“As the Magi from the East followed their star and found Jesus, who filled their hearts with boundless joy, let us too, even in hours of uncertainty, of shadows, of darkness like those the Magi had, not fail to follow that star, the star of our faith.”
— Archbishop Oscar Romero
Several people have requested a copy of my Epiphany homily from last Sunday.
Happy New Year! In Pope Benedict XVI plans to make four foreign trips: 1) He will visit Croatia, June 4-5. 2) He will travel to Madrid, Spain, August 18-21, to preside over World Youth Day celebration. 3) He will visit his native Germany for the third time, September 22-25. 4) The Pope will make his second trip to Africa, to Benin, a small country in West Africa, where Catholics make up about 30% of the population and Muslims about 25%. At the age of 83, the 265th successor of St. Peter, this Vicar of Christ on earth, is not resting on his laurels.
I recall as a child growing up at Sts. Simon and Jude Parish in Scott Twp., that our pastor, Fr. Thomas F. Carey, had a tradition during the Christmas season of driving around the neighborhood of the streets of his parish to see the glow of the Christmas lights. He often reminded us that he prayed his parishioners would bring light to the world in the new year, rather than cast the shadow of darkness. I respect and admire his sage advise. At the close of today‟s Mass, the altar servers will provide an Epiphany blessing for the home at along with a piece of chalk. With the chalk, the inscription "20+C+M+B+11," the initials of the three Magi, Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar, are written between the year in which the blessing occurred over the entrance to the home. The letters also stand for the Latin phrase, “Christus benedicat mansionem,” which means, “Christ, bless this home.”
I would love to be able to get to the 1550 households of St. Joseph Parish, but realized this isn't possible or realistic. Nonetheless, I pray that every time you enter and exit your home, you bring the light of Christ to the world each day of the year 2011. The motto of the Christophers says it well: “It is better to light one candle than to curse the darkness.” However small our personal vocation, a single Christ-bearer can have a significant impact on the lives of others. Epiphany in Greek means “a showing," “manifestation," “revelation,” or “self-disclosure." Through the guidance of a star, the Wise Men, the Magi, are brought to the place of the birth of the Messiah-King. The Epiphany story takes place in two different locals: the great city of Jerusalem and the village of Bethlehem. These two cities are about nine miles apart but light-years away in opulence and prestige. St. Matthew begins his Gospel in Jerusalem, a city of wealth and power, of ambition and prosperity, of arrogance and pretension. Bethlehem is South of Jerusalem and is equivalent to a bus depot or train-station where merchants and travelers stop for a meal, change horses or camels, or spend the night while on the way to their far more important and profitable places. Bethlehem is “Nowheresville” and “No Man‟s Land.” It is a place for the poor, the humble and unimportant. Yet in this most hidden place, the Magi find the Messiah. Like the Magi, in whatever the age, culture, civilization, or nation, people are all always searching for God. If our new year‟s resolution does not include getting closer to God and one another, I believe it is defective from God‟s will for our lives.
Our responsorial psalm today, Psalm 72, says, “Lord, let all the nations of the earth adore You!” Jesus is for all nations. Salvation is for the entire globe. The scope of Jesus' love and dream is for all peoples -- Jews, Muslims, Gentiles, Born-again, Catholics, Lutherans, Presbyterians, Methodists, etc. None has a monopoly and no one is excluded from God's revelation manifested in Jesus Christ. In Christ all barriers will fall. We are all on a spiritual odyssey, a spiritual journey. From the darkness of our mother's womb to the darkness of death's tomb, the mystery of life is enlightened by the grace of faith, "the invisible eye of the soul." According to tradition of St. Ireneaus of Lyons (135-202), the gifts that the Wise Men presented had great significance:
— Archbishop Oscar Romero
Several people have requested a copy of my Epiphany homily from last Sunday.
Happy New Year! In Pope Benedict XVI plans to make four foreign trips: 1) He will visit Croatia, June 4-5. 2) He will travel to Madrid, Spain, August 18-21, to preside over World Youth Day celebration. 3) He will visit his native Germany for the third time, September 22-25. 4) The Pope will make his second trip to Africa, to Benin, a small country in West Africa, where Catholics make up about 30% of the population and Muslims about 25%. At the age of 83, the 265th successor of St. Peter, this Vicar of Christ on earth, is not resting on his laurels.
