Rise up, your light has come! It's a funny coincidence, but at the very moment when I typed those words the doorbell rang. Rather than it being three wise men, it was UPS delivering the photographic flash that I had ordered well before Christmas. Rise up, your light has come!
In all seriousness, what we receive in today's first reading is the resounding summons that the glory of God shines upon all the peoples of the world. Epiphany is the story of the arrival of the light, and it's the story of the bringing of gifts. In both senses it connects to us, and we connect to it, in a most meaningful way.
The God in whom we believe reveals himself to us in the iridescent face and heart of Jesus, born to be the savior of all. Thus our January 6th celebration of the Solemnity of the Epiphany, the traditional 12th day of Christmas, begins with a tone of great joy. The long awaited light, the true light that enlightens everyone, has appeared in stark contrast to the darkness that was before.
The light that illumines the darkness is the light of truth, and of the light that is the certainty of our faith; it is that which illuminates our hearts and gives us the hope of salvation. It is the radiance that reveals the Lord Jesus to us as the one source of salvation for all people.
To us appears the redeemer of Israel who has come to tear down the walls of separation between Jew and Gentile, as the arrival of the pagan Magi attests. He has come to bring hope, and most importantly, to bring it to those without hope. He has come to establish justice among the peoples and nations of the earth, but in a more profound sense he has come to establish for those whose lives cry out for justice. Through his incarnation and birth, Jesus reveals his presence to the whole world; he shows us the way to Eternal Life. He shows us the life that is the light of all people.
The Magi followed the star to Bethlehem where it rested over the place where the infant was. Though they followed the star, it was Jesus who truly guided them. It was he who illuminated the night as they brought their gifts and worshipped him in the arms of Mary his mother.
We too bring our gifts and we worship him. However, what we have to give is what he has given us already. Just as St. Paul says that his is a stewardship of grace, we too have that for which we are responsible. We are indeed coheirs to the promise of salvation; therefore it is incumbent upon us to proclaim the Good News and to share the good things of God's kingdom with all. It is the love of Christ that compels us, for the greatest gift, the truest gift, is the gift of God who is love.
In the Epiphany light that shines in the darkest corners of life, much becomes clear and apparent. In Christ we allow the light to consume the darkness of sin, both in our lives individually and throughout the world. Perhaps the greatest gift we have is the stewardship of proclaiming and sharing the Good News of salvation, which our Lord, Jesus Christ alone, can offer.
As children of the light each of us has the duty allow the light to shine forth from our lives. We proclaim salvation not only by what we say but by how we live—how we share the gifts we have received.
Epiphany foreshadows the journey of Jesus' life. While it marks the beginning it also anticipates the Sacred Triduum—when the greatest of gifts was given. Epiphany reveals salvation as a lifelong endeavor.
We follow the light, and we celebrate the gifts we carry along the journey. Ours is the comfort of the presence of the Body of Christ; ours is the gift of the visible sign of the Church; ours is the sacramental assurance of the forgiveness of sins, and ours is the justice; it is the good that we give in return. Epiphany reveals a lighted path; it manifests the way—the only way that leads to life.
Ah, so every day is Epiphany, really. I believe so, too. If we were sitting in the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament some 2 a.m. and a great wind came and knocked out all power and blew out the candle, would we see slivers of light emanating from tiny gaps around the Tabernacle door, illuminating us one to another enough to join hands in the darkness and not interrupt our prayer, even if that Light be not physically seen? Yes, because that has been going on for two millennia, now. The darkness grasps it not.
Posted by: JustMe | January 07, 2008 at 10:30 PM
DDW, you may want to answer this as a post, but I have a question. We have a friend who was ordained in the permanent Diaconate. Does that mean he can't ever change his mind, and go on to become a priest? My husband was thinking that due to such a clerical shortage, this Deacon ought (and would be the type) to pursue that, but it's called permanent Diaconate for a reason-- yet it seems likely there is some dispensation or form to release him from the Diaconate into pursuing that?
Posted by: JustMe | January 13, 2008 at 11:30 PM
That's a good question, Just Me. I'll get back to it as a post either tonight or tomorrow. Also be looking for part two on the Doctrinal Note.
Posted by: Deacon DW | January 14, 2008 at 06:28 AM
We'll look forward to reading both, DDW.
Posted by: JustMe | January 14, 2008 at 08:06 PM