EXCERPT: Epiphany invites us to leave the familiar and search for Christ in unlikely places. What gifts will we bring when we find him?

• Instead of myrrh, we could visit the sick and dying.
• Instead of frankincense, we might advocate for poor families, especially single parents and newborns.
• Instead of gold, we could support shelters for homeless families, or international programs for children and the elderly.

The content below has been generated by THE WORD THIS WEEK Catholic Assistant, employing advanced AI technology.

Admission of Powerlessness (Is 60:1-6): Just as the Israelites acknowledge their need for God’s light in times of darkness, the first step of the 12-step program invites individuals to recognize their powerlessness over their addiction and seek help from a higher power.

Recognition of a Higher Power (Is 60:1-6): The second step aligns with the prophetic vision of God’s glory, as it encourages individuals to believe in a power greater than themselves, much like the Israelites seeking God’s light and guidance.

Decision to Turn Life Over to a Higher Power (Eph 3:2-3a): This step relates to St. Paul’s acknowledgement of God’s grace and calling in his life, which empowers him to share the Gospel. Similarly, those in the 12-step program commit to surrendering their will to their higher power.

Taking a Moral Inventory (Eph 3:2-3a): Paul reflects on his past actions and experiences as a persecutor of Christians before his conversion. This mirrors the fourth step, which asks individuals to reflect honestly on their past actions and character traits.

Admission of Wrongdoings (Eph 3:5-6): Paul speaks of the mystery of Christ being revealed to him, just as the fifth step calls for individuals to disclose their wrongdoings to themselves, their higher power, and another person.

Willingness to Remove Character Defects (Mt 2:1-12): The Magi’s journey to Jesus represents a quest for truth and a desire for transformation. This mirrors the willingness to change and be rid of personal shortcomings as seen in the sixth step.

Asking for Spiritual Help (Mt 2:1-12): The Magi sought divine guidance in their journey, following the star that led them to Jesus. Similarly, the seventh step encourages individuals to seek spiritual help in their quest for recovery.

List of Amends (Is 60:1-6): The prophetic vision of restoring relationships and healing connections resonates with the eighth step’s focus on creating a list of people one has harmed and the amends that need to be made.

Compensation for Past Harms (Eph 3:5-6): As St. Paul emphasizes the unity of Jews and Gentiles in Christ, the ninth step calls for individuals to make direct amends to those they have harmed, promoting healing and reconciliation in relationships.

Continuing Inventory and Admissions (Mt 2:1-12): The Magi’s journey reminds us of the importance of ongoing self-reflection and spiritual growth, which aligns with the tenth step’s emphasis on ongoing personal assessment and amends.

Seeking Prayer and Meditation (Eph 3:2-3a): St. Paul’s commitment to spreading the Gospel through God’s grace reflects the eleventh step’s call for daily prayer and meditation to strengthen one’s spiritual connection with their higher power.

Carry the Message Forward (Is 60:1-6): The prophet Isaiah’s vision of the nations walking in God’s light and bringing glory to the Lord corresponds with the twelfth step, which encourages individuals to share their experiences and support others in recovery.

THE WORD THIS WEEK
PREACHING CONNECTION

The conflict in Matthew 2:1-12 can provide insights into a spirituality of conflict. The story highlights the tension between King Herod, who felt threatened by the wise men’s news of a newborn king, and the Magi, who were guided by the light of the star to seek Jesus.

Some key points to consider:

• Hope and trust: The wise men’s journey ultimately led them to Jesus, symbolizing hope and the importance of trusting in God’s plan.
• Fear of change: Herod’s fear of the wise men’s news can be seen as a metaphor for the fear of change that often underlies conflict. Embracing change and trusting in God’s guidance can help us navigate difficult situations.
• Overcoming obstacles: The wise men faced obstacles on their journey but were undeterred, continuing to follow the light of the star. This can inspire us to persevere through conflicts, trusting in our faith and seeking guidance from above.
• Discernment: The wise men’s decision to avoid returning to Herod demonstrated their discernment and wisdom. In times of conflict, it’s essential to seek wisdom and discernment to make the right choices.

A Call to Search
and Respond

EXCERPT: Epiphany invites us to leave the familiar and search for Christ in unlikely places. What gifts will we bring when we find him?

• Instead of frankincense, we might advocate for poor families, especially single parents and newborns.
• Instead of gold, we could support shelters for homeless families, or international programs for children and the elderly.
• Instead of myrrh, we could visit the sick and dying.

