Friday, January 3, 2020

Thoughts on the Epiphany

There was a time in my life when growing up in my faith understanding I wondered why the Church made such a big deal out of the visit of the three Kings to the newborn Jesus. I was also surprised to learn that in many other Catholic rites that the feast of the Epiphany was celebrated as an even more important feast than of Christmas.
 
St. Paul provides a good part of the answer in Sunday's second reading in his letter to the Ephesians. He tells us that it has "been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: that the Gentiles are co-heirs, members of the same body, and co-partners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel." Paul is telling his readers, that Jesus is God's gift to everyone, not only Jewish converts but all other converts, in Paul's words, the Gentiles.
 
This revelation was not at first easily accepted by many of the early Christians. Moreover in the gospel accounts Jesus himself he seems challenged or surprised to find non-Jews believing in him, seeking his mercy and doing this with great faith. We have the examples of Jesus dealing with the Roman centurion pleading for the healing of his servant, and with the Syrophoenician mother similarly pleading for the health and life of her daughter.
 
It seems that Jesus in growing in grace, wisdom, and knowledge came to the realization that he was called to bring God's mercy and grace to everyone, both Jew and Gentile.
 
So what does this say to you and me. Again in the letter to the Ephesians St. Paul succinctly provides the answer. All Christians, whether of Jewish our Gentile origin, "are coheirs, members of the same body, and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel." In Christ's body there is no one who is not our sister or brother.
  
Jim Blumeyer, S.J.

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