1. --
Lanie LeBlanc OP (Epiphany)
2. --
Dennis Keller (Epiphany)
3. --
Brian Gleeson CP (Epiphany)
4. --
Paul O'Reilly SJ (Baptism of our Lord)
5. --(Your
reflection can be here!)
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1.
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Epiphany 2023
Yes, the wise still seek Jesus. In today's time, we come
from all different parts of the world. We use all different
kinds of methods, some individually and some in community.
In reading today's Scripture selections, it occurred to
me that whether it was the writer of Isaiah, St. Paul, or
the magi, there was great value placed on discernment of the
revelation or dream that gave direction to people's efforts
and life. How do we do the same? How do we know whether what
we think or do will lead us to Jesus?
I think that is one of the great mysteries of life! We
can, however, reduce the randomness of this unknown by
connecting and indeed collaborating with the ways and the
people who have already shown by their lives that they have
at least found Jesus in their hearts. There are many people
in our lives who follow what Jesus taught, not rigidly but
with careful prayer. We also have "institutions" and people
affiliated with them to help us discern the nuances of what
Jesus taught and how that makes a difference in how we might
live to mirror Jesus more authentically.
It is the new year and time for resolutions. Most of the
time, resolutions fade pretty quickly but somehow, maybe it
is the terminology, goals do not do so quite that easily. If
we take some time, perhaps we can find a person or group or
a printed or media source that we can journey with to become
closer to Jesus. A goal to select one can be followed by a
goal to connect there at a frequency that can be modified as
we journey through 2023.
May we bring the gifts we have to this effort as the magi
brought their gifts to Jesus. May we , too, recognize the
Gift we have been given in Jesus. May we continue to have
our encounters with Jesus and people who truly know Jesus
lead us "by another way" to the kind of lives that truly
reflect Jesus present in today's world. Let us give find the
time to give homage to Jesus, the Light of the World. Let us
pray that we can follow the Light of Jesus and ourselves
bring light into a world that can seem so dark and dismal at
times.
Blessings,
Dr. Lanie
LeBlanc OP
Southern
Dominican Laity
lanie@leblanc.one
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2.
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The Epiphany of the Lord January 8, 2023
Isaiah 60:1-6; Responsorial Psalm 72; Ephesians
3:2-3 & 5-6; Gospel Acclamation Matthew 2:2; Matthew 2:1-12
Epiphany is God making God present to humanity/creation.
Often on this feast being present focuses on the Gentiles.
That seems short sighted and a little triumphalistic. The
coming of the Magi carrying symbolic gifts is an action of
Gentile wise persons and Gentile priests. So there is a
clear reference to Gentiles. But it doesn’t exclude the
chosen people. There are actually three groups of persons in
this narrative of the Magi.
The first, of course, is the vicious King Herod. His
practice of kingship is a bastardization of the ancient
understanding of kingship. The gold standard for honorable
kings is/was that the king or queen was the shepherd of the
flock. That flock is the people and resources of the region.
As shepherd, the political leader was expected to work
incessantly for good, the common good of the people. Herod
historically did a lot of great works, including building
the Temple standing at the time of Jesus. His sin was that
he sought to hold onto power by murder, including his own
sons. As he began dying, he ordered a large number of Jewish
men arrested. At his death they were to be slaughtered. In
that way there would be mourning in the land as if for his
death. He wanted to eliminate the newborn Jesus from being
future competition. It certainly is according to Herod’s
character that he sought to kill that infant – and any other
infants born around the same time. It would serve us well to
understand that cut-throat, murderous competition is
repugnant to those who would follow the Christ. Such
competition murders many innocents.
The second group of persons are the priests and scribes
of the people. They as well are to be in service to the
people. They know the scriptures and its prophecies,
especially of Malachi. When Herod asks for input about where
the successor to David was to be born, they came up with
Bethlehem. They told Herod and then went back to their
ordinary way of living. They continued with their ritualism
and laying burdens on the people. It would serve us well to
understand with the Church teaches. But the religious
leaders, teachers, leaders, and sacramental providers ought
never lose their awareness of the needs of the people they
serve. As Francis, our Pope puts it, they ought to have the
smell of the sheep on their persons.
The third group are the Magi. They come to honor and
adore this newborn who will become THE successor to the
throne of David. They come with their symbolic gifts to
acknowledge the Gentiles awareness of the need for the role
Jesus. It was a time of great expectation. Not only the Jews
but it seems the entire world felt the air of expectation
that something outstanding was about to happen. The gifts of
the Magi are symbolic. Gold, of course, symbolizes kingship.
Let’s make that really the understanding of what kingship is
– Jesus would be the Great Shepherd, guiding, leading,
healing, defining a path for living. The Magi would have
understood the nature of kingship. This understanding should
impact our voting choices and political, economic, and
social decisions. Frankincense is a symbol for priesthood.
