Epiphany of our Lord
Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Epiphany of our Lord Jesus Christ. Epiphany means showing or manifesting, hence, today our Lord Jesus Christ is shown and manifested to the world. So we celebrate Jesus being made known to the whole world and these three kings or magi who visited Jesus and the holy family - Caspar, Balthazar and Melchior represent all peoples of every language and nation called by God to adore Jesus. So how does the Epiphany of Jesus affect us today? How do we manifest and show Jesus in our world today?
Firstly, since the Epiphany of Jesus is His manifestation to the world, it leads us to a re-discovery of Christ in our lives as He shows Himself to us today. Who is Christ to you today on a personal level? How is He evident, alive and active in your life today? How have you shown or manifested Him to people around you and people you encounter daily in your life?
Secondly, the manifestation of Jesus leads us to offer gifts to God from the many gifts He has given us, that is, His blessings, graces and mercies upon us. What gift have you given to Christ this Christmas season and New Year? The three magi/kings offered Jesus gifts of Gold - a symbol of royalty or kingship. Is Christ the King in your life today? Are you really trying to establish His kingdom in our world today as His disciple? Frankincense - a symbol of divinity and hope showing He is God. Do you pay attention to the importance and significance of God in your life? Is God the center of your life or is there something else or someone else more important than Him in your life? Do you hope in Him or doubt Him who is your Redeemer and Savior? Myrrh - a symbol of sacrifice pointing to Jesus’s redemptive suffering and death. What have you sacrificed for God in your life today to grow in your love for Him and to deepen your relationship with Him?
Lastly, the Epiphany of Jesus is a manifestation of our call to obedience in our apostolate of establishing His kingdom here on earth and living out the gospel of Christ. So how obedient are you to God’s word as His disciple? How obedient are you in following His teachings as taught by the Catholic Church? How obedient are you in proclaiming and living out the gospel of Christ as His disciple?
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, as our Lord is shown and manifested to us today in Solemnity of the Epiphany, let us manifest our love, faith, hope and trust in Him by re-discovering Christ in our lives, by offering ourselves and gifts to Him in proclaiming God’s kingdom on earth and by being obedient to God in our apostolate of establishing His kingdom here and living out the gospel of Christ. Amen!
