Friars Corner: Jesus wants to be our best friend and savior
Isaiah 60:1-6; Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-13; Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6; Matthew 2:1-12
Our Christmas liturgical cycle is almost over. Next Sunday we shall begin the public life of Jesus at about thirty years old with his baptism by John in the Jordan and the three first followers of Jesus stay with him the rest of that day.
This feast of the Epiphany is the Eastern churches celebration of the Birth of Jesus, the adoration of the Magi, the baptism of Jesus and the miracle of water into wine at the wedding in Cana, Galilee. That is a bit much to even think about in a short time.
The Manifestation
means the manifestation of a king or ruler to their subjects. For us today, it is the coming of the Son of God as savior of humanity. He comes not only as the Jewish savior but the savior of all peoples on earth. There is a unity factor for all peoples and nations. Jesus is the radiant light of love for all of us. This is Christmas for the East.
We in the Western church celebrate the coming of the three kings or wise men from the East bringing their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to honor and worship the new-born king. There are two Masses for this celebration. One the night before and the other during the day. The readings pull together many Old and New Testament themes as human history enters a new theme and direction with the Son of God taking on our human flesh, except sin, to save us.
The Magi event in detail
Last week I mentioned getting the book of Blessed Ann Catherine Emmerich, Volume one of “The Life of Jesus Christ and Biblical Revelations.” In it, Sister Anne Catherine describes the visions that she had about the Magi going to bring their homage and gifts to Jesus. It takes thirty pages to describe the whole Magi event.
It is really amazing. Who were they, where were they from and why did they go to Bethlehem? Theokeno was from Media, while Mensor and Seir were Chaldean. When they saw the “star,” a coming together of three planets in 6 B.C., they also saw a vision of the birth of Jesus. Mensor and Seir left the next day, meeting up with Theokeno and traveled the sixty-day journey in thirty-three days on “speedy camels” with some other family members and servants laden with many supplies singing God’s praises with hearts filled with joy, devotion and expectation.
The beam of light
The star guided their journey with a beam of light and “By day I saw walking before the caravan, a figure more brilliant than the light of the sun,” page 249. A large caravan attracted a lot of attention and they had to stop each day to eat, water their animals and sleep. Reading Sr. Ann’s stories thrills and excited my own religious journey with Jesus. God fills in so many details that are not in the gospel stories.
Why is this so amazing for me? As a friar in charge of our liturgical supply area, we have incense for evening prayer and adoration of Jesus in the Eucharist each Sunday evening. What else do I have to bring Jesus? I have some clothes and writing supplies. What I have to give Jesus and the Trinity is my love for all that they do for me each day. So I go to praise and worship the Father, Son and Holy Spirit with one simple line, “I love you.” Father, I love you, etc. When so much of the world does not know or love God, I sense that simple prayer said from my heart is most precious.
May the Holy Spirit pierce your heart and mind in these first days of the New Year with great amazement for all that God does for us each day. May you spend a little time each may just loving the Trinity from the depths of your heart.
Have a great week and blessed New Year,
+ Father Bob Hilz
fbhilz@gmail.com
(© 2020 Father Bob Hilz, TOR)
