The holidays are over. How many have made resolutions for 2025? I’m going to suggest only one!!!
As “Pilgrims of Hope” – the theme of this Jubilee Year in the Catholic Church – Perhaps the best resolution is to strive to focus on God's presence in our daily lives.
Today we celebrate the Epiphany, from the Greek word meaning the manifestation or showing forth, of the child Jesus as the long-awaited messiah.
We don’t really know who the "magi" were—perhaps wise men or astrologers or wealthy traders. We know that 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 word of God from Isaiah set the stage, taking us back to the sixth century before Jesus. The author refers to a new Jerusalem. A divine light will emanate from this “shining city on a hill” and all people will walk by this light. That phrase was one of Ronald Reagan’s signature phrases.
Christians see Jesus as this light who illuminates darkness, who shows the ultimate purpose of life: to be in close friendship with God and thereby show the glory of God through who we are and what we do.
St. Paul's letter to the Christian community at Ephesus outlines our future: we are coheirs to the kingdom of God, co-workers of Jesus in bringing about the fullness of the kingdom-a kingdom of peace, justice, truth and love. Jesus is indeed our guide: the pathway to eternal life; our bread who satisfies our spiritual hunger; our companion and beacon of hope.
In the Gospel are all the ingredients of a great story: exotic visitors, a wicked king, court intrigue, a mysterious star, precious gifts, a new child. The magi give homage with gold, frankincense and myrrh, highly symbolic gifts about the identity of this child.
Gold can symbolize kingship or divinity, the things of God; and 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. Do we strive to make these virtues our own?
Frankincense with its wonderful fragrance and medicinal magic can symbolize healing, and this child came to heal wounds separating us from God and one another. We too are called to build bridges.
Myrrh can symbolize a burial embalmment, and this child, through his life/death/rising, re-established our relationship with God and designated us as co-heirs to God’s promise of eternal life.
This newborn messiah, completely human and divine, is the exemplar of what it means to be an authentic human being. That is why some ask themselves as they go about their daily routines: what would Jesus do in this or that circumstance?
With Jesus as our model, God empowers us, from an infinite number of possibilities, to become the best version of ourselves. But what is that? What is our essential purpose?
We are called to be in close friendship with God by living a holy life, every man and every woman, without exception, regardless of age, race, socioeconomic background, career or calling in life.
Holiness is allowing God to enter into the very fiber of our being so that God can enable us to do our best whatever the task. To be true to our inner best self calls for a willingness to go the extra mile to make something “just right” because it’s the better thing to do. Yes, our goal is to become the best version of ourselves in all our decisions, small and great, that affect our work, career, family and social life, the rearing of children, relationships with others, and even our leisure time.
Yes, with Jesus as our model, now is the time to renew ourselves spiritually, and to encourage others as well, as we begin a new year.
A wise mystic observed this about his own life:
“I was a revolutionary when I was young, and my prayer to God was: ‘Lord, give me the energy to change the world.’
“As I approached middle age ... I changed my prayer to: ‘Lord, give me the grace to change all those who come into contact with me. Just my family and friends.’
“Now that I am old … I have begun to see how foolish I have been. My one prayer now is: ‘Lord, give me the grace to change myself, to become the best version of myself.’ If I had prayed this right from the start, I wouldn't have wasted my life.”
Now is indeed the time – as described in the word of God from Isaiah – to “Rise up in splendor” because our light has come.
Time to celebrate with Paul who we are: “coheirs, members of the same mystical body and copartners” in continuing the work of Jesus.
Time to “do him homage” like the magi, not lingering around a manger, but going forth to be missionary disciples of Jesus.
Yes, God has stepped forth into the world. Ask God to re-create ourselves, to re-energize our life with God and with one another.
Yes, it's time to begin again, to manifest the best version of ourselves. Amen.