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Daily Scripture

+ 7th Week of Easter

We are to be consecrated in truth.

Readings: Acts 20:28-38 Psalm 88:29-30, 33-36 John 17:11b-19

Consecrate them in the truth. Your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world. And I consecrate myself for them, so that they may also be consecrated in truth. [John 17:18-19]

Read the Gospel very slowly and if possible, out loud and if necessary, three times! Although John’s literary style is quite complex, the farewell prayer of Jesus is as powerful as is Paul’s farewell message in Acts.

It is not likely that these passages are the actual words of Paul and Jesus. They are compositions that Luke and John or whoever wrote in their name and are based on the oral tradition of the sayings of Jesus and the preaching of Paul. They were written in the style of farewell addresses of prominent leaders of their times in order to win the attention of early believers to whom the message of truth was entrusted.

The ‘truth’ that is being proclaimed is not from a catechism nor is it a defined doctrine or dogma. It is the core truth about the God who spoke through the prophets and then through Jesus about the universality of God’s love.

During this time of immediate preparation for Pentecost, we are invited to think about our own responsibility to pass on the ‘truth’ of God’s goodness entrusted to us in Christ and how we are to live that truth in our daily lives, each in our own unique way. No one of us can do this alone and so we much join hands literally and figuratively within the community of believers everywhere.

To live the ‘truth’ is to live in the Spirit of Jesus Christ the fruits of which are charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, moderation, self-control, reverence, etc. I’m sure you memorized these ‘fruits of the Holy Spirit.’

These are the true ‘marks’ of our authenticity as believers.

Feast of the Epiphany

Saturday January 1, 2011

The Really Big Feast

Second only to the story of the birth of Jesus in the “stable” at Bethlehem, the narrative of the journey of the magi has captured the imagination of believers down through the ages to this very day. Displayed in our creche this weekend are the three figures depicting the ‘three’ kings, magi, wise men, or astrologers, depending on which translation of the Gospel account you read. The commonly assumed number ‘three’ is based on the three gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh mentioned in the gospel.

At least some of us remember when this feast was referred to as “Little Christmas.” It was a feast on a fixed date and occurred each year on January 6th. Only with the liturgical reforms was the feast moved to the Sunday closest to the 6th so that the feast might be celebrated liturgically by the entire assembly.

The feast of Epiphany has had an interesting history . Prior to the split between Eastern and Western Christendom, it was a feast of light in which the magi played a central role in the pursuit of an unusual stellar phenomenon—a unique star that caught their attention. In biblical times, the appearance of a star was often associated with the birth of a significant personage. Legend has it that Abraham’s birth was accompanied by a star. The Oracle of Balaam recorded in Chapter 24 of the Book of Numbers also mentions a star that accompanied the Israelites as they journeyed from captivity in Egypt toward Moab and the promised land. “A star shall advance from Jacob and a staff shall rise from Israel that shall smite the brows of Moab… Israel shall do valiantly and Jacob shall overcome his foes.”

Matthew was a Jew writing for Jews to connect the ancient prophecies to the birth of Jesus as the anointed of God, Emmanuel, Messiah. Surely he must have been influenced by the legends and traditions about stars as well as stories of astrologers and wise men coming to Israel.

Western Christendom continues to focus on the journey of the Magi guided by the star. Eastern Christendom combines this feast with the Baptism of Jesus and the initiation of his public ministry. Our liturgical calendar will catch up to these events over the next few weeks.

In fact Epiphany is “a really big feast.” However, we are celebrating not so much an historical event — although, to be sure, Matthew is indeed reacting to very significant events that occurred around the time of Jesus’ birth. I suppose it is sufficient to suggest that he is reacting creatively to the extraordinary birth of Christ, utilizing all the current popular signs, symbols and stories to demonstrate how extraordinary this event was and its lasting impact on world history.

Biblical literalism or fundamentalism, as it is more commonly called, continues to plague bible study groups and some commentaries even to this day. When you stop and think about it, such literalism detracts from the authenticity of the full biblical revelation in the same way as if we were to read the great poetry of Gerard Manley Hopkins and others of his stature as a newspaper account instead of a reflection on the deepest mysteries of the soul.

This feast of Epiphany is not so much about three kings as it is about the search of all people of every age and rank for an experience of a God with skin; a God whom we can touch; a humble God who speaks our language; a God of our heart and soul. The story of the Magi in pursuit of the star is not to be explained away by the new cosmology but to be enhanced with a new cosmology of the heart that enjoins us to find God incarnate once again in every man and every woman. Indeed this will require the wisdom of the magi and the humility of the three kings.

The Gospel writer had it mind to contrast the cruel reign of the earthly and cunning king Herod with the impending reign of the heavenly shepherd king, Jesus, the man of God, the Son of God who would break down the barriers that had been established by the “religionists” and self-righteous legalists of that age and of every age. The reference to Jesus by the Magi as the “King of the Jews” was deliberate and should be connected with the reference by the pagan soldier at the foot of the cross on Calvary, “Truly this was the King of the Jews.” It was Matthew’s way of suggesting that those who should have recognized him didn’t and those who would not be expected to recognize him, did.

Epiphany is a feast of radical inclusion not of exclusion; no exceptions! It is the manifestation of a God who is indiscriminate in his love. It’s about a God who will not rest until all hearts rest in God.

Matthew’s Gospel is a celebration of the enfleshment of God in Christ in whom there is no difference between Jew or Greek; male or female; black or white; Arab or African; Japanese or Guatemalan. There are no strangers in God’s dominion. All are one and when we finally come to the realization that our global village is precisely that, then perhaps we will come to terms of peace without weapons of war and open up our storehouse of food, sit down at table and break the bread and share the wisdom that enables us to see one another as brothers and sisters invested in the good of all humanity.

The ‘star’ is there but it is not in the heavens. It is in the concrete words of the believer. Each of us may come to the light by different routes and perhaps even by different stars. For some of us, our parents were or are the stars. For others, it may be a teacher or a spouse; an aunt or uncle; a friend or mentor. Even a child can be the star that leads us to Christ.

The gifts we offer are not gold, frankincense and myrrh but our works of justice and charity.

When we have taken this feast to heart as individuals and as a Church, “wise men and women” will continue to come from afar in pursuit of the star and we will indeed be recognized as God with us, Emmanuel.