Epiphany 2012 Year B. January 8, 2012. Our
Lady of Grace 10:30 MHT, 6PM OlG.
Isaiah 60:1-6. Ephesians 3:2-3a 5-6. Matthew 2: 1-12.
Gravity is the hidden force the pulls everything toward the
center of the earth. Whether we step off a curb or fall over the edge of
a cliff, gravity pulls us downward as we rush toward solid ground below.
I don’t have to believe in gravity to feel its power in my life. It helps
to understand the power of gravity so that we do not step over the edge into a
hazardous fall like a child just learning to walk. If I deny the
existence of gravity I am headed for disaster; I will certainly get hurt
whether I believe in gravity or not.
Not too long ago a young man sitting in my office told me
that he did not believe in God. After listening to him for a long time I
said, “The fact that you are sitting her talking to me makes it impossible
for me to think that God doesn’t exist. Your body, your mind, your
talents and your gifts are so complex, complicated and well ordered that
thinking that you just happened by chance denies what is an obvious fact.
A mysterious someone made you and made me. There is no machine, robot or
computer as well designed as every human being on planet earth. If I said that
my desk-top computer happened by chance with no intelligent someone behind it,
you would laugh at me.” The young man began to talk about
evolution. I told him that I did not have a problem with evolution and
neither did the Catholic Church as long as we remember that it is founded on a
lot of good scientific evidence, but it is still a theory. In fact I told
him that evolution makes the majesty of God even greater because it testifies
to the fact that the act of creation is incredibly huge and complex, stretching
over billions of light years of space and time. God is God. Not
believing in God doesn’t make God go away. What
we believe about the origin of the universe does make a difference in the way
that we live our lives. Knowing the truth about God does help us make
right choices for our lives.
God spent hundreds of years preparing the Jewish people to
be the doorway through which God would reveal to conscious, self-aware,
human beings God’s personal presence in the universe God had
created. The Prophet Isaiah said, “See,
darkness covers the earth, and think clouds cover the people; but upon you the
Lord shines and over you appears his glory. Nations shall walk by your
light, and kings by your shining radiance.” John the Baptist
came to prepare the way of the Lord and Mary and Joseph were there on the first
Christmas to welcome Jesus – God revealed in human flesh. God prepared
the chosen people to welcome a personal, loving God into the world God had
created.
Today’s gospel proclaims a much bigger message. Three
foreigners who were not a part of the people God had carefully prepared for the
birth of Jesus appeared in
We cherish the Scriptures and the rich heritage of God’s
chosen people. As Catholic people we also welcome the strangers and
foreigners who come to us from every culture, language, race and tradition.
In his provident care for the human race God has opened up many ways of coming
into his presence.
Some people come to Jesus from the world of science.
Looking into the mystery of the universe they find themselves called to pray as
they enter, through science, into the presence of God. Encountering God through
the scientific examination of creation they find themselves eager to encounter
the God they cannot see revealed in the child of
Some people come to Jesus through the world of
medicine. Working with the wonder of the human mind and body and the
miracle of birth and new life they enter silently into the presence of God,
yearning to the meet mysterious creator of human life in a more personal way.
Some people find God in the wonder of charity and human
goodness. Being loved and served by others they enter into the
presence of God quietly and unexpectedly through the heroic love of the people
around them. They are eager to find the personal love of God revealed in
good people and embodied in the crucified, loving Jesus.
Some people find Jesus in the miracle of their spouse or
their children. The power of love in family life is always an invitation
to find the loving God who is father, mother and spouse to all of us. The
miracle of love always leads to God.
Said the night
wind to the little lamb:
Do you see what I see?
'Way up in the sky, little lamb,
Do you see what I see?
A star, a star
Dancing in the night,
With a tail as big as a kite.
With a tail as big
as a kite
There are many stars that lead to Jesus and many paths that
lead us into his presence. Our life with its blessings, challenges and
tragedies is the shining star that points to the child of