Homily Cycle B 1/03/2021 – The Feast of The Epiphany
Readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/010321.cfm
Our Responsorial Psalm highlights the cosmic and eternal dimensions of today’s feast. Jesus is the fulfillment to the ancient longing for a Messiah, a Savior, a King of cosmic proportions: “Every nation on earth will adore you Lord, every nation on earth will adore you Lord!’
In 1960 the musical “Camelot” was produced, it was based on a 1958 novel, “The Once and Future King.” One of the songs in the musical was “Camelot”, the final stanza is: “… there’s simply not A more congenial spot, For happily-ever-aftering, Than here in Camelot.” That song tries to answer our deepest longings, to be loved and to live happily forever.
The Epiphany is the real answer to our deepest longings and desires. As Jesus’ lay in the manager there were 3 different reactions to His birth?
1. Hatred/hostility – Herod
2. Complete indifference – Scribes/Chief Priests
3. Adoring worship –Mary/Joseph, Shepherds, Magi.
Today, we celebrate the Manifestation of the Lord, The Epiphany of the Lord. “The three gifts of the magi are a Gospel unto themselves: gold, the precious basis of the world’s economies; frankincense, the fragrant resin burned in the temple as an offering of prayer; myrrh, the expensive plant extract used as medicine and for the embalming of royalty.” [Connections, 1/03/2021]
The Magi were seeking the Way, the Truth and the Life and they find the answer in Jesus, the baby in a manger, in Bethlehem. They represent the journey, the journey that each of us takes. The Magi sought and found the answer to life’s most fundamental question, Why am I here? The Magi, well educated, sophisticated and highly cultured YET, they prostrated/humbled themselves before the baby. They submitted their egos, their wills and desires to God’s Will!
The
GOOD is not relative to our personal ideas/tastes, BUT it is woven into the
fabric of life by God, by God Who is the GOOD.
Jesus the Way, the Truth and the Life gave us the Beatitudes so we could
find the Good. Herod, the Chief Priests and
the Scribes wanted to decide what was good.
The Magi, the Shepherds, Mary and Joseph followed what God said was good; “… Christ did not arrive to erase our troubles but to join us in them, to be a quiet light in our darkness….” [Sunday Website, John Foley, SJ 1/03/2021]
Christ is our LIGHT in the darkness of: COVID, violence, economic problems, moral decline, death and all of life’s crosses. Christ is our LIGHT in the bright spots of our lives: a new life, a job, a vaccine, a recovery, a helping hand, all of life’s joys.
There are many stars in our world, what star do you want to emulate?
What star are you following?
Herod, the Scribes/Chief Priests, the Shepherds, the Magi, Mary and Joseph made their decision about WHO they would adore, it is now our turn to decide? Saint Teresa of Calcutta asked, “Will you collaborate with God so He can use you to do His work here on earth.”
Dr. Howard Thurman wrote these beautiful and powerful words,
“When the song of the angels is stilled,
When the star in the sky is gone,
When the kings and princes are home,
When the shepherds are back with their flocks,
The work of Christmas begins:
To find the lost,
To heal the broken hearted,
To feed the hungry,
To release the prisoner,
To rebuild the nations,
To bring peace among brothers
(and sisters),
To make
music in the heart.
(Sick,
and You cared for Me, Homilies & reflections for Cycle B)
We should Adore Our Creator!
We should Love our Creator!
We should Follow our Creator!
For a few minutes think about who you adore, love and follow.
Saint Joseph, pray for us.
May God Be Praised!
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