Skip to main content
The celebration of the epiphany of our Lord is a joyous occasion. Each year when I listen to the scripture readings at Mass, I try to learn something new. God always makes sure that I hear something new and that it applies to my current situation. That happened with certainty this morning. The new item for me this year was the visit of the magi. They followed the star that led them to Mary, Joseph and the new born King. The interesting thing to me was that they visited Jesus in a house, not a manger ("They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother."). How then did He get from the manger to the house? A quick search explains that often inns at that time rented the upper room (much like the one Jesus used to meet with his disciples for the last supper) and provided bare essentials. Realizing that Mary was very near childbirth, the innkeeper probably provided a manger or animal trough for the newborn. So does it make a difference if Jesus was born in the barn or inside the house? Not to me. The event that we celebrate is the birth of our Lord and Savior. He was certainly born in a humble setting away from his parent's house. Even then, Jesus was relying on the kindness of strangers. Even then He was providing an opportunity for people to "do for the least." We can assume with very high accuracy that the innkeeper did not know of the majesty of the baby about to born in his house. I wonder if his family knew? Was there someone in the innkeepers family who worked in Herod's palace that had heard of this new king to be born that was causing Herod such concern? Did an angel of God appear to the innkeeper or a member of his family? We do not hear this part of the story. The innkeeper and his family are then similar to you and me. We live by our faith and are strengthened by the promises that Jesus made to us. We are confident that our Father God, who loves us unconditionally, is always protecting us. We can only hope to do the same thing should a similar occasion arise. Would we find room in our house for Jesus? Do we have Jesus in our house now? Is he welcome? Is it a place that He would want to come? The advent of a new year brings new opportunities. Like the magi, we can present Jesus with gifts as well. The gift of knowing Him more deeply, allowing Him to lead us, and presenting our heart and mind to Him replaces the gold, frankincense and myrrh. The epiphany calls for you to be a modern day magi and present yourself to Jesus in thanksgiving for His ultimate gift. Happy new year to you and yours!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Praying With The Five Wounds Of Jesus

I am just beginning to dive into the beautiful, ancient devotion to the Five Wounds of Jesus, and I wanted to share a bit of the journey with you. It can feel a little overwhelming at first to look at the Crucifix this closely, but I’ve found such a gentle guide in St. Bernard of Clairvaux . In his Jubilee Rhythm on the Passion, Bernard doesn't treat the wounds of Jesus as distant historical facts or sights to be avoided. Instead, he approaches them with the tenderness of a friend, speaking directly to the feet, hands, side, and face of our Lord. For someone like me who is just starting out, his rhythm teaches that prayer isn't just about reciting words; it’s a holy hide-and-seek. Bernard invites us to literally hide ourselves within these wounds, seeing them as clefts in the rock where we can find shelter when our own lives feel turbulent or heavy. As I start this process, I’ve been practicing what I call gazing and greeting. Following Bernard’s lead, I look at the Crucifix an...
Post a Comment
Read more

Woman, Behold Your Son

The spiritual climax of the Gospel of John, as Father John Waiss points out, occurs at the foot of the Cross, where Jesus utters his parting words: “Woman, behold, your son!” and “Behold your mother!” (John 19:26-27). While these words were addressed to the Apostle John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, the Church has long understood this moment as a universal adoption. To truly image Christ, we must share in His parentage; if we embrace God as our spiritual Father but reject Mary as our mother, we treat Christ as a half-brother rather than our "firstborn among many brethren" (Rom. 8:29). As Origen noted as early as the third century, the profound depths of the Gospel are only accessible to those who, like John, rest their heads on Jesus’ breast and receive Mary into their own homes. This maternal role is deeply rooted in biblical typology, positioning Mary as the fulfillment of the great mothers of the Old Covenant. She is the New Eve , the mother of all the living according ...
Post a Comment
Read more

From Fisherman to Foremen: Peter’s First Act as Shepherd

In the immediate aftermath of the Ascension, we see a profound transformation in Peter, moving from the impulsive fisherman who once fled in the garden to the courageous shepherd of the early Church. By standing up in the heart of Jerusalem to deliver his first great "sermon" at Pentecost, Peter is not merely offering an inspired speech; he is stepping into the primordial role of the Papacy. He was specifically commissioned by Christ on the shores of Galilee to "feed my sheep," and here we see that nourishment take the form of the Word. He takes control of a frightened and confused community, providing the definitive interpretation of the Resurrection and anchoring the fledgling Church in the truth of the Gospel. This moment in the Acts of the Apostles reminds us that the authority of Peter was never about personal power, but about the sacred duty of unity and guidance. By taking the lead in the upper room and before the crowds, Peter demonstrates that the "key...
Post a Comment
Read more