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04 Jan 2015 - Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord, Cycle B

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem a band of scholars arrived in Jerusalem from the East. They asked, “Where can we find and pay homage to the newborn King of the Jews? We observed a star in the eastern sky that signaled his birth. We’re on pilgrimage to worship him.” When word of their inquiry got to Herod, he was terrified. He gathered all the high priests and religion scholars in the city together and asked, “Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?” They told him, “Bethlehem, Judah territory. ...” Herod then arranged a secret meeting with the scholars from the East. Pretending to be as devout as they were, he got them to tell him exactly when the birth-announcement star appeared. Then he told them the prophecy about Bethlehem, and said, “Go find this child. Leave no stone unturned. As soon as you find him, send word and I’ll join you at once in your worship.” Instructed by the king, they set off. Then the star appeared again. It led them on until it hovered over the place of the child. They could hardly contain themselves: They were in the right place! They had arrived at the right time! They entered the house and saw the child in the arms of Mary, his mother. Overcome, they kneeled and worshiped him. Then they opened their luggage and presented gifts: gold, frankincense, myrrh. In a dream, they were warned not to report back to Herod. So they worked out another route, left the territory without being seen, and returned to their own country (from Matthew 2). Taken from The Message: Catholic/Ecumenical Edition by Eugene Peterson (ACTA Publications, 2014 ); actapublications.com; 800-397-2282.

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05 Jan 2014 - Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord, Cycle A

The magi show up almost out of nowhere. You might ask, echoing the movie line, “Who are those guys?” Their exact occupation, however—astrologer-astronomer-wise men—is less important than the role they played and the models for behavior they became. First, they were people coming to Jerusalem “from the east”—Gentiles—anticipating that the message of the child they sought would go to the Gentiles as “coheirs,” to quote Saint Paul. Second, they were honest seekers. The star was a spectacular sign, but they needed to investigate in order to learn its meaning; they had, in the words of Isaiah, to “raise [their] eyes and look about” in order to see. Finally, in contrast to Herod, they wanted to worship Jesus in faith and truth.

Authors Joel Schorn

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Exploring the word

08 Jan 2012 - Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord, Cycle B

EPIPHANY IS THE traditional day for the blessing of home and family. The ritual doesn’t require clergy and might be encouraged in your community by offering it on the parish website or printing cards with a simplified version of the ritual from Catholic Household Blessings & Prayers. Surely all of us could benefit from pronouncing over our homes: “Bless this house and all who inhabit it. Fill us with the light of Christ, that our concern for others may reflect your love.” It’s a way to make Epiphany not simply an abstract feast we celebrate but something we experience and fulfill with our lives. Epiphany starts with a star that sheds light on salvation history as a whole. Humanity once walked in darkness but entered a period of startling brilliance and clarity with the coming of Jesus into time. This light was visible to faraway wisdom-seekers from another culture and religious tradition altogether. The magi knew nothing of Isaiah’s prophecies or the images of today’s Psalm 72. They weren’t part of the Hebrew story and did not await a messiah of David’s line to save their nation. Yet light is light, and those who seek the light are most likely to find it. Contrast these favored foreigners with the very parochial King Herod. He was entrenched in the history of Israel and surrounded by religious scholars with ready access to the same scripture and images. He, too, stood under the light of this same star and saw nothing—or at least nothing good. He perceived only the potential threat to his own dominion, and rightly so. The newborn king would wield an authority over human history that would far outlast the edifices of stone built by a wealthy and powerful ruler whose authority would vanish with his last breath. You can go to Israel today and see all that remains of Herod’s rule: one mighty wall of the Temple mount, the ruins of a sea port, even his tomb secreted at the base of a weed-sprouting summer palace. Mighty King Herod felt compelled to hide his tomb for fear his many enemies would desecrate it. He left instructions that people in every noble household would be put to the sword on the day he died. Because he was sure no one would mourn him, he wanted to know at least there would be weeping in Israel at his death. The king Herod feared enough to seek to murder at birth would go on to be loved and adored the world over. Today you can find faithful subjects of Jesus weeping at the image of his cross or pledging their lives in service. This is the Epiphany we both celebrate and live: Once upon a time a star revealed to us the light of the world that can never be put out. Related Scripture links OT use of epiphany: Gen. 35:7; Jer. 29:14; Zeph. 2:11; 2 Macc. 3:24, 30, 5:2-4, 12:22, 14:15, 15:27 NT use (birth of Jesus): Luke 1:78-79; 2 Tim. 1:10; Titus 2:11 NT use (parousia): Acts 2:20; 2 Thess. 2:8; 1 Tim. 6:14; 2 Tim. 4:1-2, 8; Titus 2:12-13 Catechism links Theophany and epiphany: CCC 697, 707 Incarnation: CCC 456-463 Baptism of the Lord as epiphany: CCC 438; 535-37; 1223-1225 Light as symbol of manifestation: CCC 696-697; 1168; 1202