Priesthood’s function opens the way to God for humanity. The
gift of myrrh would have cut Mary and Joseph to the heart.
Myrrh is the spice used to embalm the dead. So, not only is
this infant destined to be King/Shepherd and Priest, but
also in his life, death would be a central, defining event.
The Magi were, according to ancient historians, a clan in
the Persian region. At some point in their history, that
clan attempted to overthrow the ruling class and failed.
Instead of pursuing power through violence and intrigue,
this clan turned to research, study, teaching. During this
period of time, there was universally an expectation that
something was about to happen. This clan of those seeking
wisdom and practical but fulfilling life would have shared
in that expectation. A star signaled to this clan of the
arrival of the anticipated person whose life would change
everything.
There are many theories about the star, all of which seem
to have some logical basis. Part of the belief of this clan
was that stars were predictive of life, including individual
life.
The joy and exuberance of this feast day can be fueled by
the realization we have a future. Our future is wholeness, a
completeness of the gift of uniqueness-of-person God gifted
us. We need not be slaves to anything, to anyone. We are
citizens, ah, NO, not citizens only. We are adopted children
returning to the source of our personhood.
The first reading this Sunday from the third segment of
Isaiah shouts that exuberance. This prophecy followed the
release of the Jews from the captivity of Babylon. Freedom,
freedom! How very often we hear that story repeated in the
Hebrew Scriptures. The psalms shout it; we sing of freedom
in Responsorial Psalms. Freedom to grow, to learn, to
realize the potential that come to us because of our birth.
In all this, the freer we are of what enslaves us, the more
we can grow into the Community that is eternal life, into
the Trinity.
Our enemy is the way of the world fueled by rugged
individualism, by ego-centric thinking. The way of the world
denies others’ worth by theft of their dignity and worth
that is infused into each person by the Father. Poverty,
manipulation, abuse, theft of livelihood, murder of bodies,
slaughter of spirit – these are the chains of Pharoah, of
Babylon, of Assyria. The seduction of the way of the world
is revealed to us in the temptations of Jesus following his
baptism by John in the Jordan.
In the gospel of Matthew we there is a proclamation of
Jesus’ baptism. Jesus hears from the heavens the
confirmation of his ministry. The first reading for the
Baptism of the Lord is again from Isaiah. This time it is
from the second segment of that prophet. This is the time
when the Jews were in captivity in Babylon. It is a promise
of the Suffering Servant sent by God (Yahweh – "I am who am
with you"). That Servant through his suffering would bring
freedom that opens eyes of the blind, returns mobility to
the lame, and releases prisoners from the heavy darkness of
dungeons holding them captive. The Baptism of the Lord
brings life to the refrain of our Responsorial Psalm for the
Baptism of Jesus. The refrain is: "The Lord will bless his
people with peace." May this be so and remain in our
consciousness as we enter the Ordinary Time of our
Liturgical year.
Dennis Keller with Charlie
dkeller002@nc.rr.com
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3.
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GIFT-GIVING, AND THE EPIPHANY
Isaiah 60:1-6: Ephesians 3:2-3, 5-6; Matthew 2:1-12
At Christmas time we give presents to particular people.
People give gifts to us. What's it all about? It all goes
back to the story of the three wise men going to Bethlehem,
falling on their knees, and offering the best gifts they
could afford to the Baby King of the World.
Our gift-giving may sometimes be aimed more at keeping
on-side and staying at peace than anything else. Our
gift-giving may at times be part of the commercialization of
Christmas instead of expressions of unconditional love. In
contrast, the wise men are completely single-minded and
sincere in their gift-giving. Their gifts are expressions of
their respect, reverence, gratitude, and love for the child.
Their gifts are given with no strings attached, no
conditions, and no mixed motives.
The flaws in our gift-giving may make us feel that the
whole business of exchanging Christmas gifts should be
gradually abolished and that the commercialization of
Christmas should be restrained and restricted. If and when
we think such thoughts, it may help to remember that the
commercialization of Christmas is somewhat necessary. Were
it a completely spiritual celebration, hundreds of small
businesses would go to the wall. Thousands of factory
workers making bonbons, trees, chocolates, decorations,
cards, and toys, would find themselves unemployed.
It may also be helpful to remember that if people did not
spend money on gifts for family and friends at Christmas,
their consciences would not be roused to make donations to
the poor and needy at this time of giving and sharing. (Many
charities experience a boost at Christmas time).
