The Epiphany of the Lord

Happy New Year! Thank you for joining me today. I’m so glad you’re here! Just as a reminder, in the notes for every podcast, you will find the script for that day’s show, the scripture readings, and the books and articles I used to prepare the episode. I also include topics from the Catechism of the Catholic Church that relate to theme of the readings. If you want to do a deeper dive into our readings, I encourage you to check out these resources.

Today we celebrate the Epiphany! The Gospel tells us that magi from the east prostrated before Jesus Christ and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. What does this mean?

You know, when we listen to the Word of God and the homily during the mass, we enter into a dialogue with God. Our goal is to try to understand what God is trying to say to us here and now. And as part of this dialogue, we offer a response. We’ll talk about what that means in a little bit. So, are you ready? Let’s go!

First, who were the magi? Scripture does not give us much information about them. But we do know this: the magi were gentiles! Gentiles went to Bethlehem to praise and worship Christ and offer him their gifts. Paul, as if to pick up on this idea, tells us in our second reading from Ephesians, “…the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel,” (Ephesians 3:6).

This is a wonderful affirmation that salvation through Jesus Christ is available to everyone! That is Good News!

Isaiah tells us something very interesting. Isaiah says that our light has come. Isaiah is telling us that the Lord sent his light – he sent Jesus – into the world (Isaiah 60:1). The light of Jesus Christ shines on all of us disciples. Isaiah goes on to say that we will radiate the light of Christ (Isaiah 60:5).

I know we didn’t hear from the book of Revelation today, but there is a very interesting reading that picks up on this theme from Isaiah. In Revelation 22:4-5 we read, “They shall see the Lord face to face and bear his name on their foreheads. The night shall be no more. They will need no light from lamps or the sun, for the Lord God shall give them light, and they shall reign forever.”

In today’s dialogue, God is telling us that we have the light of Christ, and that we should share the light of Christ with everyone! Get it? This little light of mine! I’m gonna let it shine!

This is what God is telling us. What should our response to God be?

Well, like the magi, we should first praise and worship God. That’s precisely what we do in the mass. Now, just a side note, Pope Francis declared this as the year of St. Joseph. So, we fathers and all the father figures out there are called to bring our families – to bring the domestic church to praise and worship God.

What else do the magi do? They offer their gifts to Jesus. So, we too are called to share our gifts and blessings with God by sharing them with everyone we encounter. But what does that mean, practically speaking? Well, not too sound trite, but that means we are called to share our time, our talents and our treasure.

Well, this means that we are called to share our blessings with the institutional Church established by Jesus Christ. So, we offer our gifts to help meet the physical needs of our parish – to keep the lights on, to pay the staff, to keep the place clean and safe, etc. Our parishes – our brick-and-mortar churches themselves can serve as a beacon drawing people to Jesus Christ. So, part of our responsibility is to make our parish infrastructure is available.

But church also means all the people of God. That means we are also called to share our gifts with other Catholic or Christian charities that serve people around the world, like Catholic Relief Services, HCPT, or Friends of Los Niños. These organizations minister to people around the world who are on the margins regardless of who they are or what they believe. There is no litmus test for Christian charity.

How do we make this happen? Well, the treasure aspect of time, talent and treasure, may be easier to calculate. Many bishops and priests suggest the following donation of our income: 5% to the parish; 1% to the bishop, and 4% to other Catholic or Christian organizations. Now, 10% of our income is a lofty goal for many of us. But knowing this recommendation can give us all food for thought as we begin this new year.

We are also called to share our time and our talents according to our circumstances. For example, the way a person shares their time will be different for an 80-year-old than a mother of young children or a teenager. And while I might have an opinion on everything, the bishops or my pastor might not ask for my advice on the law as I am not an attorney or my advice on medical or scientific issues as I am neither a physician nor a scientist. Does that make sense?

These examples of time, talent and treasure give us concrete ways to imitate the magi, but what is that we are really doing? In sharing our gifts, we share the light of Jesus Christ with others. Through our prolife ministries, we share the light of Christ with pregnant women who feel like they don’t have any choices. Through our hospitals and clinics, we share the light of Christ with people in need of medical and mental health services regardless of who they are or the value of their bank accounts. Through our homeless ministries, we share the light of Christ with those who have no place to live and no food to eat. Through our medical and prison chaplaincy programs, we share the light of Christ with people who desperately need to hear the comforting words of the God who saves.

Now, these are just a few examples. All of us can find some way to share our gifts with Christ’s church and the people of God. Not everyone will be interested in hearing the Good News, and that’s ok. Inspired by the God’s grace, we let our little lights of faith shine, that’s our response to God. Then we get out of the way and allow the Spirit to nurture an encounter with Jesus Christ.

Homework! Inspired by the Light of Christ, I encourage you to reflect on the following questions. First, how did your family, the domestic church, share your faith together this Christmas season? Second, reflecting on 2020, what are some ways you can improve how you share your time, talent and treasure in 2021?

I think doing our homework will help our little lights shine! Do you got it? Do you get it? Good! Now go make disciples! May Almighty God bless you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit! +Amen!

You’re listening to deacon rudy’s notes. This Little Light of Mine is free-to-use music. Many thanks to the many artists who generously share their gifts and talents. If this is your first time here, welcome! You can help other listeners find us by rating and reviewing deacon rudy’s notes. I’m Deacon Rudy Villarreal. Join me next week as we break open the Word. Happy New Year and may God bless you all!

Image Credit: Artist unknown. This Little Light of Mine. PNP file.

Bibliography/Suggested Reading:
1. Mitch, Curtis and Edward Sri. The Gospel of Matthew. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2010. Kindle.
2. Williamson, Peter S. Ephesians. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2009. Kindle.

Catechism References http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm:
1. The Father reveals the mystery by sending Christ: 50
2. The Church, sacrament of human unity: 60, 442, 674, 755, 767, 774-76, 781, 831
3. The Apostolic Tradition: 75-76
4. Christ the light of the nations: 280, 529, 748, 1165, 2466, 2715
5. Epiphany: 528, 724
6. Holy Spirit manifesting Christ through Mary: 724
7. A new People of God not based on physical descent: 781-82

The Epiphany of the Lord https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/010321.cfm
Lectionary: 20

Reading 1
Isaiah 60:1-6
Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem! Your light has come,
the glory of the Lord shines upon you.
See, darkness covers the earth,
and thick clouds cover the peoples;
but upon you the LORD shines,
and over you appears his glory.
Nations shall walk by your light,
and kings by your shining radiance.
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,
for the riches of the sea shall be emptied out before you,
the wealth of nations shall be brought to you.
Caravans of camels shall fill you,
dromedaries from Midian and Ephah;
all from Sheba shall come
bearing gold and frankincense,
and proclaiming the praises of the LORD.

Responsorial
Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13
R.(cf. 11) Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
O God, with your judgment endow the king,
and with your justice, the king’s son;
He shall govern your people with justice
and your afflicted ones with judgment.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
Justice shall flower in his days,
and profound peace, till the moon be no more.
May he rule from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
The kings of Tarshish and the Isles shall offer gifts;
the kings of Arabia and Seba shall bring tribute.
All kings shall pay him homage,
all nations shall serve him.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
For he shall rescue the poor when he cries out,
and the afflicted when he has no one to help him.
He shall have pity for the lowly and the poor;
the lives of the poor he shall save.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

Reading 2
Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6
Brothers and sisters:
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.
It was not made known to people in other generations
as it 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.

Alleluia
Matthew 2:2
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
We saw his star at its rising
and have come to do him homage.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel
Matthew 2:1-12
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 they 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.
They 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.

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