Dear friend,
All of us like to seek and find things that we have lost or things that excite us or attract us. Some are perpetual treasure hunters hoping to find a treasure beyond their expectations. How or what is it that beckons us in our search? Treasure hunters study and read the clues well and find the prize. Have we discovered God, the greatest treasure of our life? What are our clues to finding him? Who or what is guiding us? Wishing you an exciting New Year full of the joy of finding God in all things!! Fr. Jude
Sunday Reflections: Feast of the Epiphany "Lift up your eyes and see the radiance of the Lord! Let it shine!" 5-Jan-2014
The opening verses in the first reading sound the key note of consolation and joy as the prophet cheers the exiles who returned from Babylon with a vision of a restored city. With the recurring reference to people and nations, Jerusalem restored will be the centre of a new and greater Israel -the Church. The vocabulary is full of words like 'light' 'radiance', 'glory' which suggests a new revelation which God will make to his people, and whose climax will be the incarnation. In the Incarnation a new light will dawn on Israel and all the nations will benefit from it. The exiles are pictured as gathering from all the nations, bringing with them the wealth of the nations. Though addressed to Jerusalem or Israel, the prophecy will be fulfilled in Christ. Israel's blessings are blessings for all the nations.
The Star of Bethlehem
Gordon Wilson's daughter was killed by a bomb in Enniskillen on Remembrance Day 1987. Instead of calling for revenge, he forgave her killers and began a campaign for peace and reconciliation. He said: "I am a very ordinary sort of man. I have few personal ambitions and no political aspirations. I just want to live and let live. Life has been kind to me in the main, and I have tried to live by the Good Book. I do not profess to be a good man, but I aim to be. I would like to leave the world a better place than I found it, but I have no exaggerated ideas of my ability to do so. I have hitched my wagon to a star, a star of hope, the star of Bethlehem.
Flor McCarthy in 'New Sunday and Holy Day Liturgies'
In today's Gospel the revelation the Epiphany of Jesus begins with the Magi, or astrologers as they were sometimes called because they were star-watchers. They represent all people to whom God showed himself through Jesus. Perhaps the story or legend of the Magi is a mystical meditation on the mystery in the light of the scriptures. Matthew is also highlighting the fact that while the Magi travelled hundreds of miles to honour the Messiah, those nearby cared nothing for him. These stargazers follow a star and find a baby through whom God will light up the world. Epiphany therefore is a festival of light, a celebration of the light of Jesus in the darkness of this world. Just as light cannot be self-contained pouring through every crack, God's light and love is poured out on all mankind. The Magi's journey is full of symbolism, and is also symbolic of the journey of each one of us. It was full of difficulties and their trip was long and hard. Our journey to God today is also full of struggle and hardship as we try to draw near to God. The Magi wondered about which path to take and whom to follow. The Magi recognized Jesus in the rising of a star; we recognize him in the breaking of the bread. The magi returned home by a different road, filled with delight at having seen Jesus, shared their gifts and adored him. We too return home filled with awe and joy of having encountered the risen lord. Our lives too cannot be the same; we have to return by a different road. The Magi had a vision they followed. People without a vision are doomed to die. We need to follow our vision with faith and daring and we will find Him.
Searching for the King!
There is a legend that says there were not three but four Magi, the name of the fourth was Artaban, He too saw a star and decided to follow it, taking with him a sapphire, a ruby and a pearl, as gifts for the new king. His friends the other kings were waiting for him at the agreed spot, However, on the way he came upon a wounded man lying on the wayside. He picked him up and took him to an inn to be taken care of. He hurried to the meeting place but found his friends had gone ahead. Needing a camel and supplies he sold his sapphire to buy them. When he reached Bethlehem, he found he was too late. Mary and Joseph had taken the child to Egypt to escape Herod's killers. In the house where he was staying Artaban found a year-old baby boy. The mother feared for his life. One evening soldiers came to the door to kill the child, Artaban went to the door and with the ruby managed to bribe the soldiers not to enter the home and so saved the baby. The mother was delighted but Artaban was sad because he now had only a pearl left as a gift for the king. During the years that followed he searched everywhere for the child but he was always late. Thirty years later he came to Jerusalem, old, dispirited and disappointed. A number of crucifixions were taken place and to his horror he heard that Jesus was among those being executed. He hurried to the hill of the execution. Perhaps the pearl could save his life. However on the way to Calvary he met a girl who was fleeing from a band of soldiers. The girl's father had incurred large debts and she was being sold into slavery. Artaban took out the pearl and gave it to the soldiers, and the girl was allowed to go. But now he had to face the king empty-handed. Just then the sky began to darken, an earthquake shook the ground, houses began to rock roof tiles began to fly and Artaban was hit by one and was mortally wounded. He died as he struggled on execution hill, never quite catching up with his king. Yet Artaban always had his king. Artaban had found his God because the person who is genuinely searching for God has already found him.
Flor McCarthy in 'New Sunday and Holy Day Liturgies'
The gift of the Magi, and our gift to Him
Once, the people of a very poor parish set their hearts on acquiring an expensive set of figures for their Christmas crib. They worked hard and managed to get a set of rare porcelain for their crib. The Church was left open on Christmas day so that the people could visit the crib. In the evening when the parish priest went to lock up, to his consternation he found the baby Jesus was missing. As he stood there he spotted a little girl with a pram entering the church. She made straight for the crib, took the baby Jesus out of the pram and put him lovingly in the crib. As she was on her way out the priest stopped her and asked her what she was doing with the baby Jesus. She told him that before Christmas she had prayed to baby Jesus for a pram. She had promised him that if she got the prom, he would have the first ride in it. She had got her pram so she was keeping her side of the bargain. -Christmas evokes generosity in all people, especially in children. It was the poverty of the infant Jesus that caused the Magi to open their treasures of gold, frankincense and myrrh, and lay them before him. What is our gift to him?
Flor McCarthy in 'New Sunday and Holy Day Liturgies'
Why the Star?
While talking about the story of the three wise men, a woman asked her parish priest this question, "Do you know why God gave the star to the wise men?" When he professed his ignorance, she told him: "God knows men are too proud to ask directions. If there had been three wise women instead of three wise men, they would have asked for directions, arrived on time, helped deliver the baby, cleaned the stable, made a casserole, and given some practical gifts! -We don't know many things about these wise men. But one thing we do know now, "They came to worship. They gave of their time, talent and treasure." That's the main point of this particular story. And the challenge for us today is to be wise men and women. I believe that wise men and women still seek him. Wise men and women still find him and worship him. My prayer for us is that we will be a church of wise men and women seeking Jesus, and worshiping him as he leads us everyday.
John Pichappilly in 'The Table of the Word'
May we be guided by his light to discover Jesus on our journey in life!!
Fr. Jude Botelho
PS. The stories, incidents and anecdotes used in the reflections have been collected over the years from books as well as from sources over the net and from e-mails received. Every effort is made to acknowledge authors whenever possible. If you send in stories or illustrations I would be grateful if you could quote the source as well so that they can be acknowledged if used in these reflections.
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