For me, the magic of Christmas is in the readings and the carols we sing during this season, not the gifts or the merry feasting. There is much beauty in the story of a king born in extremely humble circumstances, without fanfare, and first worshipped by poor shepherds who were informed by jubilant angels. Here is a king who loves the poor and the marginalized, who favours the least among us. I do not have to worry that He will spurn my love or find me unworthy of loving. He accepts me just as I am, in my poverty of self doubt, crippling fears and sinful ways.
Then there is the story of Epiphany (Sunday past): how star-led Magi find this tiny baby king and how they paid homage with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. And so the birth of Jesus, God's promise of love for the whole world is revealed. The Magi inspire me to keep my eye on the star, the light that will lead me to Christ, and to pay proper obeisance to a ruler who will lay down his life for me.
I like this reflection by Archbishop Francesco Follo:
At Epiphany, the Savior continues to be a light for the peoples of every time and every place. To the Magi, coming from the East to worship him, the light of the newborn king takes the form of a star in the sky, so bright to attract their attention and guide them first ,to Jerusalem then from the royal palace of Herod to new Royal Palace: the cave-stable in Bethlehem.
Everything around him looks like an extremely poor earthly reality. But those watching with eyes of faith, thanks to a bright sign, can see the King of kings. What is this royal sign by which the Magi then and we now can recognize the King of kings in the Son of Mary, in the humble condition of the child who lives in a poor stable? It is the Star that shows the way and the place where to meet the King who saves.
This star shows the way to these seekers of Infinity, because they look at the sky and try to well interpret the signs. The Magi are people who wonder about reality, not being satisfied with the response of others. They seek a deeper understanding of reality and of the meaning of life.
This extraordinary star, that could be called "theological" because it "speaks of God” and “teaches about God", after leading the Magi from the East all the way to Bethlehem, Indicates and teaches that this Child is the Son the Most High God, the Prince of Peace.
The Magi prostrate themselves to the authority of love. They believe in this infinite love contained in the infant Jesus.
In front of this baby, recognized as the awaited Messianic King, the Magi prostrate themselves in a sincere act of worship and then offer some symbolic gifts: gold, frankincense and myrrh. These gifts offered to the Messiah "symbolized true worship" (see Saint John Paul II). They are gifts that express a faith established by the encounter with Jesus, who is King to be honored with gold, God to be worshiped with incense and a prayer that rises to Him like the most pleasing incense, and the Man, Son of God, who died for our salvation.
Like the Magi, today we are invited to renew, before the Incarnate Word, our act of faithful adherence by offering not only the little or the lot that we have, but ourselves as a sacrifice holy and well-accepted to Him. It is thanks to this daily offering of self that we become, in the world and for the world, signs of the new humanity redeemed by Christ and witnesses of the mystery of love celebrated at Christmas.
Like the Magi, let us be amazed by the love of God that comes to us, and let’s kneel in front of the Incarnate Word, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives among us and in the Eucharist. Let’s go to church more often, let’s sit by the altar and humbly imitate the Holy Magi, offering the gold of our love for God and our brothers and sisters, the incense of our praise and our prayer, and the myrrh of the suffering that never fails in our lives.
What a beautiful description of faith we are invited to put into action, to submit completely to the authority of love and to donate ourselves totally to God. Some may struggle with what sounds like submission to a way of life that requires great sacrifice. But Archbishop Follo writes so aptly:
....the gift of self to God is not a renounce to live, but “it is a renounce to what are the limits of a living like a poor and infirm creature to live the fullness of a life immense as the divine life "(Divo Barsotti, January 6, 1963).
Giving ourselves to God is not submissive act made by people who are weak-minded or who refuse to think for themselves, rather it is an act of humble wisdom that sees beyond the superficial, and of stouthearted courage to adopt a new and radical way of living. It is saying yes, again and again, to the way of God, of peace, love and mercy even in the face of hostile aggression and hatred.
The year ahead promises to be a busy and challenging one for there are many things I would like to see happen. The only way I can bring my hopes and dreams to fruition is if I keep following the star to look for Jesus even when I am uncertain, and when I do find Him, to sit and enjoy, then act on the epiphanies that come from adoring the King of Kings.
