Epiphany of the Lord

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DISCOVER TODAY: Only the Spirit of God can move someone to have faith, because faith is a gift of the Holy Spirit.

Good News Reflection for:

The Epiphany of the Lord
January 8, 2023

Today’s Prayer:

I want to discover You, Jesus, my Savior, in the simple and wonderful things of every day. I want to announce Your greatness to the simple of heart. Amen.

Subscribe to Today’s Saint Quote & Prayer:
gnm.org/SaintQuotes/

Today’s Readings:

Isaiah 60:1-6
Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-13
Ephesians 3:2-3, 5-6
Matthew 2:1-12
bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/010823.cfm
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
bible.usccb.org/podcasts/audio/2023-01-08-usccb-daily-mass-readings

Where did the faith of the Magi come from?

The Season of Christmas includes the celebration of the arrival of the magi from the East. Let’s consider the humble adoration of the magi for the Christ child. The magi were Gentiles, and the Greek word “magi” meant oriental scientists. Despite sometimes being translated as “astrologers”, their visit to the manger does not validate astrology.

Because they were not Jews, their determination to meet the Jewish savior says much about what the word “epiphany” means. The magi are good examples of believing in the importance of Jesus even without understanding what it would mean to them personally or to the rest of the world.

They worshiped Jesus as a King-Messiah before they knew how he would become king or how his kingship would save the world from evil. As scientific scholars, they had studied religious writings from beyond the scope of their own culture. Then, they acted on faith in response to the Spirit of God who activated them, and it changed their lives.

Only the Spirit of God can move someone to have faith, because faith is a gift of the Holy Spirit (see 1 Corinthians 12). The word “epiphany” means discovery, a revelation that changes our lives. Epiphanies are gifts from God as he collaborates with our desire for new growth.

We can imagine how the magi felt when they experienced an epiphany in the presence of the Christ child. Although they did not understand how this baby from a poor family could become king, they remembered him for the rest of their lives and listened for news from the land of Israel about Jesus. We know that they heard about his crucifixion and learned what his followers were teaching about it, for they became Christians — their relics have been venerated since very early times.

For more about their relics, see the Good News WordByte, “The Christmas Magi: What Do We Know About Them?” at wordbytes.org/faqs/magi

Questions for Personal Reflection:
What sign from God, like the star that the magi followed, are you waiting to see? What signs is God already showing you? These are evidence that he is working in your life. What epiphany — new understanding — is Jesus giving you about what God is doing in your life?

Questions for Community Faith Sharing:
God has given you faith to believe in Jesus as the Messiah. How do you act on this faith? And how do these actions evangelize non-believers?

© 2022 by Terry A. Modica

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