Jan. 7, 2018: Epiphany
Jan. 7, 2018: Epiphany
Over the course of your life, how many miles have you traveled? It’s difficult to sum it all up, isn’t it? I can estimate how many miles I traveled the past 3 years because my car is almost 3 years old and the odometer reads 75,000 miles.
Physical distance is not as significant as where and for what purpose we have traveled. Pope Francis points out, “Always remember this: life is a journey. It is a path, a journey to meet Jesus. At the end, and forever. A journey in which we do not encounter Jesus is not a Christian journey. It is for the Christian to continually encounter Jesus, to watch him, to let himself be watched over by Jesus, because Jesus watches us with love.”
The three wise men from the East traveled an extraordinary distance to Bethlehem, given that they were traveling by foot and by camel. They were part-scientists, part-stargazers, and part-philosophers. Their adventurous journey began from their home country with a spark of hope in seeing something spectacular behind the sign of an unusual star. On their journey I’m sure they were questioning themselves as to why they were traveling and how much further they should go. You can almost hear them say to themselves, “Are we there yet?” What they encounter at the end of their journey, however, turns out to be the beginning of another journey. They encounter the Christ Child who changes their understanding of the meaning and the purpose of life. Before this encounter, they were pursuing greater knowledge and experience. After the encounter and adoring the Christ Child, a conversion of heart occurred. Their return journey home was by another way, signifying that Jesus transformed their spiritual journey.
Recently, a friend of mine from seminary who chose not to be ordained as a priest said, “I’ve been asking God to where are you calling me?” In his prayer, he sensed God saying to him, “I’ve led you thus far. Will you trust me and wait for my next call?” For most of us, we like to be in charge of when and where we go and what we do. The conversion that Three Magi experienced was a new found knowledge of God who directs and leads their lives to encounter Him anew every day. As Pope Francis said, we are on a journey to meet Jesus. Are we being changed every day as we encounter the presence of Jesus in the events and persons we meet? Are we going by another way as transformed believers as we read the scriptures, participate in mass, or pray? When we find ourselves discouraged, impatient, or angry about where we are, we need to pause and ask the Lord for the grace to recognize his presence. Is there a person in your life that pushes you button all the wrong way? Have you been frustrated by someone who is inconsiderate and wants things their way? What grace will you ask the Lord this New Year for you to travel by another way?
Over the course of your life, how many miles have you traveled? It’s difficult to sum it all up, isn’t it? I can estimate how many miles I traveled the past 3 years because my car is almost 3 years old and the odometer reads 75,000 miles.
Physical distance is not as significant as where and for what purpose we have traveled. Pope Francis points out, “Always remember this: life is a journey. It is a path, a journey to meet Jesus. At the end, and forever. A journey in which we do not encounter Jesus is not a Christian journey. It is for the Christian to continually encounter Jesus, to watch him, to let himself be watched over by Jesus, because Jesus watches us with love.”
The three wise men from the East traveled an extraordinary distance to Bethlehem, given that they were traveling by foot and by camel. They were part-scientists, part-stargazers, and part-philosophers. Their adventurous journey began from their home country with a spark of hope in seeing something spectacular behind the sign of an unusual star. On their journey I’m sure they were questioning themselves as to why they were traveling and how much further they should go. You can almost hear them say to themselves, “Are we there yet?” What they encounter at the end of their journey, however, turns out to be the beginning of another journey. They encounter the Christ Child who changes their understanding of the meaning and the purpose of life. Before this encounter, they were pursuing greater knowledge and experience. After the encounter and adoring the Christ Child, a conversion of heart occurred. Their return journey home was by another way, signifying that Jesus transformed their spiritual journey.
Recently, a friend of mine from seminary who chose not to be ordained as a priest said, “I’ve been asking God to where are you calling me?” In his prayer, he sensed God saying to him, “I’ve led you thus far. Will you trust me and wait for my next call?” For most of us, we like to be in charge of when and where we go and what we do. The conversion that Three Magi experienced was a new found knowledge of God who directs and leads their lives to encounter Him anew every day. As Pope Francis said, we are on a journey to meet Jesus. Are we being changed every day as we encounter the presence of Jesus in the events and persons we meet? Are we going by another way as transformed believers as we read the scriptures, participate in mass, or pray? When we find ourselves discouraged, impatient, or angry about where we are, we need to pause and ask the Lord for the grace to recognize his presence. Is there a person in your life that pushes you button all the wrong way? Have you been frustrated by someone who is inconsiderate and wants things their way? What grace will you ask the Lord this New Year for you to travel by another way?
