher has
gained for having borne witness to the truth. It is the mark of a true apostle
(2 Corinthians 11:23; 6:4-5; Luke 21:12).
2 [Y]ou have heard
A possible indication that some readers did not know Paul
directly
of the stewardship
A ministry; not a task, but a realization of God’s plan
of God’s grace that was given to me for your benefit,
God’s favor was shown to Paul not for himself but for others.
3 (namely, that) the mystery was made known to me by
revelation. 5 [It] was not made known to human beings in
other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets
by the Spirit, 6 that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of
the same body, and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the
gospel.
The Jews are God’s chosen people, his family. The Gentiles are
now part of this family which forms the new Israel and shares in the
inheritance (Romans 8:16-17).
Gospel - Matthew 2:1-12
Today’s Gospel reading has been called “The Worship of the
Magi”. Matthew and Luke both have accounts of the conception and birth of Jesus
and some of the incidents that followed the birth. Neither Mark nor John
address this period in Jesus’ life. Matthew’s version is greatly affected by
the use of Old Testament texts. The magi seek a king, and Herod consults the
religious experts of Judaism to find out where they should look. Of this there
is no doubt, they should look not in Jerusalem, but in Bethlehem – the city of
David.
1 When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of
King Herod,
Four different Herods are mentioned in the New Testament. The
first is Herod the Great, referred to in this passage and the next; the second
is his son, Herod Antiapas, who had John the Baptist beheaded (Matthew 14:1-12)
and who abused our Lord during His Passion (Luke 23:7-11); the third, Herod
Agrippa I, a nephew of Herod the Great, who executed the apostle James the
Greater (Acts 12:1-3), imprisoned Peter (Acts 12:4-7), and died suddenly and
mysteriously (Acts 12:20-23). The fourth, Herod Agrippa II, was Herod Agrippa
I’s son – it was before him that Paul answered Jewish accusations when he was a
prisoner in Caesarea (Acts 23:23). Herod the Great, who appears here, was the
son of non-Jewish (Arab) parents. He came to power with the aid of and as a
vassal of the Romans, particularly Marc Antony (see Josephus, Antiquities
of the Jews 14.13.1’324-326). He was a consummate politician and among
other things he rebuilt the temple in Jerusalem on a lavish scale. Herod the
Great had a persecution complex; everywhere he saw rivals to his throne. He was
notorious for his cruelty: he killed over half of his 10 wives, some of his
children, and many people of standing. He died in 4 BC.
behold, magi
Wise men, astrologers. Originally the term designated the
learned priestly caste of the Persians; later it came to mean anyone skilled in
occult knowledge and power (magicians), or a charlatan or trickster. The word
is not used in an abusive or derogatory sense here by Matthew and the mention
of the star shows that they are wise men who study the stars (astrologers).
Nothing else is said about them. Since they are not Jews, they can be
considered to be the very first gentiles to receive the call to salvation in
Christ.
from the east arrived in Jerusalem,
This suggests Mesopotamia, the home of astrology in the Greek
(Hellenistic) world.
2 saying, “Where is the newborn king of the
Jews?
The Jews had made known throughout the East their hope of a
Messiah. The wise men knew of this expected Messiah, king of the Jews.
According to ideas widely accepted at the time, this sort of person, because of
his significance in world history, would have a star connected with his birth (Numbers
24:17-19, which many of the Church fathers have interpreted as messianic
prophecy, but it is not quoted in the New Testament).
We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.” 3 When
King Herod heard this, he was greatly troubled, and all Jerusalem with
him.
When the leader gets stirred up, the populace gets agitated too;
especially with the reputation which Herod had. In all Jewish circles at the
time of Jesus, the hope was widespread that the Messiah would come soon. The
general idea was that he would be a king, like a new and even greater David.
Herod’s worry is therefore all the more understandable: he governed the Jews
with the aid of the Romans and cruelly and jealously guarded his crown. Due to
his political ambition and lack of a religious sense, Herod saw a potential
messiah-king as a dangerous rival to his own worldly power.
