Thursday, January 25, 2018
Friday, January 19, 2018
Thursday, January 11, 2018
Sunday, January 7, 2018
Homily for Feast of Epiphany
Reflection
for Feast of Epiphany 2018
January 7, 2018
By Rev. Bob
Johnnene OFM
Mission
Saints Sergius & Bacchus/ Franciscans of Mercy
Readings
from: Isaiah 60:1-6, Psalm 72, Ephesians 3:2-6, Matthew 2:1-12
If
you look up the word EPIPHANY in a dictionary you find it has more meanings
than just the feast we celebrate on January Seventh this year.
One
of the meanings is “manifestation of a
divine being”; the other meaning is “A
Sudden intuitive leap of understanding or faith, especially through an ordinary
but striking occurrence”.
The
feast of The Epiphany fits both definitions.
God made His son known to the world through the Three Wise Men’s visit
after they had followed a star that they, as astronomers and astrologers,
believed foretold of the birth of the king of all kings.
The
Eastern Orthodox Church celebrates the feast as the baptism of Jesus Christ.
The
event certainly fits both definitions; a
manifestation of a divine being and an intuitive leap of understanding or faith
through an ordinary but striking occurrence, for that is exactly what
happened.
The
three wise men believed an astrological sign and followed a star which was not
one they knew, and which seemed to be a beacon traveling through the sky to
Bethlehem to behold the King of Kings, Jesus Christ.
The
birth of such a child had also been prophesized not only in Jewish writings but
in the writings of other religions, probably those who trace themselves back to
Abraham.
In
Hispanic and Latin cultures and some places in Europe, the feast day is known
as Three Kings’ Day. Epiphany
marks the end of the Christmas Season and the Twelve Days of Christmas, which
are usually counted from December 25th until January 5th. In many traditions,
the day before Epiphany is the Twelfth Day of Christmas, the evening of
which is called Twelfth Night.
This
is an occasion for feasting in some cultures, including the baking of a special
King's Cake as part of the
festivities of Epiphany. Polish people
celebrate the feast by marking the initials of the three Kings, (Casper,
Melchior, Balthazar) over their door with the numerals of the year in the
following manner; (20CMB18) which they believe will bring them good fortune
throughout the year and their dining table upon which they feast is covered
with straw under a linen cloth to simulate the manger where Christ was born.
What
we need to reflect on is the wonderful manifestation of God’s only Son, who
came to us as a poor infant human with all the characteristics and difficulties
of humans and what that should mean to each of us.
God
in His goodness and wisdom made himself visible to us in Jesus Christ. Prior to
this all the recorded manifestations of God to humans were in tongues of fire,
a burning bush, a cloud, but never in human form. In fact, the Jewish people and even the
prophets believed that looking directly at God would mean death which is not
exactly the picture of the infinitely loving, merciful and forgiving God St.
John speaks of in his gospels.
In
the Gospel of John 15 verse 5 St. we read; “I am the way,
the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.
Jesus came to teach us the way to live so that we could attain
everlasting life.
In John 14:15-21 Jesus states the reason for his being sent to
earth. God was not a disjointed voice booming out of clouds or in a burning
bush, He was flesh and blood. He said: “If you love me, obey my
commandments. And I will ask the Father,
and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. I will send The Holy Spirit, who leads into
all truth. …When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my
Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Those who accept my commandments
and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father
will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.” The manifestation of God in the person of Jesus Christ that we
celebrate on the feast of Epiphany came about in an ordinary way, not as a
sudden appearance but in a natural birth that followed the nine-month pregnancy
of Mary, the Theotokos (God bearer).
The pronouncement of the birth of the King of Kings by the Wise
men to Herod and how they came to be in Bethlehem certainly was a striking occurrence.
In this time of trouble throughout the world each of us needs to
acknowledge Christ and love Him and through Him, the Father who sent Him.
We need to look to God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, for our
deliverance from the worlds troubles and seek guidance from the Holy Spirit for
ways to end the divisions have caused so much pain and distress between nations
and Christian denominations. We need to express our love for God and open our
hearts to forgiveness and mercy.
We need to seek self gratification less and practice generosity
and compassion. On this feast of
Epiphany, let us reflect on Christ’s teachings, take time to offer thanks to
God for the things He has given us and give God honor and praise by living our
lives according to Christ’s example and teachings. If we practice our love of God through good deeds
and by embracing the diversity God created in people and things I can think of
no better way of praising God and celebrating God’s decision to send us His
beloved son to live among us as a human and show us the way, the truth and
light the way to everlasting life in heaven. AMEN
Saturday, January 6, 2018
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