Epiphany of the Lord, Year C

Hearing is believing

Fr James McTavish 

Isa 60:1-6 Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13 Eph 3:2-3a, 5-6 Matt 2:1-12

This morning I put the three magi (or wise men) directly in front of the child Jesus in our nativity scene because today after a long journey following a star they finally arrive. Falling on their knees they offer their symbolic gifts - gold for a King, incense for the High Priest, and myrrh, used in burial for the one who will die to save us. Contemplating the manger scene who did God manifest himself to? The wise men were those who followed a star which can represent faith. All those present had faith. Mary had been told, “Blessed are you who believed that the Lord’s promises to you would come true.” Joseph had believed what the angel had told him as had the shepherds. All of them had first heard before they had seen and all of them believed what they had heard.

Many witnesses of the epiphany of God first heard of his glory before witnessing it directly. They heard first with their ears, then they saw with their own eyes. Once, when St Thomas Aquinas was expressing the manifestation (in Greek = epiphany) of God’s presence in the Blessed Sacrament he said, “Sight, touch, and taste in Thee are each deceived, the ear alone most safely is believed.” Why do we pray? To listen to what the Lord sees. I recently came back from a retreat-excursion with a group of 10. There were many wonderful experiences, some challenges and some things that could have been better. So one thing is what I see but in a moment of prayer I asked Jesus how I should view the overall experience. I understood loud and clear from the Master himself “Give thanks!”

Often our sight, what we see is deceived. In many trials they come like the dark night of the soul and we don’t easily see God’s presence. In the bitter taste we have difficulty to believe that God was present. But sight and taste are often deceived, the ear alone is best believed. That is why before the epiphany and glorious manifestation of the infant King, the light of the nations, the Lord first revealed his glory to the chosen witnesses before they saw him in the flesh. Otherwise they may not have fully understood or been convinced that this little baby was truly the Saviour, the Messiah, Wonder-counsellor, mighty God, eternal Father and the Prince of Peace. Only the one who first bends his ear in prayer will be able to bend his knee in front of the Lord’s presence. If we do not recognize his coming in his Word how can we recognize him when he comes in his glory? There is no seeing if there is not first hearing. That is why St Paul writes, “the mystery was made known to me by revelation” (Ephesians 3:2-6). God manifests and reveals the mystery of his love in the Sacred Scripture.

This day the Lord will manifest himself in small ways – in a small piece of bread, in a quiet inner voice in the conscience, in the simple loving gesture of a companion. What we see will depend on our faith, on what we believe. As the first reading tell us, “See, darkness covers the earth, and thick clouds cover the peoples; but upon you the LORD shines, and over you appears his glory.” (Isaiah 60:1-6). The one who prays knows the sun is present even when it is cloudy.

Let us be sensitive to the manifestation of God’s love this day. May we rely more and more on what God sees, and may listening to his Word give us a stronger vision of faith. In this way our lives too can be an epiphany, a manifestation of God’s love for his people. Many have not yet discovered the love of God. The feast of today is a reminder that God’s light, life and love are for all people. God wants his love to reach to all people. Each one of us can share in this great task and mission. We too are called to be light. Jesus needs you to be an epiphany or a manifestation of his love. Go for it! Don’t let anyone stop you. There are many Herods who will try to get in the way. But keep your eyes fixed on Christ and stay away from Herod. Like the Wise men. They really were wise because they were warned in a dream not to go back to Herod so they went home another way.

Jesus is telling us in this Feast, “Be an epiphany of my love to all!” We can respond “Jesus, increase my faith. Help me to listen to your Word and believe it so that my life can be a bright and shining epiphany of your love!!!”

Epiphany of the Lord, Year B

Be an epiphany of my love to all!

Isa 60:1-6 Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13 Eph 3:2-3a, 5-6 Matt 2:1-12

Epiphany comes from the Greek and means “manifestation.” This feast is the manifestation of God’s glory to all peoples. How did God manifest himself? Well there were no fireworks, brass bands, no fanfare of earthly trumpets, no interviews, media or TV crews. There were no reporters from Hello magazine, no autographs, no awards. Just a little baby lying there with Mary and Joseph. In fact it was so simple, so humble and so sublime that even the great biblical scholars of King Herod missed it. They knew the scriptures that prophesied the birth of the infant King but in the reality did not recognize his coming. And the same goes for me. I can know that Jesus is born but do I really witness the manifestation of God’s glory?

We can learn from the Wise men. How did they arrive at the infant King? What guided them? A star. It led the way. The star shone in the darkness and pointed the way. We too have a star to guide us, many stars. The star of our faith. The star of the Word of God which is a light for our path. The star of the teachings of the Church to guide us when the way is not clear. The star of the Community which accompanies us on the journey. The star of many lives who have gone before us, whose lives point clearly to Christ. Which star are we following on our journey?

We are called to follow the guiding star and not just any bright lights. Once, scientists were amazed observing the behaviour of newborn turtles. Instead of going to the safety of the ocean after their birth they went to the newly built highway where they were crushed under the wheels of cars. After investigation the scientists realized that instead of following the light of the moon, reflected on the ocean surface, they were being drawn to the dangerous highway by the light of the car headlights. Sometimes we too are confused. Instead of following the light of faith we go after many bright lights which put our dignity as children of God in danger: the bright lights of success at all costs, the lure of vices such as excess alcohol or drugs. When we do not follow the true light that has come into the world we can be crushed like the little turtles. The Epiphany is an invite to follow the true light that has come into the world. “Rise up in splendour! Your light has come, the glory of the Lord shines upon you. See darkness covers the earth, but upon you the Lord shines. Nations shall walk by your light” (See Isaiah 60:1-6).

