(It’s been wonderful to celebrate the Christmas season with so many–and to enjoy a short hiatus from my weekly blog. This weekend, my online reflections begin again:)
In our everyday lives, we are busy about many things and many ‘do-ings’. We strive for income, for purchasing goods, for acquiring, for recognition…the list is almost endless. Yet, on today’s feast, we find that we are doing nothing…yet. This word “epiphany” or ‘manifestation’ is not something that the Magi do; rather it is something done to and for them. Almighty God reveals and makes known the gift of Himself in the little babe at Bethlehem, and the Magi are witnesses; recipients of this revelation, this manifestation. Unwarranted on their own accord, these wanderers follow the inclinations of the Star and they are brought to rejoice when they see the Christ-child. God’s own initiative manifests the vision of His gift, and from there, after adoring, the Magi go forth by a new route: a route of rejoicing and proclaiming what they had heard and seen.
Now that this epiphany has been shared with usthe Churchwe too, after adoring, are invited to take on new ‘do-ings’. We are given the awesome task of sharing what we have seen, and heard, and learned, and now know: that God makes his dwelling among our human race and his dwelling is eternal, is one of peace. May our voices, our activities and our very lives echo the great news of the Magi and the song of the angels.
