Fr. Piero Lazzarini sx
EPIPHANY OF THE LORD SUNDAY
Christmas, Holy Family, Epiphany, Baptism: the celebration of the mystery of the incarnation is not restricted to one day. It goes through several stages.
Today we remember his epiphany/manifestation of Jesus to the gentiles: non-Jews “who came from the East”. There is a clear message in this event. The church has made it clear right from the beginning by giving us that passage from Ephesians (3,2-6) to read: “It means that pagans now share the same inheritance, they are part of the same body…” St Paul calls this a “mystery” (mysterious design), until now hidden, but now (i.e. in Paul’s time) revealed.
The incarnation of God, according to a German poet, Lessing, is a declaration of love by God to mankind. God cares for and loves all and each of us in a convincing and consistent way. He wants to bind himself to us for ever, he wants to “marry” humanity!
We all, all different peoples and tribes of the world, are to be God’s people, God’s family. This is the truth manifested and proclaimed today by the feast of the Epiphany. The Kings (“some wise men” says Matthew) came from Persia, Arabia… perhaps Africa, recognized him as Saviour and brought gifts to him.
Now the Saviour has to be brought to the world, to the farthest corners, to the “peripheries” (Pope Francis). Pope Francis says: “In virtue of their baptism ALL the members of the people of God have become MISSIONARY DISCIPLES” (E.G. n. 120) And he adds: “Every Christian is a missionary to the extent that he or she has encountered the love of God in Christ Jesus” (E.G. n.120). It means it is not so much an obligation imposed on us to be missionaries, but a NEED, a need of genuine faith and real love. Every baptized person MUST BE such because he/she IS a missionary disciple!
“Let us be permanently in a state of mission” with joy, vigour, enthusiasm. Pope Francis’ words, as we read them in the Apostolic Exhortation “Evangelii Gaudium” (The joy of the Gospel), are really stirring. He points to the example of the first two disciples (John and Andrew), who “ immediately after encountering the gaze of Jesus went forth to proclaim him joyfully: “We have found the Messiah”. (John 1,41)
To proclaim him means to tell anybody what the Lord has done for us, how he has changed our life, given us hope. Pope Francis says again: “Evangelisers must be joyful, convinced, enthusiastic, and not look like someone coming back from a funeral”.
This will happen when we really know our faith, we appreciate its beauty and have really experienced the love of the Lord.
But can we make this happen?
Here is again Pope Francis’ recipe: “I invite all Christians, everywhere, each day, at this very moment, to a renewed ENCOUNTER with Jesus Christ” (E.G. n.3)
EPIPHANY OF THE LORD SUNDAY
Christmas, Holy Family, Epiphany, Baptism: the celebration of the mystery of the incarnation is not restricted to one day. It goes through several stages.
Today we remember his epiphany/manifestation of Jesus to the gentiles: non-Jews “who came from the East”. There is a clear message in this event. The church has made it clear right from the beginning by giving us that passage from Ephesians (3,2-6) to read: “It means that pagans now share the same inheritance, they are part of the same body…” St Paul calls this a “mystery” (mysterious design), until now hidden, but now (i.e. in Paul’s time) revealed.
The incarnation of God, according to a German poet, Lessing, is a declaration of love by God to mankind. God cares for and loves all and each of us in a convincing and consistent way. He wants to bind himself to us for ever, he wants to “marry” humanity!
We all, all different peoples and tribes of the world, are to be God’s people, God’s family. This is the truth manifested and proclaimed today by the feast of the Epiphany. The Kings (“some wise men” says Matthew) came from Persia, Arabia… perhaps Africa, recognized him as Saviour and brought gifts to him.
Now the Saviour has to be brought to the world, to the farthest corners, to the “peripheries” (Pope Francis). Pope Francis says: “In virtue of their baptism ALL the members of the people of God have become MISSIONARY DISCIPLES” (E.G. n. 120) And he adds: “Every Christian is a missionary to the extent that he or she has encountered the love of God in Christ Jesus” (E.G. n.120). It means it is not so much an obligation imposed on us to be missionaries, but a NEED, a need of genuine faith and real love. Every baptized person MUST BE such because he/she IS a missionary disciple!
“Let us be permanently in a state of mission” with joy, vigour, enthusiasm. Pope Francis’ words, as we read them in the Apostolic Exhortation “Evangelii Gaudium” (The joy of the Gospel), are really stirring. He points to the example of the first two disciples (John and Andrew), who “ immediately after encountering the gaze of Jesus went forth to proclaim him joyfully: “We have found the Messiah”. (John 1,41)
To proclaim him means to tell anybody what the Lord has done for us, how he has changed our life, given us hope. Pope Francis says again: “Evangelisers must be joyful, convinced, enthusiastic, and not look like someone coming back from a funeral”.
This will happen when we really know our faith, we appreciate its beauty and have really experienced the love of the Lord.
But can we make this happen?
Here is again Pope Francis’ recipe: “I invite all Christians, everywhere, each day, at this very moment, to a renewed ENCOUNTER with Jesus Christ” (E.G. n.3)