I recall as a child growing up at Sts. Simon and Jude Parish in Scott Twp., that our pastor, Fr. Thomas F. Carey, had a tradition during the Christmas season of driving around the neighborhood of the streets of his parish to see the glow of the Christmas lights. He often reminded us that he prayed his parishioners would bring light to the world in the new year, rather than cast the shadow of darkness. I respect and admire his sage advise. At the close of today‟s Mass, the altar servers will provide an Epiphany blessing for the home at along with a piece of chalk. With the chalk, the inscription "20+C+M+B+11," the initials of the three Magi, Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar, are written between the year in which the blessing occurred over the entrance to the home. The letters also stand for the Latin phrase, “Christus benedicat mansionem,” which means, “Christ, bless this home.”
I would love to be able to get to the 1550 households of St. Joseph Parish, but realized this isn't possible or realistic. Nonetheless, I pray that every time you enter and exit your home, you bring the light of Christ to the world each day of the year 2011. The motto of the Christophers says it well: “It is better to light one candle than to curse the darkness.” However small our personal vocation, a single Christ-bearer can have a significant impact on the lives of others. Epiphany in Greek means “a showing," “manifestation," “revelation,” or “self-disclosure." Through the guidance of a star, the Wise Men, the Magi, are brought to the place of the birth of the Messiah-King. The Epiphany story takes place in two different locals: the great city of Jerusalem and the village of Bethlehem. These two cities are about nine miles apart but light-years away in opulence and prestige. St. Matthew begins his Gospel in Jerusalem, a city of wealth and power, of ambition and prosperity, of arrogance and pretension. Bethlehem is South of Jerusalem and is equivalent to a bus depot or train-station where merchants and travelers stop for a meal, change horses or camels, or spend the night while on the way to their far more important and profitable places. Bethlehem is “Nowheresville” and “No Man‟s Land.” It is a place for the poor, the humble and unimportant. Yet in this most hidden place, the Magi find the Messiah. Like the Magi, in whatever the age, culture, civilization, or nation, people are all always searching for God. If our new year‟s resolution does not include getting closer to God and one another, I believe it is defective from God‟s will for our lives.
Our responsorial psalm today, Psalm 72, says, “Lord, let all the nations of the earth adore You!” Jesus is for all nations. Salvation is for the entire globe. The scope of Jesus' love and dream is for all peoples -- Jews, Muslims, Gentiles, Born-again, Catholics, Lutherans, Presbyterians, Methodists, etc. None has a monopoly and no one is excluded from God's revelation manifested in Jesus Christ. In Christ all barriers will fall. We are all on a spiritual odyssey, a spiritual journey. From the darkness of our mother's womb to the darkness of death's tomb, the mystery of life is enlightened by the grace of faith, "the invisible eye of the soul." According to tradition of St. Ireneaus of Lyons (135-202), the gifts that the Wise Men presented had great significance:
1) Gold: Gold symbolizes kingship. It represents eternity because it doesn't tarnish. This was fitting for the Infant King whose reign is without end. As we journey through life, we must treasure the gold of our faith. A man recently told me his daughter won $100,000 in a lottery. She called him at 3:00 AM to share this "good news." Would we take such delight in sharing the gold of our faith at anytime of the day, on any given day?
2) Frankincense: Frankincense represents Christ's divinity. Frankincense is a precious resin symbolizing worship. Today we use incense before proclaiming the holy Gospel to make fragrant smoke as a sign of our prayer rising before God. It represents the "spiritual life.‟ It is the acknowledgement of the divinity of Jesus, the Word made flesh. St. Paul in 2 Corinthians 2:15 says the call of a Christian is to be the aroma of Christ.
3) Myrrh: Myrrh was a practical gift, an expensive gift, used in embalming bodies. It's still used medically today in tincture as an anti-bacterial and pain-relieving agent. This fitting gift of myrrh signified that Christ would die and be buried for the mortal human race. His victimhood is the healing ointment soothing the sufferings of humanity.
At the threshold of a new year, it is good to take stock and reflect upon the gifts we have been given by God -- our talents and abilities, the opportunities presented to us; the loved one's around us whose inspirations and encouragements we receive, and all the resources we have at our disposals. Do we respect and value each person we meet? Do we show love and act justly with everyone? Is our hope fixed on a better life in this world, but also fixed on the life to come. Is the path we are traveling leading us to God? Is our goal to “follow Jesus” and “become Jesus?” May the light of faith guide our footsteps in 2011 and beyond.
At the threshold of a new year, it is good to take stock and reflect upon the gifts we have been given by God -- our talents and abilities, the opportunities presented to us; the loved one's around us whose inspirations and encouragements we receive, and all the resources we have at our disposals. Do we respect and value each person we meet? Do we show love and act justly with everyone? Is our hope fixed on a better life in this world, but also fixed on the life to come. Is the path we are traveling leading us to God? Is our goal to “follow Jesus” and “become Jesus?” May the light of faith guide our footsteps in 2011 and beyond.
