“…behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.” (Matthew 2:1-2).  

The major theme for this feast of the Epiphany of the Lord focuses on the Heavenly Father giving the best gift of God, His only begotten Son Jesus Christ, to the sinful world, for our salvation. By this gift, God has revealed (Epiphany) and demonstrated concretely His mercy and compassion to all humanity and His creation that He intends to rescue us from sin and death, to restore all back to the original beauty, goodness and peace.

The Epiphany of the Lord is an ancient feast emerged in the 2^nd century in the East. The word “Epiphany” comes from Greek, which means “appearance” or “manifestation” of the Lord. In the Western Church (Roman Catholics) people celebrate the first appearance of Jesus to the Gentiles represented by the Magi. In the Eastern Church (Orthodox) people commemorate the Baptism of the Lord, at which the Father and the Holy Spirit testify, identify, and reveal Jesus’ true identity as the only begotten Son of God.

Although both sides celebrate differently this feast, they all recognize the importance, the significance of this feast as God’s constant care toward His people. Indeed, through many ways God continues to “reveal,” “manifest,” “appear,” “show,” and “demonstrate” His divine love, mercy, compassion and presence among us in the Bible and in our lives. For example: in the Bible, angels reveal Jesus to the shepherds; St. John the Baptist reveals Jesus at his baptism; the Virgin Mary reveals Jesus in the wedding at Cana… etc.

God in our lives reveals Jesus in the proclamation of His Word, in the sacrifice of the Holy Mass, in the praying community of faith gathered in the name of Jesus Christ, in the person of the minister, in all the sacraments of the Church, in the poor, the sick and the imprisoned, but most especially in the consecrated Eucharist Species (CCC #1373).   

God does not want us holding a relationship of Transaction but Transformation. Therefore, Dynamic Christian disciples are those who (1) BELIEVE, (2) GROW, (3) SERVE, (4) LOVE and (5) LEAD others to Jesus. Today’s topics invite us to appreciate God’s best gift, His only begotten Son, to the world and to reveal Christ Jesus to all.

How can we appreciate God’s best gift and reveal Christ to all?   

Wishing everyone a blessed week in the Lord.