Sunday Homily, January 8, 2017, Epiphany
Readings:
Isaiah 60, 1-6, Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem.
Psalm 72, Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
Ephesians 3, 2 & 3, 5 & 6, The Gentiles are coheirs.
Matthew 2, 1-12, The visit of the Magi to Bethlehem.
Welcome in Everybody.
Isaiah observations & reminders:
Who. This is Isaiah III, the third of three.
Time. The Jewish people have been released from slavery in Babylon and are back in a devastated Jerusalem. Around 555 before Christ.
Message: consolation and encouragement. The splendor of Jerusalem will shine again.
"And from me, too," says Leo, "Welcome in, Folks".
The Epiphany, a Cornucopia of Symbols:
2 observations–
Where to begin, folks. There is so much symbolism in this liturgy, in Matthew, for sure, and in the combination of Matthew with Isaiah and Psalm 72. Matthew carefully crafted this story to appeal to both his fellow Jews and the Gentile population. I'll touch 2 points, each with 3 subdivisions..
Hi, Folks.
1. The Wise Men have a double & triple significance because they are
a. Gentiles
b. They come from the east, considered the source of wisdom in the world of that time. Where does the sun rise? Where do stars rise? A new son has been born and like the sun in the east or a star he will bring new light.
c. They are searchers & symbolize every man’s search for meaning in life. Remember Matthew speaks to two audiences, his fellow Israelites, whom he is chastising for not searching, and the Gentiles.
A future musician with her daddy.
2. The 3 gifts.
a. Gold is given because it signifies royalty.
b. Frankincense, or incense, signifies divinity.
c. Myrra signifies medicine. Myrra is for the human. It comes from a bush like tree that has a yellow, sticky sap on its bark. The sap was good for skin infections and acne, asthma, colds, and flu. It is found in Saudi Arabia & Somalia.
Our Candle Lighter of the Week, Buddy.
A post script. People in Europe used to write an inscription over their doors, e.g. 20+C+M+B+17. The numbers are our year. The letters are Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar, supposedly the kings' names. Christians made it say, “Christ & you 3 kings bless our house or Maison the year listed."
Who is that under that beautiful, white hat?
Another post script. In New Orleans Epiphany starts Carnival season, which leads up to Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. The parades start, folks. Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler.
Sources: Reginal Fuller, St. Louis U. Liturgy; Biblical & Theological Resources, the Voice Institute, on line; Wikipedia; and other sources.
Hi, Harper, so nice to see you.
An Epiphany Story
Rosemary & I once went to the exposition of some paintings of about six or eight artists. Among the artists and the reason we were there was my childhood buddy, Ed Lamberty. He was presenting some of his works.
As we were wandering around we ran into another couple who are old friends. We ask what brought them to this exposition. They pointed across the room to a middle aged, middle class, blondish woman who was standing by some of her works.
Some of the people who attended Frank Reyes' Memorial, Saturday evening, The Resource Center in Dallas near Love Field.
Here is the story the wife told me.
The couple we know are both academics on the university level. Some years ago the wife had been teaching and came to know one of her students. The student was a mother with a son about 8 years old. At some point in time the father had abandoned them and left them with nothing. They were living in the mother’s car.
The Beautiful women of our Community.
My friend says to me that this so shocked her and she thought this cannot continue. An Epiphany moment. She described the situation to her husband and two sons who were about 10 & 12. Guess what they did.
They invited the mother & son to live with them until they got on their feet. The two sons moved into one bedroom and the mother & her son took the other. Here they lived for almost a year until the husband found the woman a job.
And more of the beautiful Juliettes.
The woman now is successful and is developing as an artist, selling her works for big sums. The son graduated from Jesuit, graduated from college, and now is married with a couple of his own kids.
Obvious from the fact that they were at the art exposition, my friends are still quite close with the mother & her son.
And talking about beauty, Wow! Does it get any better than The Romeos??
I would propose that this is what epiphany is, a light shines on a presence, like Mike talked about last week. The presence is a challenge and, perhaps, involves care for others. The presence may be the example of another person.
Who is an epiphany for you?
For whom are you an epiphany?