Homily Christmas (ABC) Epiphany - Follow the Star

Epiphany – Follow the Star

Core Message:

FOR THE MIND: What do I want them to KNOW?

· Insert what you want them to KNOW here.

FOR THE HEART: What do I want them to FEEL?

· Insert what you want them to FEEL here.

Homily

Salvation history is my story. Epiphany is my story.

We 3 kings of Orient are bearing gifts.

We are a people of kings, following a star!

Speaking of starry nights, remember the day Abraham was told…

Look to the stars! Count them if you can. So shall your descendants be!

1) I’ll make your name great.

2) I’ll give you a land.

3) Through you, all the nations will be blessed.

God’s promises to Abraham clearly correspond to the chaos introduced in Eden.

When Adam and Eve disobeyed God, what were the consequences?

1) Shame – they hid from God and from each other. Where are you? Alienated from God, and from themselves. They were interiorly divided, not home even in their own skin. Stripped of their dignity, they tried to compensate by covering themselves with fig leaves. Sin raised up barriers between them. They closed in on themselves and fled from relation. We might say that they made their names small.

2) Exile - They weren’t at home in the garden either. God banished them from the land, east of Eden. Vagabonds, they wander in the wilderness.

3) Disintegration of the family - Not only did they lose their dignity and their land; they also lost communion with each other. The first family became dysfunctional. Instead of serving and protecting each other, they turned on each other, pointed fingers at each other. Perhaps Adam and Eve wandered the wilderness side by side, but they no longer moved as one body and soul.

Who would heal this broken family? How would bring them back home? Who would restore the peace of paradise?

The Jews in Jesus day didn’t know how God would achieve his plan of salvation, but they were sure that he would.

And in their liturgy, they celebrated God’s covenant faithfulness down through the centuries.

We might say that the People of Israel attempted to regain paradise liturgically.

The liturgical procession into the Temple was a Westward movement, toward the Mercy Seat.

We were banished East of Eden,

But we still hoped for communion with God, each other, and ourselves.

And so we marched west from the Dead Sea up to Jerusalem, up the Temple Mount

The priests walked west, past the outer curtain and into the Holy.

The high priest passed the inner curtain and into the Holy of Holies

The westward movement was fitting

When God called Abraham, he walked west from southern Mesopotamia to the Land of Canaan

After the Exodus, Joshua led the people west across the Jordan into the promised land

After the Exile, Israel walked west (like Abraham) from Bablyon back to Jerusalem

At the fullness of time, it couldn’t be any different.

When Jesus came to fulfill the promises made to Abraham, we find another epic journey.

A journey only wise men could endure.

The endured it because they believed that at the end of it was an epiphany.

Imagine setting out from Persia in search of a newborn king, whose star appeared in the sky.

Imagine the resolve, perseverance, and heroism of these men.

We knew only the essential of their journey

They lost sight of the star. They have to ask Herod.

Imagine what that question implies. 1000 km from home.

Was this all for nothing?

After lugging treasures over field, fountain, moor and mountain, would they have to return failures.

What do we do in spiritual desolation?

Are we aware that we are reliving salvation history … that their story is my story?

Are we prepared for the epic journey we are already on?

Of course, consolations we love!

Imagine their euphoria when these astrologers discovered the star.

Perhaps a planetary conjunction or an angel … we don’t know what God’s sign looked like.

The point is, even though the Jews missed it, the magi didn’t.

They were aware, and they knew what it meant … so they banded together and took action.

As they set off, they looked up and the sight of the star filled their hearts with hope.

They were ready for an epic journey.

Oh, but it’s desolation where we get derailed, isn’t it?

We travel for a time, and all is wonderful

Remember back ten years, if you can.

The Legion of Christ is in the news, and the news is not so good.

Some are even calling for the suppression of the Congregation. Dissolve RC.

Meanwhile, some of us were thinking,

“Holy Father, just tell us which words of the Constitutions we need to delete, change, or add, and we’ll say Amen. Problem solved.”

Little did we know, God had an epic journey in store for us.

It’s been a long road, following that star, yonder star.

Nearly ten years later, not long ago, we celebrated the birth of a Federation.

To use Fr Eduardo’s analogy, a baby was born.

And we fall to our knees and gives thanks and adoration to the God who brought us to this day.

He surely lives! This is Epiphany!

But what do we do now?

That’s what I want to ask the wise men on the day after

It must have dawned on them to say …

If God could lead us halfway across the world to find a newborn king,

can he not also lead me each day of my life through desert to Epiphany?

The graces of Epiphany didn’t dry up once they saw Christ.

They had learned a way of walking.

Even before St. Ignatius could formulate his rules of discernment, the magi understood

In consolation, follow the star. In desolation, persevere!

Believe that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion.

They were more heroic than Rambo or Wonder Woman

More ambitious than Apollo astronauts.

They mounted their camels and said to themselves: to the newborn King or bust.

And when the going got tough, they didn’t quit. They gave more.

Not more muscle, but more faith, more hope, more love.

And eventually, God dispelled the dark clouds of desolation.

And we come to the most emphatic expression of joy in the whole NT.

