Saturday, January 4, 2014

Notes on Epiphany

"Notes on Epiphany"

They say that God takes care of old folks and fools, which in my case is only half true.  And yet, soon we celebrate the sign of God being ridiculously good, having appeared for both the wise and foolish alike.

Have you ever met anyone who is really into Horoscopes?  Like REALLY into Horoscopes?  Should the stars be enough to send someone on a journey?  The Wise Men point to the infant son of Mary and say to the world, "This is your sign".

Tomorrow, the Church will celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany, the coming of the Magi (wise men), the revelation that the Messiah has indeed come for the salvation of all men.

"In choosing to be born for us, God chose to be known by us."  - St. Peter Chrysologus.

He writes:

"Today the Magi find, crying in a manger, the one they have followed as he shone in the sky. Today the Magi see clearly, in swaddling clothes, the one they have long awaited as he lay hidden among the stars.  Today the Magi gaze in deep wonder at what they see: heaven on earth, earth in heaven, man in God, God in man, one whom the whole universe cannot contain now enclosed in a tiny body."

As I sit and think about these great words of the "golden-mouth" (Chrysologus) - I can't help but think. . . .

"How quickly God unveils to those who dare to dream among the stars!
 How has He (once thought so far) now come among us as we are!"

St. Paul writes to us in Ephesians tomorrow that "the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and co-partners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel." (Eph 3)

The "Gentiles", that is to say, the whole world, bringing clarity to the angels proclaiming “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” (Lk 2).

God reaches out in the desire to save the human race, no matter one's race or gender or creed, as St. Paul writes that "our Savior...wills everyone to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth" (1 Tim 2).

This is indeed the revelation of Epiphany, the mystery of God's mercy to all peoples and nations, a revelation "not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit" (Eph 3).  Christ has come for all.

As [the Magi] look, they believe and do not question, as their symbolic gifts bear witness: incense for God, gold for a king, myrrh for one who is to die. " (Peter Chrysolugus)

Isaiah had prophesied (Chapter 60) that the nations would bring Gold and Frankincense a testimony to God's Kingship and Glory - a revelation certainly not new.  But the myrrh of the wise men, an expensive perfume used for funeral preparation, appears as an unexpected gesture, an unveiling of a new mystery of mercy.  Just as the sign given in the stars appears as an unexpected gesture, also unexpected is this sign pointing to the heavens being opened for all the earth.

Jesus Christ.  Gold for the King.  Frankincense for Divinity.  Myrrh for the suffering servant, Savior of all and Sacrifice for sin.  I can't help but stop and marvel at all of these attributes of Christ, IF we could grant attributes to Being.

Though we must ever marvel at the Divinity of Christ, of the Word made flesh, I can't help but ponder a bit more on this idea of Christ as King. To what extent do I acknowledge Christ as the King of my life?  To what degree do I dare to live in the adventure of obedience?  For obedience does not tether us to stale or sterile earth, but invites us on a journey toward destiny, guided by the heavens.  Do I dare to risk the adventure of Christ being King, truly Sovereign, over the affairs of my life? Is Christ's gesture received, is His victory victorious in me? This question haunts me, particularly in the light of recent blessings and much undeserved grace.  Along with this comes all of those Apocalyptic readings of recent weeks.  Advent and Christmas are times to look in hope and expectation to the coming of the Kingdom of God, and in an honest fear of being inevitably taken to task.

A priest friend of mine likes to warn about those to be left outside of the Heavenly Jerusalem: "Outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the unchaste, the murderers, the idol-worshipers, and all who love and practice deceit" (Rev 22).  These are the words of St. John, and in no way do I seek to challenge this assertion from his witness.  But I am reminded also of the title of this same Saint John, "The Beloved", who states these words not as a condemnation, but as a warning to the world from a suffering Christ who wishes that all men shall be saved.  For just as St. Peter writes (2 Pt 3).  


The Lord does not delay his promise, as some regard “delay,” but he is patient with you, not wishing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.  

But the day of the Lord will come....and the earth and everything done on it will be found out.


We only warn whom we wish to save, we can only work for what we value, we can only labor for those we love. 

And the love of God, through Jesus, is revealed to all.

Christ appears today, for all mankind, for all history, foretold in the stars, coming among us as Theophany, as mercy, as the One who dies so we might live.

Let us marvel then, at the mercy of God, and the universal call to each and every human being.  
Life itself has been revealed in the heavens and in the flesh. What was promised was made manifest in the stars, and beneath the stars, in sign and substance, for both the wise and the foolish.

And this is very, very good news.




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