From the Pastor's Desk for Jan. 5, 2025

The Lord be with you!

This weekend we celebrate another great solemnity: the Epiphany of the Lord. As most of our Nativity scenes remind us, today the Magi visit our Lord in Bethlehem. Bearing the gifts of gold, frankincense, and myth, these wisemen bore witness that Jesus Christ was the King of the Jews and the King of all nations.

Although we often use the word to mean a sudden and personal insight, a true epiphany is a revelation to everyone. The English word Epiphany comes from the Greek word, "epiphineia," which means “manifestation.” The wisemen’s visit to the Child Jesus was not a private affair but a public event - a liturgy of their people - to give homage to the true and eternal King. Representing all the Gentiles symbolically, the Magi reveal that Christ has come to save the entire world. The Magi’s journey also points to a cosmic manifestation of Christ’s birth: the Star of Bethlehem. As the Gospels testify the wisemen followed a star to Israel in order to find the newborn king of the Jews. How did the Magi know that the Star of Bethlehem was special? And how did they know that it would lead them to a king?

Ancient astronomers, like the Magi, assigned symbolic meanings to all the objects in the night sky. Around the time of Jesus’s birth, two symbols of kings met: the star Regulus and the planet Jupiter. Without going into too much astronomy, the Magi would have seen something unique with these two bodies meeting in the night sky three times in a period of a few weeks. With this meeting happening at the time of the Jewish New Year, the Magi could have reasoned that a new king had come to Israel. Whether we believe this theory about the star or not, Matthew’s Gospel wants us to see both a human and cosmic manifestation of Christ’s birth. All the human world and all of creation celebrate Christ’s appearance.

How can we celebrate this august feast in our own lives? Traditionally, Epiphany marked a time when Catholics would either have their homes blessed or remember this blessing. If you have never had your home blessed by a priest or deacon, now would be a wonderful time to do so. Just don’t all call at once! If your home has been blessed, the head of your family can use blessed chalk to write 20+C+M+B+25 on the main entrance to your home.

As we start this new year, let us begin with Christ in the center of our homes and hearts. Epiphany reminds us that the pronouncement of the Gospel began even before Christ could speak. May we always remember and share the great mysteries that we are blessed to partake in.

In His Sacred Heart,
Fr. John