The Epiphany of the Lord (B); January 3^rd, 2021

Is 60:1-6.  Ps 72.  Eph 3:2-3a,5-6.  Mt 2:1-12

Deacon Jim McFadden

         The Epiphany is a feast of light.  In the first reading we hear, “Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you” (is 60:1).  We look to the actions of the Magi to  guide our journey to the Lord Jesus, who is revealed as the light and salvation of the world.   We want to pay attention to what the Magi did if we are going to encounter Him as well.  What did they do?  Three actions:   they looked up and saw the star;  they got up from where they were and set out towards the light;   and, they brought gifts.

            Seeing the star.   This is where the journey begins.  Have you ever wondered why the Magi alone saw the star?  Perhaps few people were looking up to heaven, but their gaze was on the ground: hey, it’s enough that I have good health, a solid bank account and stock portfolio, access to a 5g network, and a little entertainment, especially on Sunday in which I can watch three NFL games!  I wonder how many of us look up to the sky.  How many of us are like the Psalmist who says, “My soul looks for the Lord more than sentinels for daybreak…”

 (Ps 130:6).  Do we know how to long for God, to expect the newness that he brings to life, or do we let ourselves by swept by the frenetic pace of our life?  The Magi understood that to truly be alive, we need a lofty goal—we need to dream big!—and we need to keep looking up.

Setting out.  The second thing the Magi did, which is essential to finding Jesus, is to  get going.  When we stand before Jesus, we have a disconcerting either-or choice: is he Immanuel, God among us, or is He not?   If He is, then He is due our total, uncompromised commitment in which He becomes the center of our lives and we revolve around Him.  His star demands a decision to take up the journey to move towards Him and to advance steadfastly on our way: sure, our journey will be two steps forward, one step backwards—but the key is to keep our gaze on Jesus, pick ourselves up when we fall flat, and move forward. This demands that we practice what St. Ignatius of Loyola calls “spiritual indifference” in which we free ourselves from nonessential burdens and unnecessary clutter that weigh us down.  It means that we accept the unforeseen obstacles on the roadmap of our journey, such as the incredible year we’ve had in 2020.   If we set out towards Him, Jesus will allow himself to be found by those who seek Him.          

        But for  that to happen we have get off our couch, to detach ourselves from our comfort and security systems, and not to stand still, but to set out.  Jesus makes demands: He says that we are either for or against Him.  In the spiritual path, there are only two directions: we’re either moving towards God or away from Him.  If we’re going to set out, we have to embrace our own Exodus Experience, in which we move from our oppressive state to follow the Star that leads to liberation.  What this means is that if we want to find Jesus, we have to overcome our fear of taking risks, of our self-satisfaction, and our laziness to ask something more of life.  Put simply, we have to take risks, to let go of our self-referential lifestyle if we going to find the Child.  But, those risks are worth it because when we find the Child in our lives, we’ll discover His tenderness and love. In so doing, we rediscover ourselves—our true identity.

            Bringing gifts.  Having come to Jesus after a long journey, the Magi do as God does: they bring gifts.  Jesus is there  to give us his divine life which we can share for eternity.  They offer to Him what is most valuable for them: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  The Gospel becomes real to us when we embrace what St. John Paul II calls The Law of the Gift:   namely, we abide in an authentic relationship with God when we live how God operates: namely,  self-giving love.  The best gift you can give to Jesus is your very life!  Give freely, without reservations—don’t hold back, keeping something for yourself.  Give without expecting anything in return—including the reward of Heaven!  This is the truest sign that you have found Jesus in your life.  For he says: “The gift you have received, give freely as a gift” (Mt 10:8):  to do good towards others without counting the cost, even when unasked, even when you get nothing in return, even when it is unpleasant.  That is what God wants of you because that’s how God relates to us!   Look how God comes to us: as a Child—he became small for our sake.  In the same way, he asks you to offer something for those who are small, for the least of his brothers and sisters.  And, who are they: check out Matthew 25:31-46.  They are the ones who have nothing to give in return, the needy, the hungry, the stranger, the prisoner, the poor.  We give Jesus a gift that is pleasing to Him when we care for the sick person, when we spend time with someone who is disagreeable, or forgive someone who has hurt us.  These are the gifts we can give to the Lord Jesus. 

            As we celebrate the Epiphany, let us look at our hands: are they empty of self-giving or are we offering the free gift of ourselves without expecting anything in return.  That will please the Child Jesus.  And, let us ask the Lord: “Jesus, send forth your Spirit that I may be renewed; that I may rediscover the joy of giving.” Amen.