EPIPHANY, jAN.7,2007, jAN.6, 2007

Scripture: Isaiah 60:1-6, Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8,10-13, Ephesians 3:2-3a,5-6. Matthew 2:1-12 Light is one of the great themes of the Bible and today this symbolic word fills all of our liturgical texts with the message of Epiphany that Jesus Christ is the light of the world. In Matthew account of the Magi, the star shining with brilliant light is our faith according to St. John Chyrsostom a master in interpreting the New Testament from its original language Koine Greek. Isaiah 60 affords a prophetic and masterful literary background to the coming of the Wisemen from the East. They represent all of the nations of the world in Matthew. We read of their camels, dromederies and their gifts of gold and frankincense in this text as well as their proclaiming of praises of God's mercy and love. Then the responsory captures their joy: "Lord, every nation on earth will adore you." (Psalm 72:1). This messianic psalm completes their joy and their search for the newborn king: "The kings of Tarshish and the Isles shall offer gifts." Ephesians likewise takes up the theme of what the light of faith brings about in us: "The Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the Gospel." And our Gospel is the brilliant and unique narrative about the Magi in the whole of the New Testament. It is the biblical source for the Feast of the Epiphany par excellence. I find the following line to be the one that touches me the most on this day for the mother of Jesus is not forgotten. " They (the Magi, wisemen) were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother." At this moment Incarnation theology and spirituality had begun for us Gentiles as we discover that Jesus is truly Emmanuel, God-with-us, because of his birth from Mary the virgin from Nazareth. Amen. January 6: texts of Scripture: I John 5:5-13. Psalm 147:12-15,19-20. Mark 1:7-11 or Luke 3:23-38: We are led by today's readings and our reflection upon them into a transition from the silent and contemplative years of Jesus at his home in Nazareth. to the beginning of his active ministry in Galilee. After tomorrow's celebration of the coming of the Magi to Bethlehem, we enter immediately into the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist. This is the opening and prelude to his active ministry. John will fade out of the picture and soon be martyred. Now we need to enter into the ordinary and pragmatic demands of the misssion of Jesus in our lives by making each day and extraordinary one through our baptismal faith thus imitating the Lord who was prepared for his own ministry by his baptism. Having contemplated the baby and the child Jesus these past twelve days of Christmas, we are now ready to be thrown into the practical flow of the liturgical year called ordinary time. Since we are given two Gospel passages for this day, I meditated upon both of them. Mark is giving us a manifestation of who Jesus is from God:"You (Jesus) are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased."(Mark 1:11). Luke then reminds us through his special and differing genealogy that Jesus is born into the human condition through Mary, but he contains through her the DNA of all of our ancestors going back to Adam. He through Mary's blood is already purifying the human race as the promised Savior. The Family of God has been recreated and peace has come to the earth through the Prince of Peace, Jesus, Son of God, and son of Mary born for the salvation of all of us. Amen.