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Scripture Reflections To view previous Scripture Reflections, click here.
Most high, glorious God, enlighten the darkness of my heart and give me, Lord, a right faith, a certain hope, a perfect charity. Give me, Lord, wisdom and discernment, so that I may carry out your true and holy will. Amen. (Attributed to St. Francis) ILLUMINATION: THROUGH WORSHIP The Magi, overcome with joy at finding the Messiah, fell down and worshipped him. (Matthew 2:1-12). The divine was revealed to them in a baby in a manger. ILLUMINATION: THROUGH FINDING CHRIST IN OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS “The magi who traveled long and hard to worship Jesus with extravagant gifts remind us that He is not only King of the Jews; He’s the King of all nations and peoples. “ (Dan Clendenin, The Journey with Jesus) The Magi reveal the mystery of God’s Kingdom – they remind us that it cannot be limited to the Jews or any other people. We are called to look around us to offer our gifts of food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted. Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, carries the Good News to the Gentiles spreading Christianity throughout the Roman Empire (Ephesians 3: 1-12; Acts 19: 1-7). The Glory of God descends upon the new converts at Baptism through the power of the Holy Spirit. The glory which “tabernacled” in the man Jesus at his Baptism, came to empower a community of many peoples becoming the church (Mark 1: 4-11). ILLUMINATION: THROUGH THE ORDINARY EVENTS OF LIFE According to the Gospel of Luke, God’s glory (light) appears in the ordinary world of mangers – His grace appears to lowly shepherds, to the peasants, Joseph and Mary --- and to us.. “’If the incarnation can happen here, it can happen anywhere. If down-an-out shepherds witness the holy birth, why not you?’” (Epperly) “For the incarnation to occur at Bethlehem, it must also be present in our kitchens, job-sites, weddings and birthings, and service to the community. “ (Epperly) ILLUMINATION: WHERE DO WE FIND OUR LORD REVEALED IN OUR OWN LIVES The Rev. Gerald Darring writes:
May we, like the Magi, continue to find the love of Christ in our worship and our praise of our Lord, may we continue to receive his compassion in our giving of gifts to our brothers and sisters, and may we continue to find his love present in the ordinary events of our lives during the coming year. May our hearts continue to be enlightened by becoming hearts of warmth, charity, and a certain hope in a world of darkness. May we be illuminated by the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that with our hearts enlightened, we may know “… what is the hope to which he has called (us) …” (Ephesians 1:3-6, 15-19a)
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