Contributed by Father Tim Uniac, C.R.
Father Tim was ordained in 1986. Over the years, Father Tim has served in parish ministry as both Assistant Pastor and Pastor. For a number of years he worked full time in youth ministry. He has served his Religious Community as Vocation Director and as Vicar (Assistant) Provincial. Currently he serves his Community internationally as the Vicar General, residing in Rome, Italy
EPIPHANY OF THE LORD
January 3rd, 2016
GATHERING TIME
(10-15 minutes)
Introduction to the Word:
In ancient folklore a star was seen as proclaiming a birth of great significance. For example, legends say that the birth of Abraham was accompanied by a star which tradition says signified that Abraham and his descendants would come to rule the world. This star terrified the current rulers of Abraham’s day. Some traditions suggest that the birth of Nero was accompanied by a star signifying his future greatness. However, others suggest the story was not true, and that Nero used it in order to rise in power. The Book of Numbers (24:17) says a star from Jacob will herald the sceptre rising in Israel, proclaiming the greatness of Israel's God. And the Gospel of Matthew has a star announcing the birth of Christ. Some suggest that the reference to the star in the gospel account clearly shows the wise men as astrologers, Gentiles who would come to believe. This understanding of the star shows the widening scope of God's salvation to include all peoples and all nations.
This might help to explain where the often cited words of support to “follow your own star” came from. We are invited on Epiphany to join with the wise men in following the star to the place of God's manifestation, to behold the incarnation of God's only Son. We are invited to set our sights on the star, to let go, to trust and follow. What wonders await us as we follow our star!
Warm-up Activity: (about 8 – 10 minutes)
Epiphany refers to the manifestation of God's glory to the world, God becoming intimately known to us with the birth of the Messiah. While clearly this event is one of the most amazing of all God's manifestations, it is not the only one God has made throughout history. Some manifestations are big and expansive, some very quiet and small. Spend some time sharing with one another some of your personal experiences of God's manifestation.
The Table of the Word
The Wise Men: Our Wise Companions
Matthew the Evangelist introduces us to the “wise men from the East” (2:1), men from the East who have traditionally been given the names Melchior, Caspar and Balthazar. Regardless of the lack of historical proof concerning the Epiphany visitors, their story has much to teach people of faith. These men followed their hearts’ desires. As Pope Francis said in his 2015 Epiphany homily, the Wise Men were not “content with a life of mediocrity, ... playing it safe”, they were not “deceived by appearances, by what the world considers great, wise and powerful.” Pope Francis would go on to say that the Wise Men “teach us how not to fall into the snares of darkness ... to defend ourselves from the shadows ... By this holy cunning they guarded our faith.” For this reason Pope Francis would conclude by calling the Wise Men our “wise companions” with whom we walk on the path seeking light as they guard, and teach us to guard, our faith.
Leader:O God, your light guided the Wise Men in the unfolding of the Incarnation.
Lord Jesus,you open our eyes to the light of your message,Lord, have mercy.
Christ Jesus, may we have the gift of courage to follow your light,Christ, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, having followed your light, may we see the light of your Son,Lord, have mercy.
Let us pray(together):
Unchanging God of light, today you reveal to people of faith the resplendent fact of the Word made flesh. Your light is strong, your love is near; draw us beyond the limits which this world imposes, to the life where your Spirit makes all life complete. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
SCRIPTURE REFLECTION TIME(45 minutes)
(As Christians we believe that the WORD of God we hear proclaimed each Sunday is an empowering Word, and that God is present in the Word proclaimed. This is the Word that God wants us to hear today. The dynamic of the Small Christian Community, namely, reflecting on our life-story within the context of this Word, and sharing the insights of these reflections, is such that God's Spirit becomes present, and the gifts of the Spirit are experienced as empowering and life-giving. Because it is a privileged time it is incumbent on us in the small group to proclaim God's Word with due reverence, to be attentive to this proclamation, and respectful of the communal interaction. The facilitator has arranged for group members to proclaim the three readings.)
FIRST READING(Isaiah 60:1–6)
Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you!For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you.
Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.Lift up your eyes and look around; they all gather together, they come to you; your sons shall come from far away, and your daughters shall be carried on their nurses’ arms.
Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and rejoice, because the abundance of the sea shall be brought to you, the wealth of the nations shall come to you.
A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come.They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall proclaim the praise of the Lord.
The Word of the Lord.Thanks be to God.
SECOND READING(Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5–6)
Brothers and sisters: Surely you have already heard of the commission of God’s grace that was given me for you, and how the mystery was made known to me by revelation.
In former generations this mystery was not made known to humanity as it has now been revealed to his holy Apostles and Prophets by the Spirit: that is, the Gentiles have become fellow heirs, members of the same body, and sharers in the promise in Christ Jesus through the Gospel.
The Word of the Lord.Thanks be to God.
GOSPEL(Matthew 2:1–12)
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew.Glory to you, O Lord.
In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews?For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.”
When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priest and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born.They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: ‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel’.”
Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared.Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.”
When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was.When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy.
On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage.Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.
The Gospel of the Lord.Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
COMMENTARY:
The first reading is from the section of Isaiah known as Third-Isaiah (chapters 56-66), written near the end of the Babylonian exile or around the time of the exiles’ return to Jerusalem (around 540 BCE). During the period of exile the people of Jerusalem were in desperate need of hope, for they knew their beloved city of Jerusalem had been devastated, their homes destroyed and their holy Temple desecrated. For this reason, during the exile God would send messages of hope, reminding the exiles that they would one day return home and once again worship in the holy Temple; Jerusalem would be a holy city once again, filled with light and the presence of the Lord. Our reading today continues the theme of hope, with God's promise of a restored Jerusalem. It will be within a restored Jerusalem that God will be made manifest to the people, to ALL nations, whether friend or foreigner, who will be welcomed in the new Jerusalem.
