Feast of the Epiphany

Our savior is born for us and dwells amongst us. This is what we now celebrate in the Christmas Season. This we cannot forget or ignore: Jesus is born for us today. The beginning of our Salvation Story. This is a shared experience which we gather together in Christian Community to celebrate. And we continue it through today, which is the Feast of the Epiphany, where we are reminded of the first ones who were called to come and adore Christ as the savior of the world.

The wise-men from the East and before them the shepherds from the fields.

The shepherds: the lowest of the low with no power, esteem, or riches to speak of. They were summoned to pay Christ homage. Through them it is emphasized that social class and economic status does not matter. We are called forward to worship Christ just as we are, whomever we are. The Gift of Salvation is not reserved for certain people who have achieved some sort of status in life. Status does not matter. In fact, the poorer you are, the more lowly you are, the more Christ wants you to come forward and serve as an example for all others to follow. Through the shepherds Christ say, “See, everyone is welcome to my banquette table.”

This is in stark comparison to the Jewish Culture of the time which taught that the more riches you obtained, the more sons you produced, the more you were blessed by God. This is also indeed in definite contrast to what society tells us all the time: the richer you are, the more successful and important you become. The widows, the slaves, the poor, and the alien were literal outcasts. Christ gathered the outcasts to himself and used them as messengers of salvation.

When we are touched by Christ, we feel unworthy at times. Our sins become more pronounced in comparison to the greater goodness, the perfect good that is God. It is at times like these that we must reflect on those lowly shepherds that were called forward. No one is deserving of salvation. It is given freely to all by Christ. We just need to respond to that call and let the presence of Christ shape our lives.

Then we have the wise-men. They were Medes, coming from what is now Northern Iran. Their religion was based in magic and astrology; a priestly class that were much revered and who also had a great influence over the Greek and Roman cultures of the time. Being called Magi, meant they were from the sixth tribe of the Medes, which was a priestly tribe. Sound familiar?

Being from a foreign region they were aliens, pagans with strange rituals. Yet they came forward , called by God himself, to adore Christ the Savior. Even then, when Christ first came to this earth, it was the gentiles called forward to adore him. Through Christ, eternal salvation was open to everyone. There was no separation of who people were: Greek, Roman, foreigner, or Jew.

It is fascinating to read about the Medes and some of their Theology; much of which has served as the foundation of early philosophy. There is one creator who is perfectly good. It is our responsibility, through our gift of free will, to perform acts of goodness and charity, which maintaining good thoughts in the pursuit of wisdom. For these men to be called forward and recognize who Christ truly was utterly amazing. And as we already know with God, everything has a purpose and a reason.

This entire world is connected through our Lord Jesus Christ and it can be witnessed as far back as his birth. The pathways to Christ are endless; each one as unique as the individuals who follow them. And as the generations pass, the more and more the world comes to Christ. For all of our unique backgrounds, cultures, races, and traditions, one thing remains constant: the eternal sacrifice that Christ did for us which is present at this altar and the mass around the world which is celebrated. That is our common unity and our common thread of existence: Jesus forever in the beginning, now, and forever.

We are now challenged to break down the barriers which separate us and celebrate the unity of the Christian Family. Through this we are able to live within a community of hope and love which extends around the world. We must let this knowledge and understanding of something bigger than ourselves influence us and touch us in the deepest of ways. We must perpetuate in our actions and our deeds. It reality, it should be like Christmas every day of our lives. Because we know what that means. We know what it means to be Christian and what a powerful sense of belonging that brings with it.