Like the Magi, we are guided by grace, which acts as our star, leading us to the hidden places where Christ is found. The Magi brought gifts fit for royalty, but today Christ is found not in palaces, but among the poor.

Epiphany reminds us that each day Christ manifests himself in the world’s lesser places and among surprising people. These are the places to bring our gifts, starting with the most important one: ourselves.

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LifeIssues.Net Homilies

Editor: Jerry Novotny OMI

Epiphany – the meaning is pervasive

Tom Bartolomeo
The story of the Christ-Savior, as God chose, would still have unwound from a wood cradle to a crucifixion tree. Christ, the light of the world and author of life itself came to conquer the darkness by his death. The Magi came to enlighten us, to seek Him, too, not hide from God’s law but defend his truth whatever danger we face as sojourners in this world. Each of our epiphanies will be linked to the Magi’s dangerous journey, believe me. The Magi, the three wise men, came to instruct us about this.

Defusing Unexploded Bombs (Epiphany)

Proclaim Sermons
Many forces in human life can shatter families and ruin friendships. But we can defuse explosive situations by showing gentleness and patience, speaking the truth in love, and forgiving others as Christ has forgiven us.

Let’s Make the Magi’s Journey for Ourselves (Epiphany)

Proclaim Sermons
The people we call the “wise men” were moved to make a difficult journey to discover divine truth. What they found when they finally made it past Jerusalem – and the lying king there – and got to Bethlehem was a different king: one who was, himself, the truth. We can search for the Christ child today and discover his eternal truth for ourselves and others.

Joining Humanity and Divinity

Douglas McManaman
It is fitting that we exchange gifts at Christmas, because our life in Christ is a gift exchange. He came among us precisely to exchange gifts. His Incarnation is an offer of exchange, and the exchange is: If you give me your humanity, I will give you my divinity.

Being a Visible Witness

Summary: The feast of the Epiphany of the Lord celebrates how God made himself known to all the nations, which is symbolized through the visit of the foreign Magi. As stewards, we are called to help the Church in her efforts to make Christ known to the ends of the earth and we can do this by simply being a visible witness of our faith. Let us strive to make small actions that display our love for Christ such as saying grace before meals in public, praying the rosary on the bus or saying “God bless you” when someone sneezes or we say goodbye.

As we continue along in this wondrous season of Christmas, we are invited to reflect on the Epiphany of the Lord this Sunday. The word epiphany means “to make manifest” or “to make known.” So on this feast day we are celebrating how God made himself known to all the nations, which is symbolized through the visit of the foreign Magi. As stewards, we are called to help the Church in her efforts to continue to make Christ known to the ends of the earth.

The way of stewardship is essentially a call to evangelization. The greatest gift we can share with others is not money or food, but the knowledge and love of Christ. Pope Francis says that “we cannot keep ourselves shut up in parishes, in our communities, when so many people are waiting for the Gospel!” We must go out of our comfort zone to bring others to Jesus.

One way we can evangelize others is by simply living as visible Catholic disciples in our world. In today’s secular culture, any act of religiosity is seen as a radical witness of our faith. For example, whenever we are eating in public, we can begin with the sign of the cross and our grace before meals. Moreover, St. John Paul II said that we should not be “ashamed to recite the Rosary alone, while you walk along the streets to school, to the university or to work, or as you commute by public transport.” Let us strive to be a sign of our faith to the world.

SOURCE: Archdiocese of Toronto / This resource may be reproduced without permission for non-commercial purposes by dioceses/eparchies, parishes and other religious organizations such as religious orders, etc.

CONNECTION TO SUNDAY‘S READINGS

Rise and Shine: The Beauty of the Human Body

The content below has been generated by THE WORD THIS WEEK Catholic Assistant, employing advanced AI technology. It is important to note that it is not officially connected with Christopher West or the Theology of the Body Institute.

• Isaiah 60:1-6: Jerusalem is called to rise and shine, reflecting God’s glory.
• Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6: The mystery of Christ is revealed through the Church.
• Matthew 2:1-12: The Magi honor the physical presence of Jesus.

Today’s readings invite us to reflect on the beauty and sacredness of the human body, a theme emphasized by the late Pope John Paul II in his Theology of the Body. As we explore the wisdom of Isaiah, the letter to the Ephesians, and the Gospel of Matthew, we discover that the divine glory is revealed through Jerusalem, the Church, and Christ’s human form.