Behold! They saw the star and they greatly rejoiced a great joy!

ἐχάρησαν χαρὰν μεγάλην σφόδρα

Despite the lies of the Enemy, desolation never lasts forever.

At the end of this particular rainbow, they saw the greatest sight human eyes could hope to see.

A treasure far surpassing their own gifts of gold, frankincense and myhrr.

They saw the face of God!

Today (and every day) this is the epic journey we face

As we journey down this aisle toward our Eucharistic king, we anticipate the face-to-face encounter that theologians call beatific vision.

May this epic liturgical journey teach us to walk through life,

Over field fountain moor and mountain, through the shadows to the light

No pain, no gain. No cross, no crown. No desert journey, no glorious epiphany.

Lord Jesus, we bow before you. You know how far we’ve journeyed, for you summoned us with your star. You know how spent we are, but seeing you makes it all worth it. Receive the treasure we offer in our hearts. And grant us the strength to follow your light … every day … everywhere.

Readings

Sunday, January 6, 2019 | Christmas

Epiphany

Years ABC | Roman Missal | Lectionary

First Reading Isaiah 60:1–6

Response Psalm 72:11

Psalm Psalm 72:1–2, 7–8, 10–11, 12–13

Second Reading Ephesians 3:2–3a, 5–6

Gospel Acclamation Matthew 2:2

Gospel Matthew 2:1–12

Index of Readings

First Reading

Isaiah 60:1–6

1 Arise! Shine, for your light has come,

the glory of the Lord has dawned upon you.

2 Though darkness covers the earth,

and thick clouds, the peoples,

Upon you the Lord will dawn,

and over you his glory will be seen.

3 Nations shall walk by your light,

kings by the radiance of your dawning.

4 Raise your eyes and look about;

they all gather and come to you—

Your sons from afar,

your daughters in the arms of their nurses.

5 Then you shall see and be radiant,

your heart shall throb and overflow.

For the riches of the sea shall be poured out before you,

the wealth of nations shall come to you.

6 Caravans of camels shall cover you,

dromedaries of Midian and Ephah;

All from Sheba shall come

bearing gold and frankincense,

and heralding the praises of the Lord.

Response

Psalm 72:11

11 May all kings bow before him,

all nations serve him.

Psalm

Psalm 72:1–2, 7–8, 10–11, 12–13

1 Of Solomon.

2 O God, give your judgment to the king;

your justice to the king’s son;

That he may govern your people with justice,

your oppressed with right judgment,

7 That abundance may flourish in his days,

great bounty, till the moon be no more.

8 May he rule from sea to sea,

from the river to the ends of the earth.

10 May the kings of Tarshish and the islands bring tribute,

the kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts.

11 May all kings bow before him,

all nations serve him.

12 For he rescues the poor when they cry out,

the oppressed who have no one to help.

13 He shows pity to the needy and the poor

and saves the lives of the poor.

Second Reading

Ephesians 3:2–3a, 5–6

2 if, as I suppose, you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for your benefit, 3 [namely, that] the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly earlier.

5 which was not made known to human beings in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit, 6 that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

Gospel Acclamation

Matthew 2:2

2 saying, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.”

Gos pel

Matthew 2:1–12

1 When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.” 3 When King Herod heard this, he was greatly troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it has been written through the prophet:

6 ‘And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah,

are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;

since from you shall come a ruler,

who is to shepherd my people Israel.’ ”

7 Then Herod called the magi secretly and ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearance. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search diligently for the child. When you have found him, bring me word, that I too may go and do him homage.” 9 After their audience with the king they set out. And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. 10 They were overjoyed at seeing the star, 11 and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way.

Roman Missal

Vigil Mass

Sunday between January 2 and January 8

THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD

Solemnity

p 187 At the Vigil Mass

This Mass is used on the evening of the day before the Solemnity, either before or after First Vespers (Evening Prayer I) of the Epiphany.

Entrance Antiphon [Cf. Bar 5:5]

Arise, Jerusalem, and look to the East

and see your children gathered from the rising to the setting of the sun.

The Gloria in excelsis (Glory to God in the highest) is said.

Collect

May the splendor of your majesty, O Lord, we pray,

shed its light upon our hearts,

that we may pass through the shadows of this world

and reach the brightness of our eternal home.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever.

The Creed is said.

Prayer over the Offerings

Accept we pray, O Lord, our offerings,

in honor of the appearing of your Only Begotten Son

and the first fruits of the nations,

that to you praise may be rendered

and eternal salvation be ours.

Through Christ our Lord.

It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation,

always and everywhere to give you thanks,

Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God.

For today you have revealed the mystery

of our salvation in Christ

as a light for the nations,

and, when he appeared in our mortal nature,

you made us new by the glory of his immortal nature.

And so, with Angels and Archangels,

with Thrones and Dominions,

and with all the hosts and Powers of heaven,

we sing the hymn of your glory,

as without end we acclaim:

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts …

Communion Antiphon [Cf. Rev 21:23]

The brightness of God illumined the holy city Jerusalem,

and the nations will walk by its light.

