The Epiphany of The Lord
If you think like me, you will see that, in all the liturgical texts for the Sunday of the Epiphany, everything is positive, exciting, luminous and… continue. Isaiah states: “Arise, Jerusalem! Let your light shine for all to see. For the glory of the Lord rises to shine on you.” In the psalm, we can read: “In his days may the righteous flourish, and peace abound…” Paul marveled at the grace of God. The Gospel of Saint Matthew tells us about the star and King Herod’s desire to go to and worship the child.
The feast of the Epiphany brings great joy to our hearts. The Magi left everything behind to seek out Jesus. They set out on the road and knelt before him.
The Magi did not pretend to know the truth. They were enlightened searchers, curious, attentive. Was there really a star to guide the Magi? Maybe. We can believe that. In any case, stars bring light, and that is what happened. Even in 2024, when faith has changed, almost everyone talks about their guiding star. In the words of well-known song: “There’s a star for us, for every one of us.” Pope Francis called on us to reach for the peripheries, to talk with people that are different to us, to listen to them. Some have gone to the ends of the earth guided by a star in their hearts. The Epiphany is the celebration of a God who counts on His people to let the whole world know about Him. That is the true meaning of the Epiphany.
Isaiah awakens me, awakens us all, and I can almost hear him say: “Arise, Jerusalem! Let your light shine for all to see. For the glory of the Lord rises to shine on you.”
If you read this text, do not hesitate to read it while saying: “Arise Marie, arise Louise, arise Peter…” You will know that something in you consents to walk, to embark on an internal journey and reveal to others, through our way of living rather than just words, that the light of God has manifested itself in us, that it inhabits us, making us a beacon for seekers of truth.
I hope that everyone is able to experience this moment of grace in their hearts.
To finish, let me return to Isaiah who says: “Nations will come to your light.” During this Christmas season, let us pray to God to shine a light on our world in search for peace, our world suffering from wars, our world in which so many people have set aside everything connected to the sacred, true happiness, giving and true love. We are the children of one Father, and you, God, You are our Star and our King, the Star and the King of the whole world, whether they believe in You or not. The Christmas season is coming to an end, but it is Christmas every day… Like the Magi, let us embark on a journey of faith.