4 Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the
people,
In the time of Jesus, both Herod’s monarchy and the occupying
Romans recognized the Sanhedrin as the representative body of the Jewish
people. The Sanhedrin was, therefore, the nation’s supreme council which ruled
on day-to-day affairs, both religious and civil. Following Exodus 24:1-9 and
Numbers 11:16, the Sanhedrin was composed of 70 members presided over by the
high priest. The members were elected from three groupings:
1) The chief priests, that is, the
leaders of the principal priestly families; it was these families who appointed
the high priest (the chief priests also included anybody who had formerly held
the high priesthood).
2) The elders, or leaders of the
most important families.
3) The scribes, who were teachers
of the Law or experts in legal and religious matters – the majority of these
scribes were Pharisees.
In this passage, only the 1st and 3rd groups are mentioned. This
is understandable since the elders would have no authority in the matter of the
birth of the Messiah – a purely religious question.
he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be
born. 5 They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea,
for thus it has been written through the prophet: 6 ‘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.’”
Quotes Micah 5:2 (Micah 5:1 in NAB & NJB). It is worth
noting that Jewish tradition interpreted this prophecy as predicting the
Messiah’s exact place of birth and as referring to a particular person. The
prophesies of the Old Testament are fulfilled in Jesus the Christ. The text
quoted here is not a direct quotation from either the Hebrew or Greek texts but
is colored by 2 Samuel 5:2, the offer of kingship to David made by the elders of
Israel.
7 Then Herod called
the magi secretly and ascertained from them the time of the star’s
appearance.
Looks forward to verses 13-23 when the male children born around
this time will be slain
8 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.”
Not to adore Him, but to dispose of Him. Such was Herod’s
exclusively political view of things.
9 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. 10 They were overjoyed at seeing the star, 11 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.
The prophets and the psalmists foretold that the kings of the
earth would pay homage to God at the time of the Messiah (Isaiah 49:23). They
would offer him their treasures (Isaiah 60:5-6) and adore Him (Psalm 72:10-15).
Through the action of these wise men, these prophecies begin to be fulfilled;
although there is no indication that these wise men were kings or emissaries of
kings. The gifts offered were those most valued in the East and have symbolic
meanings:
• Gold - A symbol of royalty
and Jesus’ kingship
• Frankincense - A symbol of
Jesus’ divine priesthood
• Myrrh - A burial spice and
symbol of Jesus’ death to redeem us.
12 And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod,
they departed for their country by another way.
The involvement of the wise men ends with an act of obedience
and cooperation with God’s plan.
Notice that throughout this story, nowhere is it stated how many
magi there were. In later Christian tradition they became known as kings (in
fulfillment of the prophecy) and their number was settled at three; deduced
from the number of gifts. Eventually, they were named Caspar, Balthasar and
Melchior in the Western Church, and Caspar became a black. They were understood
as representatives of the Gentile world in all its racial diversity who come to
Christ.
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.
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."
Daily Quote from the early church fathers: 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)
[Note: Chromatius was an early Christian scholar and bishop of
Aquileia, Italy. He was a close friend of John Chrysostom and Jerome. He died
in 406 AD. Jerome described him as a "most learned and most holy
man."]
SOLEMNITY OF THE
EPIPHANY OF THE LORD
SUNDAY, JANUARY 3, MATTHEW 2:1-12
(Isaiah 60:1-6; Psalm 72; Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6)
SUNDAY, JANUARY 3, 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).
TO KNOW: 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 the dead). 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, after encountering Christ we cannot return to our old ways. We must travel in a different direction--the path that leads to Jesus.
TO LOVE: What are the gifts that I can offer the Lord?
TO SERVE: 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.
Sunday 3 January, 2016
Sun 3rd.