Authors Alice Camille

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In other words

03 Jan 2016 - Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord, Cycle C

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem village, Judah territory—this was during Herod’s kingship—a band of scholars arrived in Jerusalem from the East. They asked around, “Where can we find and pay homage to the newborn King of the Jews? We observed a star in the eastern sky that signaled his birth. We’re on pilgrimage to worship him.” When word of their inquiry got to Herod, he was terrified. Herod lost no time. He gathered all the high priests and religion scholars in the city together and asked, “Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?” They told him, “Bethlehem, Judah territory.” Herod then arranged a secret meeting with the scholars from the East. Pretending to be as devout as they were, he got them to tell him exactly when the birth-announcement star appeared. Then he told them the prophecy about Bethlehem, and said, “Go find this child. Leave no stone unturned. As soon as you find him, send word and I’ll join you at once in your worship.” Instructed by the king, they set off. Then the star appeared again, the same star they had seen in the eastern skies. It led them on until it hovered over the place of the child. They could hardly contain themselves: They were in the right place! They had arrived at the right time! They entered the house and saw the child in the arms of Mary, his mother. Overcome, they kneeled and worshiped him. Then they opened their luggage and presented gifts: gold, frankincense, myrrh. In a dream, they were warned not to report back to Herod. So they found another route, left the territory without being seen, and returned to their own country (from Matthew 2). Taken from The Message: Catholic/Ecumenical Edition by Eugene Peterson (ACTA Publications, 2014 ); actapublications.com; 800-397-2282.

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03 Jan 2016 - Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord, Cycle C

Magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem. The Magi were “wise men,” Gentile seers who combined astronomy and astrology to divine religious insights from the skies. Naturally the star attracts them and leads them to find its meaning. But for them to really find out who Jesus is, they must first learn from the Jewish scripture—the Messiah will be born in Bethlehem. The Magi symbolize several things: the need for revelation to inform natural knowledge; the Gentiles’ willingness to accept Jesus as the Messiah; and the pilgrimages of religious seekers who set out on long, risky, and uncertain journeys to find the source of their faith.

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08 Jan 2012 - Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord, Cycle B

Magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem. The magi were "wise men," Gentile seers who combined astronomy and astrology to divine religious insights from the skies. Naturally the star attracts them and leads them to find its meaning. But for them to really find out who Jesus is, they must first learn from the Jewish scripture--the Messiah will be born in Bethlehem. The magi symbolize several things: the need for revelation to inform natural knowledge; the Gentiles' willingness to accept Jesus as the Messiah; and the pilgrimages of religious seekers who set out on long, risky, and uncertain journeys to find the source of their faith. --Joel Schorn Homily points No one likes to see the holidays end. Historically, Christmas is part of a much larger season of manifestation, including what we now call Epiphany, the Baptism of the Lord, and the wedding feast of Cana. The season of God's revelation is a celebration of light, as the images from prophecy and the gospel make clear. We use light in our celebration of this season, and we are called to be light for the world, as Christ is for us.

Authors Joel Schorn

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02 Jan 2011 - Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord, Cycle A

This Sunday's gospel offers two distinct and opposite models to follow: Live like the magi, or live like Herod. While both were eager to find the newborn King, the magi brought gifts; Herod brought death. The magi were motivated by generosity; Herod was motivated by fear and lust for power and control. The magi were willing to be led by the light of a star; Herod followed nothing but his own dark inner drives. The magi gave generously; Herod hoarded greedily. The magi were willing to be changed; Herod remained hard-hearted to the end.

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08 Jan 2017 - Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord, Cycle A

Jordan has some of the smoothest salesmen in the world—as evidenced by the amount of stuff I bought during a trip there last year. Passing by a roadside store, for example, a handsome shopkeeper might take your wrist and perfume the length of your forearm with frankincense resin, while another hands you sweets, and yet another urges you to sit and have tea, perhaps of myrrh, that appears out of nowhere. Before you know it, a whirlwind of goods are brought out and presented to you. I loved every minute of the whole production. Back in the time of Jesus, Jordan was the kingdom of the Nabataeans, who controlled the Incense Route from the East to the Mediterranean. The three wise men who traveled to Bethlehem to honor the infant Jesus likely passed through the Nabataean capital and got their gifts of frankincense and myrrh there. It’s easy to get caught up in the flurry of gifts—it’s fun!—but now that the paper and ribbons of Christmas have settled and been swept away, don’t forget your Advent journey that led you to your king.

Authors Jennifer Tomshack

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Quotes

08 Jan 2017 - Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord, Cycle A

One true king knew when to step aside and give up the reins of power—to remove his crown and relinquish his kingdom—all for the sake of glimpsing, just once in a lifetime, the face of a holy child. —Vera Nazarian, The Perpetual Calendar of Inspiration We returned to our places, these Kingdoms, / But no longer at ease here, in the old dispensation, / With an alien people clutching their gods. –T. S. Eliot, Journey of the Magi

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The inner word

03 Jan 2010 - Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord, Cycle C

This Sunday we celebrate the feast of the Epiphany with examples of various ways God’s presence is revealed. How do I best see God manifested in my own life and work? The Magi were led by a star to the birthplace of Jesus. Am I attentive to the signs in my life that are leading me toward God and holiness? Do I recognize that both my joys and my dissatisfactions may be prompts from God leading me to more abundant life? Do I respect other sources of spiritual wisdom while continuing to embrace the truth of my own faith? Isaiah proclaims, “Nations shall walk by your light.” What examples can I imagine of how the larger community benefits from the light and goodness generated by the faith community that will gather this Sunday?

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