Fr. Jerome Pistoni, SX
EPIPHANY SUNDAY
The first two chapter of the gospels of Saint Luke and Saint Matthew are called the infancy gospels and the accounts related are not only stories of Jesus before his public life, but catechesis for the communities of the two evangelists and for the Christians of all times and places: these stories are meant to communicate a message that is universal and eternal.
We can imagine the surprise of the first Christians when they heard the story of the birth of Jesus and the first visitors who recognized the Messiah were not the doctors of the law, but a group of shepherds who were despised for the reason that they never observed the law of Moses.
It was really a “breaking news”.
It must have been even more astonishing to hear the story of the men coming from the east to pay tribute to Jesus. They possessed two limitations that prevented them from being accepted by the people of Israel: they were pagans and wizards and these faults made them enemies to be hated.
They were pagans: In the psalm 79 a pious Israelite prays: “pour out you anger on the nations who do not acknowledge you, an do not call on your name.” For the people of Israel the pagans were very far from God and already condemned.
They were Wizards: as a result of this profession they were regarded as deceivers and liars and those who learn something from them deserved to die.
The message that Matthews wants to communicate is clear: the love of God does not exclude anybody, it is for all. Actually these strangers reached Bethlehem and recognized the Messiah, even before those who were supposed to be there on account of their faith, namely the Pharisees and the doctors of the law.
Today’s celebration then is reminding us that for God there are no foreigners, no outsiders. Everyone can pray “our” Father. There is not one single exception.
Why were they able to reach the house of Bethlehem where Jesus was born?
They saw a star and they listened to the word of God.
First of all they started moving because they saw something that impressed them. It was a light. Jesus is the light of the world and this light is reflected in the Christian community, in the Church. Jesus said: “you are the light of the world.” Many join the Church because first of all they see something different, attractive.
The word epiphany means “revelation”, it means to make visible something hidden. When we perform a dignified liturgy, when we allow our life to be transformed by the gospel, faith becomes visible, we becomes the light that attracts other people to God.
They listened to the word of God. It is ironic that those who read the word of God to them, the chief priests and the scribes of the people called by Herod, to show to them the place where Jesus would be born, are not able to accept the child of Bethlehem and are the same that later will try to kill him.
The wise men show us the road to Jesus, let us follow it.
EPIPHANY SUNDAY
The first two chapter of the gospels of Saint Luke and Saint Matthew are called the infancy gospels and the accounts related are not only stories of Jesus before his public life, but catechesis for the communities of the two evangelists and for the Christians of all times and places: these stories are meant to communicate a message that is universal and eternal.
We can imagine the surprise of the first Christians when they heard the story of the birth of Jesus and the first visitors who recognized the Messiah were not the doctors of the law, but a group of shepherds who were despised for the reason that they never observed the law of Moses.
It was really a “breaking news”.
It must have been even more astonishing to hear the story of the men coming from the east to pay tribute to Jesus. They possessed two limitations that prevented them from being accepted by the people of Israel: they were pagans and wizards and these faults made them enemies to be hated.
They were pagans: In the psalm 79 a pious Israelite prays: “pour out you anger on the nations who do not acknowledge you, an do not call on your name.” For the people of Israel the pagans were very far from God and already condemned.
They were Wizards: as a result of this profession they were regarded as deceivers and liars and those who learn something from them deserved to die.
The message that Matthews wants to communicate is clear: the love of God does not exclude anybody, it is for all. Actually these strangers reached Bethlehem and recognized the Messiah, even before those who were supposed to be there on account of their faith, namely the Pharisees and the doctors of the law.
Today’s celebration then is reminding us that for God there are no foreigners, no outsiders. Everyone can pray “our” Father. There is not one single exception.
Why were they able to reach the house of Bethlehem where Jesus was born?
They saw a star and they listened to the word of God.
First of all they started moving because they saw something that impressed them. It was a light. Jesus is the light of the world and this light is reflected in the Christian community, in the Church. Jesus said: “you are the light of the world.” Many join the Church because first of all they see something different, attractive.
The word epiphany means “revelation”, it means to make visible something hidden. When we perform a dignified liturgy, when we allow our life to be transformed by the gospel, faith becomes visible, we becomes the light that attracts other people to God.
They listened to the word of God. It is ironic that those who read the word of God to them, the chief priests and the scribes of the people called by Herod, to show to them the place where Jesus would be born, are not able to accept the child of Bethlehem and are the same that later will try to kill him.
The wise men show us the road to Jesus, let us follow it.