Despite the limits and flaws in our gift-giving, it is
important both to keep the practice alive and to purify it
of its worst excesses. It's particularly important to the
lives of children. The good news is that while they are
attracted to receiving e.g., a gift of shiny new roller
blades, they are also attracted to the Crib and the story of
the baby lying there in the manger. Their hearts are touched
by the plight of his parents who are so poor that they can
offer him nothing but their protection and affection.
Children very easily get the message that this is a story of
love. They appreciate the humanity of the Holy Family, their
struggles and their sacrifices, to bring to the human race
the Light of the Nations.
The story of the visit to the Crib by the Wise Men is a
story of giving and receiving. But it is not simply about
the giving of things - in this case, gold, frankincense, and
myrrh. It speaks of how gifts express love between persons,
and how gifts given with love bind people together.
In celebrating Epiphany, we are celebrating the greatest
manifestation and gift that there has ever been, that of
God's love for us. For it was out of love, that God the
Father gave us the Son, and gave him to be our Light, our
Saviour, our King, and our Joy.
Jesus, then, is the celebrity we are celebrating at this
time. He is the reason for the season, the Twelve Days of
Christmas, that began on Christmas Eve. So, as a beautiful
carol puts it: ‘JOY, JOY, FOR CHRIST IS BORN, THE BABE, THE
SON OF MARY!’
As our Eucharist continues then, I suggest that we make a
special point of giving thanks for the coming of Jesus
Christ into our lives. May we acknowledge with sincerity
that he is the most precious gift we have ever received! May
we also in return renew the gift of our whole selves and our
whole lives to God!
"Brian
Gleeson CP" <bgleesoncp@gmail.com>
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4.
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Year A: Baptism of our Lord (Sunday after
Epiphany).
‘This is my Son, the beloved; my favor rests on
him.’
Have you ever wanted to be loved?
I think most people have.
- -To feel that someone thinks more of you than you do
of yourself.
- – Would, if not die in a ditch for you, at least
cross the road to save you.
- – would still shake your hand when the world finds
you untouchable.
- – would still give you a roof over your head when
the world has made you homeless.
Human loves are seldom eternal, but just sometimes they
can be.
One of my brothers in the Lord is adopted. He was adopted
at the age of six, having spent his previous life in
children’s homes. And he remembers – or at least he thinks
he remembers – which is all most of us can do from that age,
what it was like to be among friends; to be among people who
cared and did their best. To be liked, even, smiled upon and
praised. But not loved.
And so, when his adoptive parents came for him, he says
he took a long time to get used to it, to the strangeness,
at times the uncomfortableness, the proximity to people who
cared as deeply for him as he did for himself and gradually
discover within himself some sense of caring for other
people as great as that for himself. He says the nearest
description he can give of that time was when he went to
live for some years in Italy and had to learn a whole new
way of living; not just the language and culture; not just a
different way of holding a knife and fork; not just the
discovery that there a faithful religious life required a
man to get up at five o’clock twice a day; it was a whole
new realm of what it is to be a human being. And so, he
says, he can never read this passage without weeping: "This
is my Son, the beloved; my favour rests on him." partly
because he knows what that feels like; partly because he
knows what the absence of that feels like.
But then, he says, his adoptive parents came to die.
First, fifteen years ago, his father. And then just a few
months ago, his mother. He tells me that he was terrified of
their dying – not just that they themselves would be gone;
nor even that he himself would miss them. He would not deny
them their reward just for that. But his fear was for
himself, would he, when they who had shown him so much love
and so much about how to love were gone, would he turn back
into the person that he had been, lose his touch, lose his
heart, lose what he now thought of as his humanity as much
as his faith? And so, he was immensely relieved when, after
his mother died and he could begin to get through entire
days without crying, he discovered that the love that she
had built within him had outlived her; its gift had endured
and could even be given again.
Since then he has met many people who have been adopted.
He says that, in private conversation, nearly all of them
admit to that sense of emptiness and loss, of having known
the absence of love and of having had slowly, painfully,
awkwardly and with difficulty and often incompletely to
learn that most basic skill of all humanity, that of how to
be loved and then how to love another. For Christians, that
gift is consecrated in our baptism - the moment when we know
for once and for all that we have a place in the world, a
place founded everlastingly in the eternal city of the
hearts of those who love us. We are not parentless children,
who come from nothing and go to nothing, who have no loyalty
but their own self-interest. No, rather we are children of
God, we are family, we are community, we are church, we are
God’s baptised Children in the world. In that dignity, let
us stand and profess our Faith.
Paul O'Reilly SJ <fatbaldnproud@opalityone.net>
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5.
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Volume 2 is for you. Your thoughts, reflections,
and insights on the next Sundays readings can influence the
preaching you hear. Send them to
preacherexchange@att.net. Deadline is
Wednesday Noon. Include your Name, and Email Address.
-- Fr. John Boll, OP
