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Pastor's Letter 20210103 - 03 January 2021 - Searching for a King


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January 3rd, 2021

Feast of the Epiphany

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Today’s Theme:   “Searching for the King”  

A Message from Father Michael

Today, we celebrate the appearance of our Lord, Jesus Christ, on the human scene.  As the feast of Epiphany is celebrated now in the Western Church, it brings out a prominent aspect of the Christmas Mystery, namely, the manifestation (or, Epiphany) of the universal dominion of the newborn King to the whole world, as dramatized in Jesus’ manifestation to the Magi, or “wise men” from “the East.”  Christian tradition has always accepted the Magi as the first fruits of the Gentiles; they lead in their wake all the peoples of the earth, and thus Jesus’ Epiphany, as an affirmation of eternal salvation.

The symbolism of the light is lavishly used:  “This day Christ appeared to the world as a light shining in the darkness.  May you follow Him in faith and be a light to others.” (...from today’s Solemn Episcopal Blessing.) Entrusted by God with our sanctification, the Church employs the liturgy—the worship; rites; sacraments; official prayers; feasts; and liturgical seasons.  These are the methods that that unite us to Christ and transform our souls to His likeness.  

Every year, from Advent to Pentecost, we celebrate the principal events of our Savior’s life, not as a mere commemoration, but to renew us by the application of the special graces, which each event brings to us.  This living communication of the mysteries of Christ permeates our souls with an authentic Christian life, closely bound up with that of the Church.  We are taught the significance and spirit of these liturgical celebrations, and we have only to allow ourselves to be guided by them in order to penetrate into the heart of the Christian mystery and derive full benefit from them.

The principal purpose of the Christmas season is to remind us of the radical transformation that takes place in our human lives due to the Incarnation of the Word.  God’s own Son became not only one of us, but He gave us the power to become real sons and daughters of God—a new and holy people—whom He enlightens with His divine Life and leads to heaven.  The Incarnation started a new order whose final consequence on earth is a definitive union with God in heaven.  

In the sacred humanity of our Savior, we find the ever-flowing spring of supernatural life drawing down upon us, as the full accomplishment of the redemptive work begun by His coming into this world.

Reflection on Today’s Scripture Selections

Our Liturgy today begins with a reading from Isaiah, wherein the returning exiles from Babylon (ca. 539 BC) receive a vision of a restored city, fulfilled in the new Israel, the Church (Isaiah 6:1-6.)

The Second Reading expresses the theological meaning of the Epiphany: God invites Jew and Gentile alike to share an equal footing in the benefits of salvation brought by Jesus.  It further shows that election by God is not a privilege for some, but a hope for all.

God revealed Himself to the Jews through the Scriptures, and to the Gentiles through nature. Since the Magi were Gentiles, Matthew shows them receiving a revelation through astrology.  The story highlights the paradox of how the Jews who have the Scriptures reject Jesus, while the Gentiles, with the help of the Scriptures, find and adore Him.  For Matthew, the story of the Magi becomes an anticipation of the fate of the Good News of salvation, a fate that he knew in the aftermath of the resurrection (Matthew 2:1- 12.)  

Searching for the King  

There is a legend that says there were not three, but four Magi:  The fourth king, Artaban, also saw the “star” and decided to follow it, taking with him a sapphire, a ruby and a pearl as gifts for the new King.  His three friends, Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar waited for him to join them at an agreed spot.   However, on the way there, Artaban came upon a man lying wounded, along the road.   He brought the man to an inn and arranged for his care.

When he finally arrived at the agreed meeting place, he realized his friends had already left.   He sold the sapphire to buy a camel and supplies to get across the desert.  Upon reaching Bethlehem, once again he was too late.  Joseph and Mary had taken the child and fled to Egypt, to escape Herod’s killers.

In the house where he stayed there was a year-old baby boy.  The mother feared for his life, and when Herod’s men came, Artaban went out to meet them.  With the ruby, he bribed the captain not to enter, thus saving the child within.  Artaban was sad, however, as he only had the pearl to offer the King.

