The Feast of Epiphany Year C
Today we celebrate Epiphany, the revelation of Christ to the world. The light that has come into the darkness of the world and that our salvation was made known to the Gentiles. The wise men came to Jerusalem, looking for the King of the Jews, expecting to find him in the palace of Herod. But to their surprise, the star led them to a manger/stable. We will be disappointed if we always expect God to be found only in good times or our beautiful churches; rather we should be prepared to find God even in the mall; in events expected and unexpected, or in the darkest caves of despair.
Today’s Gospel reminds us that if God permitted the Magi – foreigners and pagans – to recognize and give Jesus proper respect as the King of Jews, we should know that there is nothing in our sinful lives that will keep God from bringing us to Jesus.
After having encountered the newborn king, they departed to their own country by another way. It was the divine encounter that changed their lives forever, and they began to travel on a “new” road of adventure.
We need to choose a better way of life, abstaining from proud and impure thoughts, evil habits and selfish behavior; by becoming stars leading others to Jesus, removing the darkness of the evil around us and radiating Jesus’ love through selfless service, unconditional forgiveness, and compassionate care.
On this feast of the Epiphany, let us, like the Magi, offer Jesus our grateful use of his gifts to us:
(a) His gift of friendship with God in the form of wholehearted love and devotion;
(b) His gift of friendship with others by leading them to Jesus through our exemplary lives of Christian charity in action;
(c) His gift of reconciliation with God by making use of the Sacrament of Reconciliation frequently, by asking daily for His pardon and forgiveness for our sins and by giving unconditional forgiveness to those who wound us; and
(d) His gift of peace by seeking God’s peace in our own lives through prayer, leading a Sacramental life, and meditating daily on the Word of God.
If we truly seek God and give ourselves fully to Him, we will also lead a new life.
Fr. Alex Osei
SSC-USA Spiritual Director
Photo: https://flic.kr/p/2iaPhCQ