The Epiphany of the Lord

Epiphanies

We all rush to see the birth of a new family member, no matter how near or far they may be. Sometimes we vie for who sees the baby first.  Jesus’ first visitors were Jewish shepherds and pagan astrologers, not counting the animals, the angels, and the star that were present at the birth.

Although they were led by a star, the journey of the Magi was troublesome, interrupted by a devious, jealous ruler. You might say they struggled with terrorism—Herod’s destruction of all boys under the age of three.

Do we find “Herods” in the world today? Who are Joseph, Mary, and Jesus running from today?

In The Joy of the Gospel, Pope Francis emphasizes that Jesus came to us in human form so that all might have access to him.

We must never forget that we are all pilgrims journeying alongside one another. This means that we must have sincere trust in our fellow pilgrims, putting aside all suspicion or mistrust, and turn our gaze to what we are all seeking: the radiant peace of God’s face. Trusting others is an art and peace is an art.

Today we all look for a star, a light in the darkness. We seek wisdom and guidance in the midst of confusion. We ardently desire to be filled with the radiant love of God, often made known in the birth of a child. We yearn for epiphanies—new understandings of what it means to have wonderful care for each other, to dare to listen to each other in the midst of differences, and to boldly choose paths that lead to life.

Just as the Magi followed the star, may we seek out and be inspired by the spiritual work of musical composers, artists, writers, and poets.