The Catholic Calendar for Sunday, January 8, 2006
The Epiphany of the Lord

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Isaiah 60:1-6
Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13
Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6
Matthew 2:1-12

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Today, the prophecy of Isaiah (first reading) is fulfilled: "Nations shall walk by your light, and kings by your shining radiance ...all from Sheba shall come bearing gold and frankincense." And that rough barn floor, so trampled by excited shepherds and awestruck artisans and laborers, is now further crushed by camels' hooves. And dignified strangers from the East proffer the very gifts prophesied so long ago! In their innocence, they have alerted the wily Herod; in their wisdom, they have kept the exact location of the Infant safe. And so they pay their respects, leave their gifts, and modestly depart for their homeland, sorrowfully aware of the terrible price justice must pay for Peace.

Their role in history has been accomplished — to teach us all to follow the guidance of the Almighty, to accept our own role as Bearers of the Light, and to follow this Christ into His Mission, to partake of His Passion, and to join the millions through the ages who will preach His Gospel of universal salvation.

The Son of God is the one Judge and Arbiter of Truth and the one Source of Light, but we are all called to be “epiphanies”, providing glimpses of that Truth, showing the way in our own small spots of time and circumstance to a larger plan and destiny.

Princely Child, make of us all wise men, courageous women, obedient children who will follow wherever you lead us until we reign with you in the only heaven where love is fulfilled in joy, and all darkness lost in a Light that never ends.

- Msgr. Paul Whitmore
(smartins at frontiernet dot net)

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