Reflections
for Sunday, January 6, 2008
It's Epiphany, the day when the Magi arrived at the manger and went back to their homes again to reveal what they had seen. We can imagine what might have motivated these important persons to leave the comforts of their homes and countries to follow the star. How grateful We should be that they did just that!
In today's Gospel we see that Herod has an entirely different motivation. He is greatly troubled by news of the child and feels his position may be in danger. Rather than wanting to reveal the Lord's presence he would like to get rid of it. He pretended to the magi that he also wanted to pay homage. Fortunately the magi heard the message of
danger and returned to their country by another route.
As God's people, we are called to make known what we find in the manger. Our second reading this weekend makes that a little difficult. The good Jews heard the news that the Gentiles, the ones they disliked and
mistrusted, were to become coheirs and members of the same body. Already people were understanding that God wanted them to love God, but also to love one another.
Our house is to be God's house. When we leave Church on Sundays we are called to go home and "make known" what we have heard, seen and received. We are to reveal the very presence of God to our family members. When we leave our houses, we are to take the presence of the Lord with us and be reflections of God to our co-workers,
friends at school and all we meet through the week.
The traditional names of the Magi or Kings were Balthasar, Melchior and Caspar. We too are called to reveal the Lords presence as the Magi did two thousand years ago. We can ask God in our own words to bless us
and our families, to remind us that our house is also God's house, and that when we leave we take God's presence with us. We strive to make known the presence of the Lord by the way we live our lives.
Readings of the day:
First Reading:
Second Reading:
Gospel:
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Reflections are available for the following Sundays:
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