Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord (Cycle B, Year I)
Community Word: Jesus is the guiding Star in our journey of faith.
Theme: We are guided by the Star in our journey of faith when we find Jesus in one another.
Promise: “He shall have pity for the lowly and the poor, the lives of the poor he shall save.” (Ps 72:13)
Reflection:
“… the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was.” (Mt 2:9b)
We celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany on the first Sunday of each New Year. The word “Epiphany” comes from the Greek word meaning “manifestation” – the appearance of someone or something previously unknown. On this feast, we mark the manifestation of Jesus Christ, previously unknown to us until He came into the world as our Savior. And we praise and thank God for the gift of our faith and for the wonderful ways in which Jesus manifests Himself to us individually and as a Community.
We do not have to look far and wide for proofs of our Lord Jesus’ manifestation. He shows Himself to us through, and in other people; our parents who gave us life, our brethren in and out of Community who love us, and even in our enemies who help us realize that away from God no goodness is possible. Jesus also makes Himself known to us through the events in our life, whether pleasant or distressing, and through the testimonies and influence of God-sent persons.
The story of the Magi in the Gospel narration is one such ‘manifestation’, interpreted in different and very revealing ways to demonstrate the many different reactions and varied ways in which people respond to Jesus as Messiah and to God’s invitation to search for and come to know Him more intimately.
The Jewish people represent a group of individuals who are called by God, but remain indifferent. They do not go in search of Christ, because they await a different and more ‘worldly’ Messiah, or fear that in finding Him, they may compelled to change their ways, and they are not ready to be transformed, or to give up their personal comforts and desires. Herod represents a second group of persons, the kind who seek Christ, not to honor Him, but to persecute Him, because He is a threat to their authority. The Magi, on the other hand, represent disciples who accept God’s call, persevere in following the “star” and, on finding Christ, offer the gift of themselves to Him in love and reverence.
To which group do you belong? Are you at times apathetic like the chief priests and scribes, who are unwilling to follow God’s will? Or, like Herod, do you at times abuse your authority and take advantage of community or family members for personal gain? Or are you like the Magi who seek and find Christ, honor and pay homage to Him with your life?
As disciples in community, we should respond to the manifestation and coming of Christ Jesus into the world and into our lives with humble reverence, giving ourselves in willing service to Christ and to our fellowmen. Our life witness should be a manifestation to others of God’s love for us and our love for Him. Like the “star at its rising” that the Magi saw and followed, our lives should be examples that lead others, especially unbelievers, to seek, find, and worship Christ Jesus!
Prayer:
Father God, forgive me for all my faults and shortcomings. Give me eyes to see You in all the circumstances of my life, and the discernment to seek and find You in the empty allure of this material world. Give me hands to bring You the best that I can give, and a heart overflowing with worship for You, my Savior. Father God, all these I ask that I may be worthy of bringing others to You and to Your kingdom. Amen.
Reflection Questions:
1. How earnestly have you searched for a deeper relationship with our Lord? How can you ‘manifest’ your love for Him and your neighbor?
2. How is your life n example of your personal quest to follow the star, that others may be encouraged to search for God and obey His will for them.
This Week’s Daily Mass Reading Guide:
January 4, 2015 (Sun) Is 60:1-6/Ps 72:1-2,8-10,12-13/Eph 3:2,5-6/Mt 2:1-12
January 5, 2015 (Mon) 1Jn 4:7-10/Ps 72:1-2,3-4.7-8/Mk 6:34-44
January 6, 2015 (Tues) 1Jn 4:11-18/Ps 72:1-2,10,12-13/Mk 6:45-52
January 7, 2015 (Wed) 1Jn 4:11-18/Ps 72:1-2,10,12-13/Mk 6:45-52
January 8, 2015 (Thurs) 1Jn 4:19-5:4/Ps 72:1-2,14,15,17/Lk 4:14-22
January 9, 2015 (Fri) 1Jn 5:5-13/Ps 147:12-13,14-15,19-20/Lk 5:12-16
January 10, 2015 (Sat) 1Jn 5:14-21/Ps 149:1-2,3-4,5-6,9/Jn 3:22-30
“Ignorance of the Bible is ignorance of Christ. Read your Bible daily!”
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