The infant King is the glory and splendour of God. He is the one of whom the prophet spoke “the people that walked in darkness have seen a great light.” The gifts of the three Kings bear witness to the manifestation of God’s glory in a little baby. Gold is for a King, incense is for the High Priest and myrrh for the one who is to die to save us (it was commonly used to embalm the body after death to prepare it for burial). The wise men do not offer these gifts to King Herod but to the infant King, Jesus. Let us not give the gifts of our time, our affections, our energy and our talents to the Kings of this world! What a joy to offer what we have to the true King, Jesus.

Many have not yet discovered the love of God. The feast of today is a reminder that God’s light, life and love are for all people. Typically the 3 Magi are represented with different colours of skin to show the universality of God’s love. God wants his love to reach to all people. Each one of us can share in this great task and mission. We too are called to be light. Jesus needs you to be an epiphany or a manifestation of his love. Go for it! Don’t let anyone stop you. There are many Herods who will try to get in the way. But keep your eyes fixed on Christ and stay away from Herod. Like the Wise Men. They really were wise because they were warned in a dream not to go back to Herod so they went home another way. Jesus is telling us in this Feast “Be an epiphany of my love to all!” We can respond “Jesus, I want to manifest your love. Help my little life to be a bright and shining epiphany of your love!!!”

REFLECTION Sunday´s Gospel

The Feast of the Epiphany 2010

Fr. James McTavish FMVD

“Hearing is believing”

This morning I put the three magi (or wise men) directly in front of the child Jesus in our nativity scene because today after a long journey following a star they finally arrive. Falling on their knees they offer their symbolic gifts - gold for a King, incense for the High Priest, and myrrh, used in burial for the one who will die to save us. Contemplating the manger scene who did God manifest himself to? The wise men were those who followed a star which can represent faith. All those present had faith. Mary had been told “Blessed are you who believed that the Lord’s promises to you would come true”. Joseph had believed what the angel had told him as had the shepherds. All of them had first heard before they had seen and all of them believed what they had heard.

Many witnesses of the epiphany of God first heard of his glory before witnessing it directly. They heard first with their ears, then they saw with their own eyes. Once when St Thomas Aquinas was expressing the manifestation (in Greek = epiphany) of God’s presence in the Blessed Sacrament he said “Sight, touch, and taste in Thee are each deceived, the ear alone most safely is believed”. Why do we pray? To listen to what the Lord sees. I recently came back from a retreat-excursion with a group of 10. There were many wonderful experiences, some challenges and some things that could have been better. So one thing is what I see but in a moment of prayer I asked Jesus how I should view the overall experience. I understood loud and clear from the Master himself “Give thanks!”

Often our sight, what we see, is deceived. In many trials they come like the dark night of the soul and we don’t easily see God’s presence. In the bitter taste we have difficulty to believe that God was present. But sight and taste are often deceived, the ear alone is best believed. That is why before the epiphany and glorious manifestation of the infant King, the light of the nations, the Lord first revealed his glory to the chosen witnesses before they saw him in the flesh. Otherwise they may not have fully understood or been convinced that this little baby was truly the Saviour, the Messiah, Wonder-counsellor, mighty God, eternal Father and the Prince of Peace. Only the one who first bends his ear in prayer will be able to bend his knee in front of the Lord’s presence. If we do not recognize his coming in his Word how can we recognize him when he comes in his glory? There is no seeing if there is not first hearing. That is why St Paul writes “the mystery was made known to me by revelation” (See Eph 3, 2-6). God manifests and reveals the mystery of his love in the Sacred Scripture.

This day the Lord will manifest himself in small ways – in a small piece of bread, in a quiet inner voice in the conscience, in the simple loving gesture of a companion. What we see will depend on our faith, on what we believe. As the first reading tell us “See, darkness covers the earth, and thick clouds cover the peoples; but upon you the LORD shines, and over you appears his glory.” (See Isaiah 60, 1-6). The one who prays knows the sun is present even when it is cloudy.

Let us be sensitive to the manifestation of God’s love this day. May we rely more and more on what God sees, and may listening to his Word give us a stronger vision of faith. In this way our lives too can be an epiphany, a manifestation of God’s love for his people. Many have not yet discovered the love of God. The feast of today is a reminder that God’s light, life and love are for all people.

Typically the 3 Magis are represented with different colours of skin to show the universality of God’s love. God wants his love to reach to all people. Each one of us can share in this great task and mission. We too are called to be light. Jesus needs you to be an epiphany or a manifestation of his love. Go for it! Don’t let anyone stop you. There are many Herods who will try to get in the way. But keep your eyes fixed on Christ and stay away from Herod. Like the Wise men. They really were wise because they were warned in a dream not to go back to Herod so they went home another way. Jesus is telling us in this Feast “Be an epiphany of my love to all!”. We can respond “Jesus, increase my faith. Help me to listen to your Word and believe it so that my life can be a bright and shining epiphany of you love!!!”