Epiphany C 2010. January
3. Our Lady of Grace 5:15, 9:30, 6PM.
Isaiah 60:1-6, Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6. Matthew 2: 1-12.
Erik was a little over a year old. On New Year’s Eve
he and his mom and dad were among 15 or twenty people at a truck stop
restaurant along the highway. Everyone in the restaurant was eating very
quietly. All of a sudden Erik cried out “Hi” and pounded his fists
enthusiastically on the table – he was looking at a man who had come into the
restaurant behind them. When his mom turned around she saw a man wearing
a tattered, greasy rag torn coat, baggy pants and shoes that exposed his feet
to the cold. “Hello, Big Boy!” the man said to Erik. “I
see you Buster,” he went on. The mother and father exchanged
looks, not knowing what to do. Everyone in the restaurant was looking at
them. The tattered old man went on, “Do you know patty cake? How
about peek- a -boo?”
Of course, no one thought that the old man was cute.
He was obviously drunk. Erik’s mom and dad tried to ignore the old man.
Little Erik was having the time of his life. The parents finished their
meal very quickly and stood to walk toward the door. They picked Erik up
and tried to maneuver around the old man. Before his dad could stop him,
Erik propelled himself into the old man’s arms. Even though the old man
reeked of alcohol, Erik sealed their new friendship with a big hug. Then
in an act of deep trust that only a child can give Erik place his head very
tenderly on the old man’s shoulder. The old man’s eyes closed as he
gently rocked Erik in his arms. After a few moments he handed Erik back
to his mother. The old man wiped the tears from his eyes and said, “God
Bless you, ma’am. Your little boy has given me the only gift that I
received for Christmas. I am very grateful.”
Do you remember the Wizard of Oz! Dorothy,
accompanied by the Tin Man, the Scare Crow and the Lion approached the Wizard
in fear and trembling. On a huge screen an awesome man appeared in the
midst of thunder and lightening shouting “I am the mighty Oz.”
This all went on until their little dog pulled the sheet from in the front of
the man who was hiding to run the images on the screen. All at once the
awesome Oz became a very loveable old man. God did not appear on earth as
the Awesome Oz. He appeared as a loveable little child.
God came to us as a little child in the stable at
O holy Child of
Bethlehem
Descend to us, we
pray
Cast out our sin
and enter in
Be born to us
today
We hear the
Christmas angels
The great glad
tidings tell
O come to us,
abide with us
Our Lord
Emmanuel
Poor Shepherd came to be touched by the love of this little
child. During his lifetime sinners of all kinds would seek him out and
kneel humbly at his feet knowing that he embodied the unconditional love of God
for all people. Jesus always had a very special love for the poor and he
chose to die among the poorest of the poor, abandoned on a Cross.
“And behold, Wise men arrived from the east.”
They were not Jewish believers. They were not looking for the Jewish
Messiah. They were looking for the truth. They were searching the skies
looking for answers to the direction of the universe. The wise men
represent all people of good will in every race, religion and nations who are
looking sincerely for the meaning of the universe and human life. Our
world is filled with people of good will who may claim to be non- religious or
non-believers yet are open to love and to a deeper understanding of life.
God became a little child to make it possible for anyone who is open to the
love of a little child to find the meaning of life and enter into the presence
of God.
Herod was a member of the Jewish people, yet he was seeking
only himself and his power as king. To find the
Rich or poor, wise or confused, sinner or saintly, may each
of us find in the child of
A child, a child
shivers in the cold.
Let us bring him silver and gold
Let us bring him silver and gold.
Amen!