The Epiphany of the Lord
Fr. Philip Neri Powell, OP
OLR, NOLA
An
epiphany is a revelation, an unveiling of a mystery. It's a eureka
moment, an ah-ha moment when confusion is clarified and the darkness
is thrown back. In the case of the Christ Child, the epiphany is
ours. That is, we are shown who and what the Christ is during the
visit of the Magi. For centuries the Jewish People have lived with
the prophecies of the coming Messiah. He is depicted as a savior, a
vanquishing warrior, a just judge coming to render a verdict on the
faithfulness of Abraham's children. He is a light to his People
alone, “See, darkness covers the earth, and thick clouds cover the
peoples; but upon you
the LORD shines, and
over you appears his
glory.” Clouds over the Gentiles but upon Israel the Lord shines!
The covenant Abraham made with God is for Abraham's children –
Israel, the Chosen Ones. The Messiah is coming to save the Jews. But
who will save the Gentiles? The Magi answer this question by paying
homage to the Christ Child. By offering their treasures and
themselves to his service, these Gentile kings reveal a great
mystery: Christ comes
to save Jew and Gentile alike.
He comes to save the People and the Nations. And with this salvation
comes a great responsibility.
What
the Magi revealed to the world 2,000 years ago, you and I are charged
with making known right now. You and I are charged – by virtue of
our baptism – with the great responsibility of making known to the
world of 2021 that Christ Jesus is the savior of all mankind. You and
I are charged with the great responsibility of ensuring that anyone
with ears to hear and eyes to see is aware of Christ's lordship over
all creation. That no one we can reach leaves this life in ignorance
of Christ's sacrifice on the cross for the forgiveness of their sins.
That no one will say on their deathbed, “I didn't know. No one told
me.” If the Magi can travel thousands of miles using nothing but a
star to guide them and visit the Christ Child to reveal his true
nature and mission, then you and I can share their epiphany with
those we encounter everyday. Do you know your faith well enough to
speak directly and honestly about what you believe? Do you understand
that your faith is a public act to be spoken of out loud? The
apostles and disciples upon receiving the Holy Spirit at Pentecost
burst out of the Upper Room and preached the Good News in every known
language. They did not retreat into their homes and pretend that
their faith was a purely private affair. You and I have a great
responsibility.
In
the same way that the Magi paid their homage out loud and in front of
witnesses, so we too must live our lives as Christians out loud and
in front of witnesses. I don't mean that we must be showy in our
religiosity like the Pharisees. We aren't charged with being
hypocrites – living privately as sinners and publicly as saints. I
mean that our striving for holiness should be witnessed, a public
display, a struggle for anyone who needs to see to see. Anyone who
needs to hear about the mercy of God to sinners should hear about His
mercy from us – those who have experienced it directly. Anyone who
needs to see what it's like to come out of habitual sin and live in
the freedom of Christ should see it happen in us. Anyone in despair,
anyone who needs to know that hope is real and that God loves them
should hear it from us – those who have come out of the darkness
and into the light. No one needs our self-righteousness, our
moralistic finger-wagging. No one needs to hear us preaching love and
then watch us practice vengeance. No one needs to see our whitewashed
exteriors and then smell our rotted insides. The People and the
Nations need witnesses to Christ's truth – the Way, the Truth, and
the Life.
And
you and I are charged with this great responsibility. Thanks be to
God that WE are charged with this responsibility. All of us together.
As one Body energized by the Holy Spirit and united by one faith.
This year will bring unprecedented challenges to the Church. We will
be offered multiple opportunities to compromise the Truth so that we
might live well in the world. We will be offered reasonable
accommodations that make it easier to get along but that also weaken
the faith. One drop of water dropped once on a stone cannot erode the
stone. But billions of drops over hundred of years can crack that
stone. The Enemy plays a Long Game against God's children. And even
though he has already lost to the Crucified and Risen Christ, he's
not above taking some of us to Hell with him. Ensure that you remain
firmly and faithfully on The Way. Carry out your great responsibility
as if your eternal life depends on it. Preach the Good News wherever
you find yourself. Make known the marvelous works of our living God!
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