Epiphany. Isaiah 60:1-6. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you—Ps
71(72):1-2, 7-8, 10-13. Ephesians 3:2-3, 5-6. Matthew 2:1-12. [Most Holy Name
of Jesus].
Today we celebrate the great feast of the
Epiphany of Our Lord.
The
arrival of the wise men to adore and give gifts to Jesus is multilayered. For
some the key to this feast is that it is the fulfilment of God’s choice of
Israel as the people among whom he would reveal the Saviour to the world, while
for others it might be the call to honour Jesus through gifts, pilgrimage and
outward praise. For me, the heart of this story is the contrast between
our ways and those of God and between our best and worst capacities. In the
Epiphany the vulnerability of God is juxtaposed sharply against the hubris of
humanity. Matthew writes of the reactions of Herod and his people to the wise
men’s mission, they were ‘perturbed’.
Herod’s
lust to rule, maintain his position and remain in control set him against God.
In this Herod stands for us, at least in part, as these same vices and others
turn us away from God who loves us.
So too do
we see a contrast between the good and evil of Humanity, even as Herod fears
and hates, the wise men take the better part and go to adore. Let us go with
them, perhaps by visiting our vulnerable Christ in a tabernacle or adoration
chapel where He waits for us.
MINUTE MEDITATIONS
|
Fighting Temptation
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God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your
strength, but with the temptation will also provide the way of escape, that you
may be able to endure it.
(1 Corinthians 10:13)
(1 Corinthians 10:13)
January
3
Most Holy Name of Jesus
Most Holy Name of Jesus
In a world of fiercely guarded corporate names and logos, it
should be easy to understand this feast. The letters IHS are an abbreviation
of Jesous, the Greek name for Jesus.
Although St. Paul might claim credit for promoting devotion to
the Holy Name because Paul wrote in Philippians that God the Father gave Christ
Jesus “that name that is above every name” (see 2:9), this devotion became
popular because of 12th-century Cistercian monks and nuns but especially
through the preaching of St. Bernardine of Siena, a 15th-century Franciscan
(May 20).
Bernardine used devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus as a way of
overcoming bitter and often bloody class struggles and family rivalries or
vendettas in Italian city-states. The devotion grew, partly because of
Franciscan and Dominican preachers. It spread even more widely after the Jesuits
began promoting it in the 16th century.
In 1530, Pope Clement V approved an Office of the Holy Name for
the Franciscans. In 1721, Pope Innocent XIII extended this feast to the entire
Church.
Comment:
Jesus died and rose for the sake of all people. No one can trademark or copyright Jesus' name. Jesus is the Son of God and son of Mary. Everything that exists was created in and through the Son of God (see Colossians 1:15-20). The name of Jesus is debased if any Christian uses it as justification for berating non-Christians. Jesus reminds us that because we are all related to him we are, therefore, all related to one another.
Jesus died and rose for the sake of all people. No one can trademark or copyright Jesus' name. Jesus is the Son of God and son of Mary. Everything that exists was created in and through the Son of God (see Colossians 1:15-20). The name of Jesus is debased if any Christian uses it as justification for berating non-Christians. Jesus reminds us that because we are all related to him we are, therefore, all related to one another.
Quote:
“Glorious name, gracious name, name of love and of power! Through you sins are forgiven, through you enemies are vanquished, through you the sick are freed from their illness, through you those suffering in trials are made strong and cheerful. You bring honor to those who believe, you teach those who preach, you give strength to the toiler, you sustain the weary” (St. Bernardine of Siena).
“Glorious name, gracious name, name of love and of power! Through you sins are forgiven, through you enemies are vanquished, through you the sick are freed from their illness, through you those suffering in trials are made strong and cheerful. You bring honor to those who believe, you teach those who preach, you give strength to the toiler, you sustain the weary” (St. Bernardine of Siena).
LECTIO DIVINA:
EPIPHANY OF THE LORD
Lectio:
Sunday, January 3, 2016
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 starappears
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!
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