"LORD, EVERY NATION ON EARTH WILL ADORE YOU!"
The Feast of the Epiphany of Our Lord commemorates the fact that Jesus Christ has made Himself known to mankind. The word epiphany comes from the Greek word meaning a manifestation of divinity. Through the Church’s liturgy, the Holy Spirit gives us assurances us that the Child, born of the Virgin, is indeed the promised Messiah!
Today's Gospel tells us of the three Magi who came to adore Him. This is an EPIPHANY, a manifestation, that the Christ Child is the Divine Savior. It is the first of three historical events recorded in the Gospels to illustrate this fact. In the First Reading Isaiah tells us: "Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem! Your light has come . . . See, darkness covers the earth . . . but upon you the Lord shines."
Jesus Christ is "the Light of the World" who illumines a world filled with the darkness of sin. He drives out the wickedness and evil of the world just as He dispelled the demons in the Gospels. As His followers, we must allow His grace to fill our hearts so that wickedness is driven out of our lives.
The Alleluia verse proclaims that, "we have seen His star in the east and have come to adore the Lord." We see His star today and every day through the saving mystery of the Catholic Church. It is through His Church that we find the Lord. As the Wise Men followed the Star of Bethlehem to find the Child, we follow the teachings of the Catholic Church, which lead us safely to Jesus. The Catholic Church leads us to the Kingdom of Heaven. There we will adore the Lamb for all eternity.
The second epiphany, manifestation, is the Baptism of the Lord. As Jesus emerges from the baptismal waters, God the Father identifies Him. He also gives the corresponding obligation of accepting this revelation. "This is my beloved Son! Hear Him!" At every Mass, the Priest lifts high the Host and repeats the words of John the Baptist: "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world." Our Lord's mission was the Redemption! This is why He came into the world. He did not come as a political, social or economic reformer. If men would follow His Gospel, none of our social evils would exist. The Messiah’s essential mission was to save us from the dominion of Satan, slavery to sin and the punishment of death, eternal death. This Messiah is the Son of God. Jesus Christ is a Divine Person, true God and true Man. He is Emmanuel, God with us!
The third manifestation telling us that Jesus Christ is the Divine Savior who has come into the world is the wonderful story of the Wedding Feast of Cana. At Cana, the God/Man turns water into wine, a clear epiphany, manifestation of His divine power. Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior! He is our God! As the Centurion said on Calvary; “Truly this man is the Son of God!”
Father Richard J. Rego, S.T.L.
Today's Gospel tells us of the three Magi who came to adore Him. This is an EPIPHANY, a manifestation, that the Christ Child is the Divine Savior. It is the first of three historical events recorded in the Gospels to illustrate this fact. In the First Reading Isaiah tells us: "Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem! Your light has come . . . See, darkness covers the earth . . . but upon you the Lord shines."
Jesus Christ is "the Light of the World" who illumines a world filled with the darkness of sin. He drives out the wickedness and evil of the world just as He dispelled the demons in the Gospels. As His followers, we must allow His grace to fill our hearts so that wickedness is driven out of our lives.
The Alleluia verse proclaims that, "we have seen His star in the east and have come to adore the Lord." We see His star today and every day through the saving mystery of the Catholic Church. It is through His Church that we find the Lord. As the Wise Men followed the Star of Bethlehem to find the Child, we follow the teachings of the Catholic Church, which lead us safely to Jesus. The Catholic Church leads us to the Kingdom of Heaven. There we will adore the Lamb for all eternity.
The second epiphany, manifestation, is the Baptism of the Lord. As Jesus emerges from the baptismal waters, God the Father identifies Him. He also gives the corresponding obligation of accepting this revelation. "This is my beloved Son! Hear Him!" At every Mass, the Priest lifts high the Host and repeats the words of John the Baptist: "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world." Our Lord's mission was the Redemption! This is why He came into the world. He did not come as a political, social or economic reformer. If men would follow His Gospel, none of our social evils would exist. The Messiah’s essential mission was to save us from the dominion of Satan, slavery to sin and the punishment of death, eternal death. This Messiah is the Son of God. Jesus Christ is a Divine Person, true God and true Man. He is Emmanuel, God with us!
The third manifestation telling us that Jesus Christ is the Divine Savior who has come into the world is the wonderful story of the Wedding Feast of Cana. At Cana, the God/Man turns water into wine, a clear epiphany, manifestation of His divine power. Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior! He is our God! As the Centurion said on Calvary; “Truly this man is the Son of God!”
Father Richard J. Rego, S.T.L.
posted by Fr. Richard J. Rego at 5:53 PM
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Thanks! God bless and have a Blessed New Year!
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