During the following years, he continued searching for the King, but he always seemed to arrive too late.  Some 30-years later, he came to Jerusalem.  He was then very old, weary and dispirited.  He was horrified to learn that Jesus was among those to be executed.  He turned toward Calvary, hoping the pearl he had long guarded would be sufficient to save His life.   However, on the way there, he met a girl who was fleeing a band of soldiers.  Her father had incurred large debts, and had sold her into slavery.  Artaban took out his treasured pearl, gave it to the soldiers, and freed the girl.  But, then, he had to face the King empty handed.

Just then the sky darkened, and an earthquake shook the ground, causing roof tiles to fly off the shaking houses.  One of them hit Artaban, mortally wounding him.   Dying, he struggled vainly onward toward Calvary, but he never succeeded in catching up with his King.  

Reading this story, I was taken by the thought that Artaban had always had his King.  All those years he had carried Him in his mind and heart.  The king inspired him in deeds of love and generosity, and had illuminated his life’s journey with meaning and hope. Artaban found his God, because anyone genuinely searching for Him has already found Him.  

The Lessons of the Magi

For most people, the story of the Magi coming to Bethlehem goes something like this:  They saw a bright star in the eastern sky, followed it as it guided them unerringly, to Jerusalem, until it temporarily disappeared.   Reappearing, it took them to Bethlehem, where they found the Child Jesus.  Put this way, it sounds very simple and quite exciting.

One who carefully reads Matthew’s account will see it really is quite false!   His Gospel recounts that they saw the star “at its rising.”   It says nothing about the star guiding them, suggesting the star was no more than a “sign” that something unusual had happened, or that someone special had been born.

The next time the star is mentioned is on their journey to Bethlehem, after leaving Herod.   Then, as they neared the end of their journey we read:  “There, in front of them, was the star they had seen at its rising” (Matthew 2:9.)   From this, we can conclude that, in between sightings, they traveled in darkness, needing to ask, seek and enquire.  

Their journey was neither simple nor easy,  and they encountered difficulties, doubts and dangers.  Nevertheless, they persevered in their quest, and were rewarded when they finally found Christ.

Their story has such relevance for us.  Like they, we also are on a journey.  When we start on some road (whether it be following the Christian vocation, or following some other vocation or profession,) we are attracted by something bright, some ideal, vision or hope.  But our initial “star” does not “remain forever in our sky.”  It grows “dim.”  “Clouds” get in its way and deprive us of its light.  

We also encounter difficulties and doubts along our way.  Some people question their faith when they experience doubt.  We should not be surprised when this happens.  Rather, we must imitate the Magi, and not be too proud to ask for guidance.  We must believe the darkness will pass and we will again see our initial star beckoning to us.  

The Magi serve as our models of faith for our journey.  Their single-mindedness, their refusing to be deterred by difficulties and hardships, allowed them to find Christ, offering  Him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.  When they found the Child, their hearts were awakened, bursting into life.   Similarly, when we find Christ and offer our love to Him, He helps us open the treasures of goodness that lie buried inside us.  Then we can offer our “gifts” to our brothers and sisters, especially the ones who are poor, as Christ was.

Throughout history, it has always been the poor who have had to pay homage to the rich—through labor, payment of taxes and so on.  But in the visit of the Magi to the Christ child, we see a reversal of the established order of things, only the first of many radical changes Christ would bring about.  

Instead of being impoverished, the Magi were enriched.  It is through giving that we are enriched, because when we do, we discover our own riches.  

The poverty of Jesus is a challenge to us, too. It gives us an opportunity to open our hearts.  In doing so, begin to live.  Jesus no longer needs our gifts, but other people may.   He wants us to share ourselves with one another—to find ourselves enriched, as a result of knowing Him.   In turn, we will able to open our hearts’ treasures and share them with others   Having worshipped Christ, the Magi “returned to their own country by another route” (Matthew 2:12.)  This could suggest they found a new geographical route, and a new mentality.   Having met Christ and heard His Gospel, we also will travel through life by a different route—one with different attitudes, values and goals.  It is impossible to encounter Christ without it affecting the way we live our lives.  

May God Richly Bless You!

“Look for Christ, and you will find Him; and with Him, everything else!” ~~C.S. Lewis~~   

To view a live stream of today's Mass, click here:  https://youtu.be/ZlnRZdfB2RM

Proclaim the Glory of the Lord.docx

Proclaim the Glory of the Lord.mp3

 

Edited by Father Michael
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