EPIPHANY

EPIPHANY – Feast of the Epiphany, Year A

            By God’s choice, the Israelites were chosen to be the bearers of a unique revelation. In bearing this revelation for God they also shared in its light. To them was revealed the one eternal God. To them was given the promise of the Messiah. They were told that the revelation was not just for them, but for all the nations of the earth. Up to that time, no nation believed in only one God but in many gods. The nations remained in darkness without God’s Divine Revelation.

            By God’s favor and commission, Israel carried the heavy burden of the conversion of the world to the one God, and the preparation of the world for the coming of the Messiah, the anointed one of God, who would save people from the darkness of unbelief and sin.

            The prophet Isaiah told the Israelites to “Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem” for “the glory of the Lord shines upon you”. The darkness that prevented the human race from seeing the true nature of God was beginning to be removed. They were reminded that the greatness of this revelation was not to be experienced only by them. They had the mission of sharing the revelation and the promise with the other nations. “Nations shall walk by your light, and kings by your shining radiance.” The nation Israel carried out its mission and gave to the world what many of its own people were not faithful or responsive to themselves.

            Most of the world today believe in one God. Many have accepted the Messiah born to Israel. The revelation of the one God and the bringing forth of the Messiah, whom we know and believe to be Jesus Christ, has been carried out by the Old Testament people to a large extent. Some of the Israelites wanted to experience the one God and have the Messiah only for themselves. Time and time again, God sent the prophets to remind them the revelation and the promise were given to them first, but they were given the mission of bringing the revelation to all the nations.

            The Messiah could only be fully realized with the coming of the Holy Spirit as Paul said in Ephesians, “it has now been revealed…by the Spirit that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the Gospel”. Gentiles is a term which means nations. Paul is telling us that Christ and His Gospel are for all the nations and peoples on the earth. Part of Isaiah’s prophecy was that the nations would come to Israel to adore the Lord. “All from Sheba shall come bearing gold and frankincense proclaiming the praises of the Lord.”

            The wise astrologers from the east, who saw a unique star and went to Jerusalem, represent the nations of the earth coming to Israel to adore the Lord. They had heard that the Jews were expecting the birth of a new born ruler and king. They couldn’t know the child Jesus was the eternal Son of God and the Savior of the whole world, but they were open to Him. “They prostrated themselves and did Him homage.” Many who pay Jesus homage today don’t always realize who He is either.

            Jesus formed the new Israel, or the Church of the New Testament. He commissioned His Church to be His light in the world and to spread His Gospel of the Kingdom and Church to all the nations of the earth. The preaching of the Gospel is the mission of the Church. The light of Christ is not given to believers only for ourselves. It’s also given as a mission to be shared with all peoples.

            Like the Church of the Old Testament, we realize our mission of evangelization and carry it out more or less imperfectly. Many believers are hardly aware of the mission to share Christ with others. They love the light and joy they have in Christ, but remain reluctant to accept the mission of giving Christ to others. This is true even though the mission is alluded to all through our Gospels in the teachings of Jesus. Thankfully, some do take the message seriously and join in the missionary work of the Church.

            The Feast of the Epiphany is a feast which reminds us that Jesus Christ is for all the nations. We who have the light of faith also have the mission to bring His light and life to those who haven’t received it or have lost it. That is what the work of evangelization is about. Jesus Christ is reason enough for all to invest our life, time, talents and treasure in His mission!

Reflection from Divine Mercy #483

“O God, how I desire that souls come to know You and to see that You have created them because of Your unfathomable love.”