Wise Guys

​#12thandMass
Wise Guys
December 28, 2021
 
This Sunday we celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany (transferred from January 6).  As many of you know, “epiphany” means manifestation.  We celebrate God incarnate, the Word made flesh, made manifest to the Gentiles (“ones who are not Jews”, i.e., those outside Jesus’ community) in the persons of the mysterious Magi.  The Magi come reading a star, indicating the birth of a king.  They come moved, however, by more than their astrology.  It seems that they are given faith.  God indeed freely bestows His gifts.  Faith enables us to discern mystery from above.  Thanks to faith, to the Magi Christ is made known.
 
St. John Chrysostom commented on this gospel of the Magi.  Saint John was born in the ancient Greek city of Antioch, died in 407, called “golden-mouthed” (Chrysostomos) to underscore his celebrated eloquence, eventually became Archbishop of Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul), proclaimed Doctor of the Church in 1568, enjoys veneration in the Orthodox (with four separate feast days!), Roman Catholic, Lutheran and Anglican Churches.  He tells us that
 
If the Magi had come in search of an earthly king, they would have been disconcerted at finding that they had taken the trouble to come such a long way for nothing. Consequently, they would have neither adored nor offered gifts.But since they sought a heavenly King,though they found Him in no signs of royal pre-eminence, yet, content with the testimony of a star alone, they adored.
 
“Our light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon us” as well. (Isaiah 60:1)Let us rejoice! 
Yours in Christ,
 
Dominique+
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