THE EPIPHANY OF OUR LORD
January Sixth

>From "Divine Intimacy" by Fr. Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalen, O.C.D.

Presence of God - I recognize in You, O little Jesus, the King of heaven and
earth; grant that I may adore You with the faith and love of the Magi.

Meditation

     1. "He whom the Virgin bore is acknowledged today by the whole world .
. . .  Today is the glorious Feast of His Manifestation" (RB). Today Jesus
shows Himself to the world as God.

        The Introit of the Mass brings us at once into this spirit,
presenting Jesus to us in the full majesty of His divinity. "Behold the
sovereign Lord is come; in His hands He holds the kingdom, the power, and
the empire." The Epistle (Is 60, 1-6) breaks forth in a hymn of joy,
announcing the vocation of the Gentiles to the faith; they too will
acknowledge and adore Jesus as their God: "Arise, be enlightened O
Jerusalem: for thy light is come . . . .  And the Gentiles shall walk in thy
light, and kings in the brightness of thy rising . . . .  All they from Saba
shall come, bringing gold and frankincense, and showing forth praise to the
Lord." We no longer gaze upon the lowly picture of the shepherds at the
manger; passing before us now is the resplendent procession of the Wise Men
from the East, representing the pagan nations and all the kings of the
earth, who come to pay homage to the Child-God.

         Epiphany, or  Theophany, means the Manifestation of God; today it
is realized in Jesus who manifests Himself as God His divinity-the
extraordinary star which appeared in the East. To the commemoration of this
miracle, which holds the primary place in the day's liturgy, the Church adds
two others: the changing of water into wine at the wedding feast of Cana,
and the Baptism of Jesus in the Jordon, when a voice from heaven announced,
"This is My beloved Son." The Magnificat Antiphon says, "Three miracles
adorn this holy day" - three miracles which should lead us to recognize the
child Jesus as our God and King, and to adore Him with a lively faith.

    2. The verse at the Gradual of the Mass continues the story of the Magi
: "We have seen His star in the East and are come with gifts to adore Him."
They saw a star and immediately set out. They had no doubts: their unbounded
faith was strong and sure. They did not hesitate at the prospect of the
trials of a long journey: they had generous hearts. They did not postpone
the journey: their souls were ready.

      A star often appears in the heaven of our souls; it is an inspiration
from God, clear and intimate, urging us to greater generosity and calling us
to a life of closer union with Him. Like the Magi, we too must always follow
our star with faith, promptness, and selfless generosity. If we allow it to
guide us, it will certainly lead us to God; it will bring us to the One whom
we are seeking.

      The Magi did not give up their quest, although the star-at one
point-disappeared from their sight. We should follow their example and their
perseverance, even when we are in interior darkness. This is a trial of
faith which is overcome only by the exercise of pure, naked faith. I know
that He wills it, I know that God is calling, and this suffices for me: Scio
cui credidi et certus sum (2 Tm 1,12); I know whom I have believed. No
matter what happens, I shall trust Him.

       In this spirit let us accompany the Magi to adore the new-born King.
"And as they brought forth from among their treasures mystical gifts, let us
from our hearts bring forth something fit to offer Him" (RB).