Epiphany of Our Lord--Part II

This last week, we experienced the   Epiphany of the Lord as He was manifested to the whole world as all of us are  included in God’s plan of   salvation. We celebrate   Jesus’s   Baptism by John in the   River Jordan this weekend. These two feast days and solemnities are important cornerstones within the Life of Jesus as a child and as an adult and are critical to our lives made holy in Christ.  We can examine these   wonderful days in the Christmas Season in light of one of the  readings from the new Testament taken from a letter of St. John to his community of faith.
   
God sent, “gave,’ us His only Son as gift. The Lord above sent us His love so we can live with Him forever. The Son of God, Jesus, dwells among us as He teaches us how to love God and love one another through His own self-giving in imitation of the Father. As mentioned in the prior message last week, in parts of Europe and in the Latin countries the Epiphany of the Lord  is    heralded in a special way as Christ is seen as revealed, not only as hope and salvation made as a promise to Israel but the Messiah as revealed to all, including the Gentiles, to all of us. The above Icon was brought to us from Puerto Rico in which the Magi bring their gifts to the Christ Child in thanksgiving for the precious Gift that God gave to us in the Son from His love for us whom He created. The gifts of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh can correspond to the three roles of the mission of Christ – gold for His Kingship, His shepherding of us and taking care of His people, frankincense for His Priestly role, His holiness and divine Sonship, and myrrh, a spice often used for preparing one for burial, as the prophets proclaimed the Paschal Mystery of Jesus’ life, death and Resurrection to new life. As we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord this weekend, we embrace the Mission of Christ as Priest (His divine and holy life), Prophet (the Word made flesh), and King (Good Shepherd of us all).
 
We are also to assume these roles as Baptized Catholics. In order to live out our Mission in Christ, what gifts do we bring to Our God as we become an Epiphany, a manifestation of the Lord to the world around us? In the image above, we see only two  Magi, two kings, not three. Why did this artist only depict the two persons giving their gifts rather than the three that we have also known them to be? Perhaps, we are to take on the role as one of the Magi (Wise Ones), the third King not in the picture. As we see the little Lord Jesus in the painting touching the head of one of the magi, let us see this as the Lord Jesus blessing us like He did on our Baptism. As He anointed us on that special day to bring His mission of Priest, Prophet and King to the world and manifest Him in our lives -- what do we now offer in response? Let us offer Gold (the  precious gift of self), as we become  shepherds to take care of each other; let us offer   Frankincense, the incense of our prayers, words and deeds that we offer as a priestly, good people as we move toward the Light of Christ to become more like Him. And, let us offer our gift of Myrrh, as we remember the life, death and Resurrection of Our Lord as prophets of His teachings and life giving ways. In doing so, may we become a living sermon of unveiling the mysteries of God in our lives to others when we follow St. John’s words above. Let us be heralds of God’s love so all can experience life through Him Whom we adore and Whom we know in our very soul, is Love  itself.
 
Stay tuned next week as we explore our participation in the Epiphany of the Lord, Part III through the graces of Baptism.
 
Blessed and Happy New Year,
Fr. John