The World is Longing for God
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
We continue our celebration of the great feast of Christmas with today’s celebration of Epiphany, most often associated with the visit of the Magi to the Christ child. While most of the western world quickly forgets Christmas after December 25th, Christians in the east are just now celebrating the Lord’s birth on this day, January 6th. Western Christians continue the celebration of Christmas until January 13th, the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord.
The Magi, or “Wise Men,” who visited Jesus in Bethlehem were not Jews and therefore represent the gentile world. These Persian astronomers/astrologers from the East recognized some kind of cosmic sign indicating the birth of a new king. They went to great trouble to travel so far to follow the star and discover the newborn king. Their immense efforts are symbolic of the world’s longing for God, for the Word of Truth.
The Feast of the Epiphany is about manifesting to the world the truth of Jesus’ identity as the Son of God and Savior of the World. This manifestation happens through the angelic announcement to the shepherds at Christmas, the witness of the magi who seek the newborn king and the words from heaven heard at Jesus’ baptism when the Father announces, “this is my beloved son with whom I am well pleased.” Even the biblical account of the wedding at Cana, Jesus’ first public miracle, is a sort of “epiphany,” a manifestation of Jesus’ divine power.
As baptized Christians, we are also called to manifest Christ to others by imitating his truth, love and mercy. May we, through a vibrantly lived faith, be instruments of God’s ongoing manifestation of His divine Son and Savior. As the saying goes, “Wise men still seek Him.”
Merry Christmas!
Sincerely yours in Christ Jesus, the Way, the Truth and the Life,