Then there is the story of Epiphany (Sunday past): how star-led Magi find this tiny baby king and how they paid homage with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. And so the birth of Jesus, God's promise of love for the whole world is revealed. The Magi inspire me to keep my eye on the star, the light that will lead me to Christ, and to pay proper obeisance to a ruler who will lay down his life for me.
I like this reflection by Archbishop Francesco Follo:
At Epiphany, the Savior continues to be a light for the peoples of every time and every place. To the Magi, coming from the East to worship him, the light of the newborn king takes the form of a star in the sky, so bright to attract their attention and guide them first ,to Jerusalem then from the royal palace of Herod to new Royal Palace: the cave-stable in Bethlehem.
Everything around him looks like an extremely poor earthly reality. But those watching with eyes of faith, thanks to a bright sign, can see the King of kings. What is this royal sign by which the Magi then and we now can recognize the King of kings in the Son of Mary, in the humble condition of the child who lives in a poor stable? It is the Star that shows the way and the place where to meet the King who saves.
This star shows the way to these seekers of Infinity, because they look at the sky and try to well interpret the signs. The Magi are people who wonder about reality, not being satisfied with the response of others. They seek a deeper understanding of reality and of the meaning of life.
This extraordinary star, that could be called "theological" because it "speaks of God” and “teaches about God", after leading the Magi from the East all the way to Bethlehem, Indicates and teaches that this Child is the Son the Most High God, the Prince of Peace.
If, like the Magi, I seek to comprehend what life is asking of me,and I am attentive to the Spirit's prompting, then I will be able to see the star, and, by faith, to follow the star to Jesus.
The Magi prostrate themselves to the authority of love. They believe in this infinite love contained in the infant Jesus.
In front of this baby, recognized as the awaited Messianic King, the Magi prostrate themselves in a sincere act of worship and then offer some symbolic gifts: gold, frankincense and myrrh. These gifts offered to the Messiah "symbolized true worship" (see Saint John Paul II). They are gifts that express a faith established by the encounter with Jesus, who is King to be honored with gold, God to be worshiped with incense and a prayer that rises to Him like the most pleasing incense, and the Man, Son of God, who died for our salvation.
Like the Magi, today we are invited to renew, before the Incarnate Word, our act of faithful adherence by offering not only the little or the lot that we have, but ourselves as a sacrifice holy and well-accepted to Him. It is thanks to this daily offering of self that we become, in the world and for the world, signs of the new humanity redeemed by Christ and witnesses of the mystery of love celebrated at Christmas.
Like the Magi, let us be amazed by the love of God that comes to us, and let’s kneel in front of the Incarnate Word, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives among us and in the Eucharist. Let’s go to church more often, let’s sit by the altar and humbly imitate the Holy Magi, offering the gold of our love for God and our brothers and sisters, the incense of our praise and our prayer, and the myrrh of the suffering that never fails in our lives.
What a beautiful description of faith we are invited to put into action, to submit completely to the authority of love and to donate ourselves totally to God. Some may struggle with what sounds like submission to a way of life that requires great sacrifice. But Archbishop Follo writes so aptly:
....the gift of self to God is not a renounce to live, but “it is a renounce to what are the limits of a living like a poor and infirm creature to live the fullness of a life immense as the divine life "(Divo Barsotti, January 6, 1963).
Giving ourselves to God is not submissive act made by people who are weak-minded or who refuse to think for themselves, rather it is an act of humble wisdom that sees beyond the superficial, and of stouthearted courage to adopt a new and radical way of living. It is saying yes, again and again, to the way of God, of peace, love and mercy even in the face of hostile aggression and hatred.
The year ahead promises to be a busy and challenging one for there are many things I would like to see happen. The only way I can bring my hopes and dreams to fruition is if I keep following the star to look for Jesus even when I am uncertain, and when I do find Him, to sit and enjoy, then act on the epiphanies that come from adoring the King of Kings.
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