The holidays are over, and I eagerly await the covid-19 vaccines. Aside from that, probably the best New Year's resolution is to focus on the presence of God within ourselves, and to let the glory of God shine forth in our daily routine. A worthy resolution!
Today we celebrate the Epiphany: the manifestation of the child Jesus as the messiah.
In the Gospel according to Matthew, we have the ingredients of a great story: exotic visitors, a wicked king, a mysterious star, precious gifts, a new child. We don’t know much about these biblical visitors. They were non-Jews who came from far, far away, guided by a mysterious bright star, to pay homage to this Jewish baby called Jesus.
The magi give homage with highly symbolic gifts about this child's identity.
Gold can symbolize kingship or divinity, the things of God; The coin of this child’s heavenly realm are the virtues of self-discipline, compassion, responsibility, friendship, courage, perseverance, honesty, decency, respect and faith in God.
Frankincense with its wonderful fragrance and medicinal magic can symbolize healing, and this child came to heal our wounds. Myrrh, or ointment, can symbolize embalming, and this child through his dying/rising re-established our relationship with God and made us co-heirs to God’s promise of eternal life.
This newborn messiah, soon to grow into adulthood, completely human and completely divine, is the model of an authentic human being. That is why some people ask during their daily routines: what would Jesus do?
With Jesus as our model, God invites us, from an infinite number of possibilities, to become the best version of ourselves.
What is our essential purpose in life? We are called to be in relationship with God by living a holy life, every man, every woman, no exception.
Holiness is allowing God to enter the very fiber of our being so we can become the best version of ourselves through everything we do. It's trying to be true to our inner best self; to go the extra mile; striving to do the right thing in all decisions, small and great, that affect our work, family and social life, relationships, and even our leisure time.
Yes, with Jesus as our model, now is the time to renew ourselves spiritually as we begin a new year. To re-create ourselves, to re-energize our life with God and with one another.
It's time to begin again, time to ask the Christ Child for the grace to become the best version of ourselves.