Prayer after Communion

Renewed by sacred nourishment,

we implore your mercy, O Lord,

that the star of your justice

may shine always bright in our minds

and that our true treasure may ever consist in our confession of you.

Through Christ our Lord.

A formula of Solemn Blessing, p. 676, may be used.

At the Mass during the Day

Entrance Antiphon [Cf. Mal 3:1; 1 Chr 29:12]

Behold, the Lord, the Mighty One, has come;

and kingship is in his grasp, and power and dominion.

The Gloria in excelsis (Glory to God in the highest) is said.

Collect

O God, who on this day

revealed your Only Begotten Son to the nations

by the guidance of a star,

grant in your mercy

that we, who know you already by faith,

may be brought to behold the beauty of your sublime glory.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever.

Where it is the practice, if appropriate, the moveable Feasts of the current year may be proclaimed after the Gospel, according to the formula given below, pp. 1448–1449.

The Creed is said.

p 189 Prayer over the Offerings

Look with favor, Lord, we pray,

on these gifts of your Church,

in which are offered now not gold or frankincense or myrrh,

but he who by them is proclaimed,

sacrificed and received, Jesus Christ.

Who lives and reigns for ever and ever.

Preface of the Epiphany of the Lord, pp. 544–545.

When the Roman Canon is used, the proper form of the Communicantes (In communion with those) is said.

Communion Antiphon [Cf. Mt 2:2]

We have seen his star in the East,

and have come with gifts to adore the Lord.

Prayer after Communion

Go before us with heavenly light, O Lord,

always and everywhere,

that we may perceive with clear sight

and revere with true affection

the mystery in which you have willed us to participate.

Through Christ our Lord.

A formula of Solemn Blessing, p. 676, may be used.

CCC

Solemnity of the Epiphany

CCC 528, 724: the Epiphany CCC 280, 529, 748, 1165, 2466, 2715: Christ the light of the nations CCC 60, 442, 674, 755, 767, 774-776, 781, 831: the Church, sacrament of human unity

528 The Epiphany is the manifestation of Jesus as Messiah of Israel, Son of God and Savior of the world. The great feast of Epiphany celebrates the adoration of Jesus by the wise men (magi) from the East, together with his baptism in the Jordan and the wedding feast at Cana in Galilee. In the magi, representatives of the neighboring pagan religions, the Gospel sees the first-fruits of the nations, who welcome the good news of salvation through the Incarnation. The magi’s coming to Jerusalem in order to pay homage to the king of the Jews shows that they seek in Israel, in the messianic light of the star of David, the one who will be king of the nations (Cf. Mt 2:2; Num 24:17–19; Rev 22:16.) Their coming means that pagans can discover Jesus and worship him as Son of God and Savior of the world only by turning toward the Jews and receiving from them the messianic promise as contained in the Old Testament. The Epiphany shows that “the full number of the nations” now takes its “place in the family p 134 of the patriarchs,” and acquires Israelitica dignitas (are made “worthy of the heritage of Israel”).

Rev 22:16 “I, Jesus, sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”

280 Creation is the foundation of “all God’s saving plans,” the “beginning of the history of salvation” that culminates in Christ. Conversely, the mystery of Christ casts conclusive light on the mystery of creation and reveals the end for which “in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth”: from the beginning, God envisaged the glory of the new creation in Christ.

Notes

Hahn

An “epiphany” is an appearance. In today’s readings, with their rising stars, splendorous lights, and mysteries revealed, the face of the child born on Christmas day appears.

Herod, in today’s Gospel, asks the chief priests and scribes where the Messiah is to be born. The answer Matthew puts on their lips says much more, combining two strands of Old Testament promise—one revealing the Messiah to be from the line of David (see 2 Samuel 2:5), the other predicting “a ruler of Israel” who will “shepherd his flock” and whose “greatness shall reach to the ends of the earth” (see Micah 5:1–3).

Those promises of Israel’s king ruling the nations resound also in today’s Psalm. The psalm celebrates David’s son, Solomon. His kingdom, we sing, will stretch “to the ends of the earth,” and the world’s kings will pay Him homage. That’s the scene too in today’s First Reading, as nations stream from the East, bearing “gold and frankincense” for Israel’s king.

The Magi’s pilgrimage in today’s Gospel marks the fulfillment of God’s promises. The Magi, probably Persian astrologers, are following the star that Balaam predicted would rise along with the ruler’s staff over the house of Jacob (see Numbers 24:17).

Laden with gold and spices, their journey evokes those made to Solomon by the Queen of Sheba and the “kings of the earth” (see 1 Kings 10:2, 25; 2 Chronicles 9:24). Interestingly, the only other places where frankincense and myrrh are mentioned together are in songs about Solomon (see Song of Songs 3:6; 4:6, 14).

One greater than Solomon is here (see Luke 11:31). He has come to reveal that all peoples are “co-heirs” of the royal family of Israel, as today’s Epistle teaches.

His manifestation forces us to choose: will we follow the signs that lead to Him as the wise Magi did? Or will we be like those priests and scribes who let God’s words of promise become dead letters on an ancient page?