In the book of Isaiah, Jerusalem is called to “rise and shine” (Isaiah 60:1), for the glory of the Lord has risen upon her. This magnificent imagery highlights the transformative power of God’s presence in our lives. We, too, are called to rise and shine, reflecting God’s glory in all that we are and all that we do.

As Christopher West indicates, the blessings of Jerusalem are not only for the Jews, but for all nations. Jerusalem, as God’s holy city and dwelling place, becomes a beacon for all those who seek the divine light. Isaiah speaks of a time when “sons and daughters” shall walk by the light of the Lord and will come “from afar” (Isaiah 60:4). This prophetic vision invites us to recognize that God’s light and love extend far beyond any one people or place, calling all of humanity into a deep and abiding relationship with the divine.

Moreover, West underscores that the mystery of Jerusalem is fulfilled in the person of Mary, the Mother of God, who is also “the Mother of all the living.” Through her ‘yes’ to the divine will, Mary becomes the living embodiment of Jerusalem, bearing both the Son of God and, in a spiritual sense, all the sons and daughters who come to walk in the light of the Lord. In this way, Mary models for us the spousal mystery of the scriptures, inviting each of us to open our hearts to the divine presence and bear witness to the love of God in our own lives.

The letter to the Ephesians reminds us that the mystery of Christ is revealed through the Church (Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6). This revelation invites us to examine our own role within the Church and to consider how we contribute to the ongoing revelation of Christ’s presence in our world.

In the Gospel, we encounter the story of the Magi, who traveled far and wide to honor the physical presence of Jesus (Matthew 2:1-12). The Magi’s recognition of Christ’s divinity invites us to celebrate the gift of our own humanity, created in God’s image.

The Magi’s reverence for the Christ Child serves as a powerful example of how we, too, should honor and celebrate our own humanity. By acknowledging the divine presence within each of us, we embrace the truth that we are created in God’s image and likeness. This recognition invites us to treat our bodies with the dignity and respect they deserve, nurturing our physical and spiritual well-being as a unified whole.

Pope John Paul II’s Theology of the Body offers us a lens through which we can appreciate the profound beauty and dignity of our human bodies. We are not merely souls trapped within physical forms, but rather, we are ensouled bodies, fully human and fully alive. The human body, imbued with the divine spark of life, is a temple of the Holy Spirit, a reflection of God’s own glory.

As we journey through this life, let us embrace the call to rise and shine, allowing our bodies and our lives to become beacons of hope and love. May we celebrate the sacredness of the human body and recognize the divine presence that dwells within each of us. And may we, like the Magi, honor the physical presence of Jesus in the Eucharist and in our neighbors, remembering that each of us is created in the image of God.

Discovering Divine Presence in the Tapestry of Work: Lessons from the Magi

The story of the magi (or as the NRSV, translates it, “wise men”) is especially relevant to work. According to Daniel 1:20, 2:27, and 5:15 and Acts 8:9, and 13:6-8, magi were astrologers who observed the stars in order to interpret dreams and practice other magic. Both Daniel and Luke (in the book of Acts) take a dim view of their profession, seeing them as charlatans or false prophets. Nonetheless, going about their work of observing the stars, they glimpse the reality of God’s power in the world. Their work, flawed as it is, guides them to recognize Jesus as the son of God. Their response is to worship as best they are able. Note their generosity, a virtue God prizes highly throughout the Bible. Contrast them to Herod, who although being from the community of faith, reacts to the wise men’s discovery with hostility. It’s hard to imagine a more un-generous response than his. This contrast points out how God’s grace extends to all people and the entire cosmos, not only to believers. Conversely, the people of God continue to fall into sin, while non-believers morality may be exemplary.

Could it be that God is still drawing non-believers to himself through their work, including workers in science, nature, or the material world? As Paul puts it, “Ever since the creation of the world, God’s eternal power and divine nature, invisible though they are, have been understood and seen through the things he has made.” (Romans 1:20). This has applications when we talk about Christ in the workplace. Although we may think we are talking about Christ to people who don’t know him, it may actually be that God is already making himself known to them through their work, as he did with the magi. We might be more effective if we recognize that what we are actually doing is helping co-workers name and appreciate the presence of God that their work is already revealing to them. And we ourselves might do well to recognize God’s presence in our work. Christians often treat secular work with suspicion, as if the knowledge and skill employed there somehow undermines faith. Instead, what if we could recognize how all kinds of work reveal God’s handiwork and presence. Could recognizing God’s presence in ordinary work actually strengthen our faith?

SOURCE: Theology of Work Project

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