Mystery Made Known

January 6, 2008

The Epiphany of the Lord

By Rev. Joe McCloskey, S.J.

Rise up in splendor! Your light has come, the glory of the Lord shines upon you. See, darkness covers the earth, and thick clouds cover the peoples; But upon you the LORD shines, and over you appears his glory. Isaiah 60:1-2

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, "Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage." Matthew 2:1-2

Piety

God, just as the magi sought you out when they saw the sign of your birth, let us search you out, lay our treasures at your feet and make a place for you in our lives. We offer you the gifts of our piety, study and action to help you rescue the poor when they cry out and the oppressed who have no one to help them. May the rains of this New Year water your good earth and make your words and works flourish in all who encounter you as revealed through your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Study

Literally it means open to or appears to. We all claim epiphanies in our lives at one time or another. We have those moments when we realize the meaning of our lives. The Epiphany Feast today has a number of meanings for us. It refers to the Lord including everyone in his good news. But it also implies the gifts that are given at Epiphany. Gold, frankincense and myrrh refer to prophecy, priesthood and kingship.

The prophet opens up the world to what is wrong. Even tells the community what it needs to do. All the social outreach programs of the community are how it exercises the role of prophet. When our leadership of the community opens up another task to be done the prophet role is being fulfilled.

Christ is our king and we share his kingship. We are responsible for our world. We are the masters of our destiny. In the God who strengthens us we believe we can do all things. Our very lives give life to the community. We need each other even when we work alone. Our unity flows out of the kingship of Christ. We can call each other brothers and sisters in our relationship to Christ. Prophecy instills in our hearts the tasks of Christ and his kingship over our hearts is our right to act in his name.

Action

The priest gets his definition from the community he serves. He is the funnel between the community and God. He takes the prayers of the community to God and brings back the blessings of God in the Eucharist which reenacts the great mystery of the priesthood of Christ. The one Sacrifice which is forever gives us our contact point and puts us in the fullness of Christ's priesthood by the giving of our lives which is celebrated together.

Epiphany in its fullest meaning is God opening himself to our world. We are his opening when we live the gifts of our community that give Christ flesh and blood in each other.