3 January 2010: Solemnity -- The Epiphany of Our Lord

Epiphany means ‘manifestation’. The Church commemorates in today’s Solemnity the first manifestation of the Son of God made Man to the pagan world through the adoration of the Magi. This feast proclaims the universal dimension of Christ’s mission -- to fulfil the promised salvation of all people.

It was made a universal feast of the Church in the fourth century; and has been traditionally celebrated on 6 January; but was changed to first Sunday after New Year's Day following the Second Vatican Council [between 2 and 8 January or 6 January].

Ref: "Daily Roman Missal", Fr James Socias et al (Eds), 1989, p134)

For we have seen his star in the East and have come to worship him. (‘Communion Antiphon’: cf Mt 2:2) The star over Bethlehem shone upon all mankind. Jesus, newborn, ‘began to spread forth his light and his riches to the world, making use of a heavenly star to draw men from distant lands to himself’. (cf Luis de Granada, “Life of Jesus Christ”, Madrid 1975, VI, 54)

The Magi represent all the races and nations on earth; men with a ‘thirst for God’, a longing ‘... to adore the Lord God’. Upon their arrival in Jerusalem, a great religious capital, they did not find the one ‘born king of the Jews’. They asked the people, ‘Where is he?’

When we really want to find him, God shows us the way. He may even use means which seem least appropriate. “Following the footsteps of the Wise Men ..., we ask ourselves where he could be. He cannot be present in the pride that separates us from God, nor in the lack of charity which cuts us off from others. Christ cannot be there. In that loveless state man is left alone.” (cf St Josemaria Escrivá, “Christ is Passing by”, 31)

The wise men represent all of humanity, past, present, future. In our daily struggle to be closer to Christ we will find in them and their noble effort something of ourselves. The star which guides us consists of three parts: “Holy Scripture, our Blessed Mother and the graces we receive from the Holy Spirit”. (cf St Bonaventure, “On the Epiphany of the Lord”)

The Lord has put into our hearts the longing to find him: “You did not choose me, but I chose you.” (Jn 15:16) Our way to him is in reading the Holy Gospel, living as good children of Our Blessed Mother, being faithful to our life of prayer and devotion to the sacraments, especially the Holy Eucharist.

The Three Kings are our intercessors in heaven. We can ask them to guide us along the path to finding Jesus, to help us not to lose heart along the way. “The same Christ who in Bethlehem, as a Child, accepted the gifts of the Magi Kings, is still the One to whom men and whole peoples ‘open their treasures’.” (John Paul II, “General Audience”, 24 Jan 1979)

Everything takes on a new value when offered to God. Our Mother in Heaven beckons us to hasten. Her Son eagerly awaits our arrival.

Ref: cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 6:9-14

Prayer

· “O God, Who by the leading of a star didst on this day manifest Thine only-begotten Son to the Gentiles, mercifully grant that we, who know Thee now by faith, may be brought to the contemplation of Thy glorious majesty. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen” (Very Rev Charles J Callan, OP, STM and Very Rev John A McHugh, OP, STM, “Blessed Be God”, 1925, p197)

Consecration to Mary

True devotion grows in us with charity, advancing from the stage of the beginner to that of the more proficient; and continuing up to the stage of the perfect.

The first degree is to pray devoutly to Mary occasionally, eg, by saying the ‘Angelus’ when the bell rings.

The second degree is one of more perfect sentiments of veneration, confidence and love manifested by the daily recitation of the Rosary -- five decades or all fifteen [now 20 to include the Luminous mysteries].

In the third degree, the soul gives itself completely to our Lady by an act of consecration so as to belong altogether to Jesus through her.

Ref: cf R Garrigou-Lagrange, “The Mother of the Saviour and Our Interior Life”, 1948, p256

Daring

Be daring in your prayer, and the Lord will turn you from a pessimist into an optimist; from being timid, to being daring, from being feeble-spirited to being a man of faith, an apostle! (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Furrow”, 118)

Do you want to be daring in a holy way, so that God may act through you? Have recourse to Mary, and she will accompany you along the path of humility, so that, when faced by what to the human mind is impossible, you may he able to answer with a fiat! -- be it done!, which unites the earth to Heaven. (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Furrow”, 124)

Memorial: Our Lady of Sichem, near Lonvain, in the duchy of Brabant. It is said that four drops of blood exuded from this statue in the year 1306. (Bethlehem 'Observer' Historical Calendar)