The Letter to the Ephesians takes the understanding of the new Jerusalem revealed in our first reading even further. Isaiah said that the new Jerusalem is a place of welcome for all peoples and nations, Ephesians extends this vision to include the Gentiles:“the Gentiles have become fellow heirs ... sharers in the promise of Christ Jesus” (3:5-6). Ephesians reminds us that those who once did not believe now also share in the blessings and promises given to the Israelites throughout history. It is through the light of Christ's epiphany that all former barriers and distinctions are now gone, ALL nations are welcome to experience the goodness and presence of God.
The gospel today, the only gospel which mentions wise men from the East and their visit to the nativity scene, presents us with a section of Matthew's infancy narratives. For this gospel account one of its intentions is to link Jesus to the prophecies of the Hebrew Scriptures. Note in our first reading today “all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense” (60:6). This gospel account offers us even more, for just like in the Letter to the Ephesians and the reading from the Prophet Isaiah, the gospel makes clear that Jesus is for all people, not just the Old Testament Chosen People. This gospel account also reveals that the “wise men” embody the entire Gentile community, thereby widening the message of salvation beyond Judaism, presenting a universal message of salvation. It is also important to note that the gospel shows that the wise men bring gifts and a desire to pay homage – foreigners giving homage! For Matthew, homage is more than simply coming and seeing, it is an action of worship and praise. Foreigners give worship and praise, not the shepherds, nor even Herod or any members of the court of Jerusalem (again, the universal message of salvation). And finally, for this gospel account the star shows that the wise men are open to the truth concerning Jesus, for they had no scriptural knowledge, only a natural instrument (star) to follow and seek God. “In every age and in every culture, people seek God just as the three Kings did and, in every age, with the help of the Holy Spirit, they find [God] in the surprising humility of a baby born in a manger” (Pope Francis, Epiphany 2015).
(Allow about 5 – 10 minutes for the participants to react to the Commentary
to identify a newly discovered insight or idea newly discovered.)
QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION AND DISCUSSION:
Isaiah 60:1-6“Then you shall see and be radiant;your heart shall thrill and rejoice”
What incredible wonders the wise men did see; what amazing radiance the wise men experienced; the very hearts of the wise men were thrilled beyond imagining causing them to rejoice as never before. Non believing wise men came to believe simply by beholding a newborn child who they clearly identified as the long-awaited Messiah. What emotions does this stir within you? As you stand before a nativity scene, what radiance do you see? Is your heart thrilled? Is it a moment of rejoicing?
Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6“The Gentiles have become fellow heirs”
Ephesians reveals that through the light of Epiphany all barriers that formerly limited who could be welcomed into the goodness and presence of God are now gone. Those who had been limited, the Gentiles, are now welcomed. How well have we continued to live and proclaim the message that all are welcome to come and experience the goodness and presence of God? Do there still remain people who are either not welcomed or who experience a lack of welcome? If so, what ought we to do?
Matthew 2:1-12“They were overwhelmed with joy”
At long last, the star had stopped its journey, their destination had finally been reached. This reality ignited great joy within the wise men, so much so that they were “overwhelmed”. Perhaps they wept tears of joy; perhaps they danced and sang with delight; perhaps they offered prayers of thanks; perhaps they stood there in awed silence. Have you ever been overwhelmed with joy? If so, how did it feel? Share the event with the group if you are comfortable doing so.
CARING-PRAYING TIME:(15-20 minutes)
Word for the Week:“They find God in the surprising humility of a baby born in a manger”
Suggestion for the Week:
For many households a nativity scene is part of the Christmas decor. Often they are found on a fireplace mantel, perhaps out of reach for the children. This week, spend some time in prayer by “playing” with the figures in your nativity scene. Hold each character in your hand and image what happened to them, what their role was in this great manifestation of God's love. For those with children, consider taking the nativity scene off the mantel and placing it on a lower table. Then sit down and tell the Christmas story to your children using the figures, letting them hold them and place them where they think they belong in the scene. This could be a new Christmas tradition!
Intercessions:(Response: Lord, hear our prayer)
Leader:We stand in the light of Christ whose birth was made known by a star. May that light shine upon us and upon all we seek to support in prayer. And so we pray …
For the Church. May it be a light for all nations, revealing the presence of God in our world, we pray to the Lord …
For all peoples. May they find a warm welcome into the goodness and presence of God, we pray to the Lord ...
For the world upon whom the light has come, may places in the darkness of war and violence be raised up in splendour by God's light, we pray to the Lord …
For all nations, may they walk in the light by enacting policies that protect human life, which is always a manifestation of God's glory, we pray to the Lord …
For this new year, may God's light bring comfort to the homeless, depressed, ill, lonely, and unemployed, we pray to the Lord …
For Christians throughout the world, may they bring the light of Christ to their families and friends, we pray to the Lord …
For those who have departed this life, may they come to see the light of God's glory, we pray to the Lord ...
How can we help you in prayer this week?
Let us pray(together)
Lord our God, you revealed your Son to the nations by the guidance of a star. Lead us to your glory in heaven by the light of faith. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
With hand and hearts united in gratitude for God’s favours on us today, we pray that all those in our influence be moved to be open to your Word and your Spirit, while we pray as one,
OUR FATHER …
Celebrating the Word, Resurrection Ministries of the Congregation of the Resurrection Ontario-Kentucky Province (including the former Resurrection Centre), 265 Westmount Road North, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G7. (Celebrating the Word was founded by Father Frank Ruetz, C.R., now deceased). Toll Free: 1-877-242-7935. Email: website:
The Scripture version used in this commentary is the New Revised Standard Version (copyrighted by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA).