sábado, 5 de enero de 2013

Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord (2013)



As you notice, a word that has been fairly recently added to our common usage is the word "globalization." The reality of today is that what happens in one part of the world may have effects in other parts of the world, and indeed throughout the whole world. There are the effects of globalization in economics, in political influences, in technological advancement, and so on. What happens in the economic life of Europe has its effect in countries all over the world. Hunger and starvation in Africa is of concern to nations and people far beyond the borders of any single African nation.

Well, we celebrate today the manifestation of Jesus to the whole world (actually the word "epiphany" means "manifestation") so this is in a certain sense, a celebration of a divine globalization. When Moses had the experience of meeting God who spoke to him through the burning bush, God gave Moses the mission of leading the Israelites out of their slavery in Egypt. The understanding then was that God's chosen people were the sons and daughters of Abraham. "My people"- God called them. But as the centuries of human history unfolded, the moment eventually came when the time was ripe for God to show that "His people" were not just men and women who belonged to one race or nation. That moment came with the sending of God's Son into our world to be one with us.

A week ago the world celebrated that moment, the moment of Christmas. What the Feast of the Epiphany celebrates today is the bright revelation that the Child born on Christmas is the king of all nations and all peoples. The wise men who come to worship Jesus are representatives of men and women of all nations.

 The realization that Jesus is the king of all nations will take many years to develop, but as the wise men "from afar" kneel before the Child, the process of divine globalization begins.

During today's celebration, let us ask Mary, our beautiful blessed mother to present our offerings to the Lord! Let us ask her, above all, to give us Jesus, in order that the Lord of Lords and the King of Kings might be the one and only Light that shines in our heart, for the Glory of God the Father, in the Holy Spirit!

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