[Salvation]

The Word Among Us

Meditation: Ephesians 3:2-3,5-6

The Epiphany of the Lord

You have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace. (Ephesians 3:2)

Have you ever been entrusted with an important message to deliver to someone? If so, you prob­ably worked hard to make sure it was delivered properly. That’s how Paul must have felt about the gos­pel he preached. It was a universal, revolutionary message: Salvation is available to Gentiles and Jews alike! No one is outside of God’s power to save, heal, and transform!

Two thousand years later, God is still looking for people willing to become stewards of his grace. He is calling you to proclaim the surpris­ing news of salvation.

Why talk about our call to evan­gelize on the Feast of the Epiphany? Because today we celebrate the way Jesus’ glory was revealed to the Magi. Today we celebrate the way the Magi saw something special in this boy from Nazareth—something special enough to make them want to offer him valuable gifts.

In a similar way, when we share with people the message of Jesus— the universal, revolutionary mes­sage of salvation—we are showing them something glorious. We are proclaiming the greatest, most awe-inspiring news in history: Heaven is open! Salvation has come!

This is a high calling indeed! Every time we share the message of God’s grace, we offer people a chance to have their own epiphany. We can go so far as to say that just by living out the gospel, our lives can become an epiphany—a glori­ous manifestation of the power of God to transform human hearts!

So as it turns out, St. Paul is not the only one privileged to be called a steward of God’s grace. That title belongs to each of us. So let’s treas­ure our role in God’s plan—and, above all else, let’s treasure the sal­vation that we have received!

“Lord, I am in awe of how vast your plan is! Thank you for sending Jesus to redeem all of us. Help me to become a shining example of your love and healing power today.”

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Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion

(Isaiah 60:1-6; Psalm 72:1-2,7-8,10-13; Ephesians 3:2-3,5-6; Matthew 2:1-12)

1. The first reading speaks of both darkness and light. In what ways do you see a battle waging in your heart and mind between the desires of the flesh (carnal desires) and the desires of the spirit (Godly desires)? What are some steps you can take to “win” this battle?

2. Jesus said that he is the light of the world. In what way is Jesus the light of your life? For example, do you speak with him daily in prayer? Is he the light that guides your daily decisions?

3. In the responsorial psalm, the psalmist asks for “justice” and “right judgment.” How important are these attributes to you in your family life and your business life? What steps can you take to allow them to have an even greater importance?

4. St. Paul tells us that “the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the Gospel.” What does this mean to you? What are some of the promises that you are a coheir of and copartner in?

5. In the Gospel, we again see the humility of God - he chose insignificant Bethlehem for the birth of Jesus instead of Jerusalem the capital city and home of the great temple. How important is humility to you as a virtue? Would your relationships with others, or your dealing with your family, be described as humble? Why or why not?

6. Herod had told the Magi to “go and search diligently” for Christ. As we start the New Year, what steps can you take to seek the Lord more each day and allow him to occupy a greater part in your life?

7. In the meditation we hear these words: “Every time we share the message of God’s grace, we offer people a chance to have their own epiphany. We can go so far as to say that just by living out the gospel, our lives can become an epiphany—a glorious manifestation of the power of God to transform human hearts!” How would you describe any “epiphanies” in your life, when God touched you in a special way? Have you ever shared these epiphanies with other people? What was the result?

8. Take some time now to pray that in 2012 you would be faithful stewards of God’s grace, including sharing the good news of salvation with others. Use the prayer at the end of the meditation as the starting point.

[Salvation]

A Christian Pilgrim

THE MEN OF WISDOM

A reading from a biblical reflection of Fr. Silvester O’Flynn OFMCap. 

The Epiphany of the Lord (Matthew 2:1-12) 

There are three groups of people in Matthew’s story: Herod and the political set inJerusalem; the scribes, priests and religious leaders; and the wise men whom came from the east.

This story of the magi shows the different responses of people to the news of the infant King. It was true what Simeon had said to Mary in the temple, that this Child was destined for the fall and rising of many inIsrael. He would be God’s light, in which people would be their own judges.

The first group were the political people in the capital. Herod was persuaded at the news ‘and so was the whole ofJerusalem.’ These are the power-people whose only religion is their own advancement. But the tyrant is always desperately insecure. Herod is threatened by a tiny infant. The tyrants of history from Pharaoh to Herod, from Cromwell to Hitler, from Stalin to Ceaucescu have thought nothing of huge massacres in the interest of their own survival.

Was Herod genuinely interested in paying homage to the infant King? No way. Herod was interested in only one god …… himself. He shows us how selfishness can take over our lives so that we become blind to the light of God that comes to us.

In the second group of people were the scribes and religious leaders of the Jews. They were consulted about these rumors. So they looked into their books and came up with the answer ‘Betlehem’.

But did they go there, did they take the road to Betlehem? Not they. They stayed inJerusalem, content with their books and debates. They represent those who have all the philosophies, all the theories, all the arguments for and against …… but they will never take single step of commitment. They live in the world of theory and never step out on the road of reality. History is repeated in that many who fall in this way still belong to the priestly circles and religious families. They bury their commitment in learned theses, abstract speculation and dry debate. But will they ever step out and share the light of God with a world which is drifting in darkness towards despair?

The wise men stepped out on the road and followed the star. We must note that a star is such a little light: it is a very distant light: and it is only in darkness that we can see it. For the wise men the star in itself was not important. What they sought was what it would lead them to. The star was a sign of the Beyond. It rested over a house. They went in and saw the Child and His mother Mary. Faith is a commitment to the distant, dimly perceived Beyond that has come into our midst in the Child at Betlehem.

The wise men brought gifts of gold for a King, frankincense for a Priest and myrrh for the embalming of One who would die for His people. The gifts we bring to God at Epiphany are symbolized by the gifts of the magi.

The gold we bring is our commitment to theKingdom ofGod established by Jesus on earth: this means a commitment to the Christian ideals for society …… justice, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

The frankincense we bring is our recognition of Jesus Christ as the true Priest or authentic way to the Father. All our prayer is in His name. The Eucharist, as the prayers of Christian memory, is the pinnacle of our journey to God.

The myrrh we bring is our belief and trust in Jesus Christ who has conquered death. We now dare to hope even when all the omens are bad and everything else points to defeat. With these gifts of faith and trust, we fall on our knees and pay homage.

God is in our midst. Emmanuel.