January 4, 2015 – The Epiphany of the Lord
Is 60: 1-6; Ps 72: 1-2, 7-8, 10-13; Eph 3: 2-3A, 5-6; Mt 2: 1-12
Ἒπιφάνεια — these symbols from the Greek alphabet and the word itself may not mean much to most of us, but this is the Greek word epiphania, which is the base word for today’s Solemnity of The Epiphany of the Lord. Stewardship calls us to an understanding of our Church and our faith. The Epiphany of the Lord is a vital part of our liturgical year and our Catholic tradition.
“Epiphany” literally means “becoming apparent” or “appearance.” On this day we celebrate the fact that the reality of Jesus Christ as our Lord and as the divine and human son of God becomes apparent and real to us. This manifestation, following Christmas so closely, is another reminder to us of how gifted we are. It is an additional indication to us of how essential it is for us to acknowledge our giftedness and to respond in kind through stewardship.
Many of us identify the glory and the joy of the visit of the Magi to the Christ child, and as Isaiah the prophet envisages in today’s first reading, “Then shall you be radiant at what you see; your heart shall throb and overflow, for the riches of the sea shall be emptied out before you.” And we, as St. Paul indicates in the second reading, “are copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the Gospel.”
