EPIPHANY OF THE LORD (JANUARY 6, 2013)
Salesian Perspective
Have you ever thought what could possibly have possessed these very wise men to leave their homes and undertake a long, hard desert journey? What was so special about this new “King of the Jews”? Everyone knew that Israel was under Roman occupation. Any Jewish king would be a mere puppet of the emperor. These wise men clearly believed that they were onto something extraordinary.
These wise men were probably Persians, highly regarded as astrologers and interpreters of dreams. Why would news of a powerless king in a faraway land be so attractive? Perhaps the Holy Spirit was moving them, touching on a sense of longing and hope and compelling them to investigate.
What must have happened when they arrived where Joseph, Mary and the child were staying? Did they simply present their gifts and then hurry back to Persia? We could imagine they stayed for a while and asked Joseph and Mary lots of questions, trying to find out the meaning of all these signs. And Mary and Joseph had plenty of extraordinary happenings to tell them about – angels visiting, dreams, Scriptures foretelling their arrival. Even their gifts had been foretold.
These men must have been thrilled to know that the longing in their hearts could be fulfilled in this little child! Mary and Joseph evangelized these wise men from the East.
Every one of us longs for a sense of meaning and purpose. All around us people are starving for answers, and the Holy Spirit may want to direct them to us, just as he directed the wise men to Mary and Joseph. Like Joseph and Mary, all we have to do is share with them the ways that God has moved in us, the ways that God has shown us divine love. The Holy Spirit will take care of the rest.
As we begin the journey of walking – and living – through a new year and celebrate the coming of the wise men to the home of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, let us reflect on the gifts we have received from our loving God. Let us reflect upon the gifts that God may want us to present to others.
Reflection by: Rev. Michael S. Murray, OSFS, is the Executive Director of the De Sales Spirituality Center
CHAT DISCUSSIONS:
Join us on the Feast of the Epiphany at 730PM (est) Sunday January 6th, to chat about your reflections on this Feast:
Who has been a spiritual gift in your life? How was their gift to you manifested?
What gifts do you give Jesus on the Epiphany? What are you asking of Him?
St. Francis de Sales preached on the Epiphany, saying that this Feast is a festival of vocation, light and love and that he wanted every day of Communion to be a day of Epiphany “,” because, he said, you must, after receiving the “Holy Eucharist, to pay tribute to your king, and “renew your oath of fidelity.” What sentiments does St Francis’ comments stir up within you?