Christ The Servant
Catholic Church
Cold Springs, Ontario
Homily Selections
Epiphany
January 3, 2010
Happy New Year CTS. My hope for you is that you have made a New Year’s resolution which includes looking for the God of miracles in your day to day, hour to hour and minute to minute lives. I get to preach on Epiphany now that’s an eye opener.
The free dictionary defines Epiphany using 3 examples. The first is: A Christian feast celebrating the manifestation of the divine nature of Jesus to the Gentiles as represented by the Magi.
This definition is the MOST traditional one. We see 3 Wise Ones from the EAST on a journey to find the Divine. They look to the stars above, they look to the power of Herod, they look finally in a manger where we are told, “they saw the child with Mary His mother and they were overjoyed.” They were also warned in a dream not to return to Herod. Finally, the Good News is that the Divine gift is for the Gentiles, which I suggest to you means, for everyone, since we are all God’s children regardless of race, colour or Religion.
Where have YOU found the Divine in your life and how often have you been able to state : there I have seen God or experienced a Miracle? At times does it NOT feel that we are on such a journey as these Wise Ones, looking high and low and often finding nothing to celebrate? Riches, power, youth, glory, all fleeting and unfulfilling. Then all of a sudden a birth occurs like that of Joan’s granddaughter. If you were here for that announcement and for Joan’s prayer, you may have felt the miracle of birth. As the first reading states: “Raise your eyes and look about; they all gather and come to you: your sons come from afar, and your daughters in the arms of their nurses. Then you shall be radiant at what you see, your heart shall throb and overflow.” This living Word acted out by Joan’s overflowing heart.
For me the miracles of birth occurred when my grandmother who lived with us for decades died Jan. 6, 1984 after a long drawn out battle with cancer. Even though I was away starting my teaching career in Sarnia, I saw three miracles. The first was how little pain Nanny went through, truly a gift from God. The second was when our Meghan was born six days later on Jan 12th. How could the Divine have known how needed a birth in our family was at that time. The final miracle was that my mom talked my dad into driving through Toronto in the winter to see this first granddaughter. I can still see the joy and pride on my mother’s face similar to what I saw on Joan’s. Wow.
The second definition of Epiphany is: A revelatory manifestation of a divine being. Now the BEST definition of divine revelation I have ever heard is God in a string bikini. Unfortunately, this metaphor while humorous is lacking in substance. I am convinced that the Divine Being who Created us is broader and deeper than we can easily or possibly ever completely know. I have had a personal Epiphany on this. Our view of the Divine changes as we change, the Divine Spirit of Life however, does not change. At times it is like God is playing “Peek a Boo” with us. Here today, gone tomorrow and like that child hood game we assume the Divine is gone when we can’t see God. I suggest God cannot ever leave us for we move and have our being within this Divine creation where the very DNA of living is with the Spirit of the Divine. It is we who are gone. Busy with life and the journey and burden of it all. Our minds especially, but our body and spirit get distracted. But, is that God’s wish or our free will? Regardless, a powerful event like a birth, a wedding, or a death will occur and surprise God’s face “Peeks” out at us again.
For me the death of my brother was most profound and spiritually enlightening, though painful and difficult. Having the wedding of our Sarah just after was most uplifting and provided me and my family with a needed celebration. Just as with the birth of Meghan, God knew what was needed here too. Wow.
The third definition of Epiphany is: A sudden manifestation of the essence or meaning of something. As the second reading states, “You have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for your benefit, namely, that the mystery was made known to me by revelation.” The journey of faith is a mystery and it requires that WE get involved in searching for answers and revelations. As a teacher I have seen students “Light Up” when they have experienced that “ah ha” moment. I realize that I have a limited role in controlling if and when this will happen for them. The same lesson, teaching or event occurs for the entire class but only a certain number experience this type of Epiphany. However, another miracle occurs when I the teacher experience the Epiphany from the lessons taught me by my students. Inevitably, one of them will ask a profound question or give a very deep answer, I didn’t expect. Wow.
Of course, I must remain open to the possibility that teen agers could hold truths of wisdom. Again we are all at different stages of growth and openness and so WE are somewhat in control of how much Divine manifestation will occur. I now realize this is also true when parenting. I cannot control the amount of revelation my children will experience, no matter how hard I try. In fact, the harder I try, the farther I might push my children away. So, I must wait for them to mature enough to seek my advice. Wow, isn’t that exactly what God and Jesus had to do 2000 years ago, and even now. Have you ever noticed how Jesus never forced anyone to stay with him or follow his teachings? He accepted that they were free to choose and might just not be ready to get their head around the next level of belief. Jesus however, waits for them to grow. Jesus even accepts that others may need to further the Divine Revelation well after he has gone. Again, we have a direct role in this. We can choose to be like Herod or like Mary when it comes to the news of Epiphany. We can stop and see the miracle or we can miss it totally.
The fourth definition of Epiphany is: A comprehension or perception of reality by means of a sudden intuitive realization: "I experienced an epiphany, a spiritual flash that would change the way I viewed myself." (Frank Maier)
This one is MOST interesting. I realize I may never know ALL the truths concerning the Divine. As an educator I know that the more I read and study and learn the more I SEE that there is SO much I and WE as a human culture does NOT know. Some Spiritual questions do NOT yet seem to have answers. But, is that really true OR is it truer that regardless of my age maybe as Frank Maier has said I have to allow my own beliefs and views of myself to grow and change. If I think I have ALL the answers then no more learning can continue.
This is why I love CTS. I see us as an authentic faith community. Why do we have so many creeds? Because we are mature enough to know that no one creed can actually encompass all that the Divine has revealed. In fact, maybe we need to look broader than ever to truly find more Revelation. As the second reading states, {God’s message}, “has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. Maybe each Religion owns one or two pieces of the Divine puzzle. The wise ones were from the Eastern way of life, we are from the Western. There are Buddhists, Hindus, Jews, Christians, and Gentiles. Who has the truth? Maybe we all have a small portion of it. Maybe each has a role to play to finish the full Epiphany of the Divine. Maybe it will take another 2000 years to fully comprehend God in a string bikini?
So, be patient remain open and trust the Miracle of the Spirit of Creation. The universe is in very good, loving and peaceful hands. Open your mind to look past the distractions that hide the Divine and you will surely SEE It and not as in an old ancient mirror but clearly as if face to face. Happy New Year.
MORE RECENT HOMILIES
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