HOMAGE TO THE SAVIOR OF ALL NATIONS

THEY PROSTRATED THEMSELVES
AND DID HIM HOMAGE.

Epiphany is the manifestation / revelation of Jesus as the King / Savior not only of the Jews, but of all human beings.

Today’s feast reminds us that God loves all nations and cultures of the earth, and that He communicates with us in many, often unforeseen ways – through internal inspirations, through external events, through people, and through His Word.

Many times these factors are combined in an interplay that becomes clear only in hindsight. The challenge is for us to “decipher” God’s message and respond to it with faith, persevering generosity and courage, just as the Magi did.

As we are about to start the Eucharistic celebration, let us include in our intention all the peoples of the world and all those who are working hard to bring about harmony and cooperation among all human beings.


When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, Magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.”

When King Herod heard this, he was greatly troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it has been written through the prophet: ‘And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah, since from you shall come a ruler, who is to shepherd my people Israel.’ ”

Then Herod called the Magi secretly and ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearance. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search diligently for the child. When you have found him, bring me word, that I too may go and do him homage.”

After their audience with the king, the Magi set out. And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. The Magi were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way.

4TH CHRISTMAS NOVENA: PUTTING OUR TOTAL TRUST IN GOD

"DO NOT BE AFRAID, ZECHARIAH,
BECAUSE YOUR PRAYER HAS BEEN HEARD.
YOUR WIFE ELIZABETH WILL BEAR YOU A SON,
AND YOU SHALL NAME HIM JOHN."

On this fourth day of our Novena we are reminded that, occasionally, God challenges people to trust Him even when He plans to do “impossible things.” The episode of the disbelief of Zechariah warns us that those who doubt God’s Word will be left to witness, ashamed and speechless, the fulfillment of the divine plan. On the other hand, those who accept God’s plan in full trust and are ready to cooperate become His partners and instruments of His love and power.

Today’s liturgy challenges us to choose between being spectators of God’s wonders or His enthusiastic collaborators along the highway of salvation history. Likewise, we are invited to reflect on and pray for the elderly and the childless relatives within our families. Their happiness depends so much on how we treat them.


In the days of Herod, King of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah of the priestly division of Abijah; his wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. Both were righteous in the eyes of God, observing all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren and both were advanced in years.

Once when he was serving as priest in his division’s turn before God, according to the practice of the priestly service, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord to burn incense. Then, when the whole assembly of the people was praying outside at the hour of the incense offering, the angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right of the altar of incense. Zechariah was troubled by what he saw, and fear came upon him.

But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall name him John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He will drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb, and he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of fathers toward children and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to prepare a people fit for the Lord.”

Then Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” And the angel said to him in reply, “I am Gabriel, who stand before God. I was sent to speak to you and to announce to you this good news. But now you will be speechless and unable to talk until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at their proper time.”

Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah and were amazed that he stayed so long in the sanctuary. But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He was gesturing to them but remained mute. Then, when his days of ministry were completed, he went home.

After this time his wife Elizabeth conceived, and she went into seclusion for five months, saying, “So has the Lord done for me at a time when he has seen fit to take away my disgrace before others.”

ALL HAIL TO THE KING OF OUR HEARTS

On this last Sunday of the liturgical year, we are invited to renew our allegiance to Jesus as our Lord and King. Today, we have also a new opportunity to realize the immense number of graces the Lord has granted us in the course of this liturgical year.

And as we call to mind these favors, we gladly express our most sincere gratitude for them. At the end of this Mass, we will renew the consecration of ourselves, our families, and the entire nation to Jesus, King of the universe.

Let this Eucharistic celebration be a clear manifestation of our love for him who is our Lord and Savior, and a treasured opportunity to recommit ourselves to be his loyal subjects and faithful followers.

Pilate said to Jesus, “Are you the King of the Jews?”

Jesus answered, “Do you say this on your own, or have others told you about me?” Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?”

Jesus answered, “My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom did belong to this world, my attendants would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But, as it is, my kingdom is not here.”

So Pilate said to him, “Then, you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say I am a king. For this I was born and for this I came into the world: to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”

THE FEATURES OF CHRIST'S KINGDOM

Already Herod had made a big blunder. On hearing that there was a newborn king of the Jews he felt threatened, challenged in his greed for power. And he ordered that heinous slaughter of the innocents for which he will always be remembered with horror. (See Mt 2:16.)

In this respect, Pilate was wiser. He did not see in Jesus any threat to the Roman occupation. As far as he was concerned, there was no case against the harmless preacher/philosopher from Nazareth who appeared to be interested in the truth, rather than in political power. (See Jn 18:38.)

Not that Pilate had understood much of Jesus’ clarification that His kingdom was “not of this world.” For him, it was enough to hear that Jesus did not entertain any political ambitions . . . .

But for those who love Jesus and are interested in the Kingdom he has been “advertising” for three years, his answer to the Roman Procurator should be absolutely intriguing. Jesus’ answer is an invitation to reflect on the nature and demands of his Kingdom.

What’s this Kingdom, then, which is so different from any other earthly kingdom, empire, or republic? A kingdom that is not identified by any visible borders, has no taxes, no parliament, no army?

Christ’s Reign is a “Kingdom within.” It encompasses the whole person: body, mind, heart. Nothing that is human escapes it. And all men are invited to be part of it – all races, cultures, traditions, languages can find in it not just a place but their “home.”

This Kingdom will last for ever. The splendor of its achievements and the fulfillment of its program span beyond the dark boundaries of time and earthly decay. Christ’s Reign is everlasting. It shares in the eternity of its Ruler and draws its vitality from the very Source
of Life.

Founded on the ashes of a rotten mankind, now made new by God’s merciful love, this “unconventional” Kingdom was established at the cost of the life of its Founder. It advances irresistibly toward a final triumph, in spite of occasional defeats and setbacks.

Its program and overriding concern is the total and lasting happiness of all humans. Its flag/symbol is a resplendent cross; its fundamental law is love of God and neighbor. Radical in its demands, this law has a transforming power: it can fashion frail human creatures into children of the Most High, patterned after Jesus, the First-born of the Father’s family.

Such is the X-ray chart of the Kingdom rejected by the Jews and dismissed by Pilate as irrelevant. For us, privileged to be part of it, this is the most precious treasure man can ever dream of – something, to possess which, we should be prepared to lose everything, including physical life itself.

HOMAGE TO THE SAVIOR OF ALL NATIONS

"WE SAW HIS STAR AT ITS RISING
AND HAVE COME TO DO HIM HOMAGE."

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, Magi from the East arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.”

When King Herod heard this, he was greatly troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it has been written through the prophet: ‘And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah, since from you shall come a ruler, who is to shepherd my people Israel.’ ”

Then Herod called the Magi secretly and ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearance. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search diligently for the child. When you have found him, bring me word, that I too may go and do him homage.”

After their audience with the king, the Magi set out. And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. The Magi were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way.

Ephipany is the manifestation / revelation of Jesus as the King / Savior not only of the Jews, but of all human beings. Today's Feast reminds us of God's great love for mankind; as it encompasses all nations and cultures of the earth, and that He communicates with us, in many, often unforeseen ways - through internal inspirations, through external events, through people, and through His Word.

Many times, these factors are combined in an interplay that becomes clear only in hindsight. The challenge is for us to "decipher" God's message and respond to it with faith, persevering generosity and courage, just as the Magi did.


Euchalette, 4 January 2009
WORD AND LIFE PUBLICATIONS
MCPO Box 1820, Makati City 1258, Philippines