Says, Tori, "Welcome in, Everybody.
Readings:
Isaiah 60, 1-6, Upon you the Lord shines
Psalm 72, Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
Ephesians 3, 2-3, 5-6, You have heard of the stewardship.
Matthew, 2 , 1-12 The Epiphany (the Magi)
Shonda, Ben & David doing it.
Isaiah 60: observations–
- Who: Can you guess which Isaiah this is, 1, 2, or 3? Yes, this is Isaiah III who seems to have lived after the Babylonian Captivity, that is, 555 Before Christ
- Today’s passage: chapter 60 is addressed to Jerusalem as a symbol, which is in total destruction. Isaiah is trying to lift the spirits of the people who are depressed at seeing the mess that is Jerusalem. He is saying that your day is coming, Jerusalem, when you will return to being the most splendid city of all, and by extension, the tribe.
Isaiah 3 should get a commission from the Jerusalem chamber of commerce.
One of our Best Helpers, Leo.
The Epiphany, a Cornucopia of Symbols:
2 observations & 2 postscripts–
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. I'll touch 2 points, each with 3 subdivisions..
- The Wise Men
- The Wise Men have a double & triple significance because they are Gentiles
- 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.
- They are searchers & symbolize every person’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.
Emma, our Candle Lighter of the Week, in action.
- The 3 gifts.
- Gold is given because it signifies royalty.
- Frankincense, or incense, signifies divinity.
- Myrra signifies medicine. Myrra is for human health. 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, and even herpes. It is found in Saudi Arabia & Somalia.
Suit up time.
A post script. People in Europe used to write an inscription over their doors, e.g. 20+C+M+B+18. The numbers are our year. The letters are Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar. Christians made it say, “Christ Bless our house or Maison the year listed.
Another post script. In New Orleans Epiphany starts Carnival season, which leads up to Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. The parades are starting, folks. Let's go.
Sources: Reginal Fuller, St. Louis U. Liturgy; Biblical & Theological Resources, the Voice Institute, on line; Wikipedia; and other sources.
Suit up time continues.
An Epiphany Event
I would like to define epiphany as a giving & receiving of good news. To exemplify this I have a story about a Christmas dinner I hosted one Christmas afternoon in the Jesuit house I used as a base in Tanzania. I had been in East Africa at this time for about 7 or 8 years. Because Christmas had often been lonely & sort of a downer, I decided this year to throw a dinner.
Since there were no turkeys available where I lived, I had to travel a day up north to Nairobi, Kenya. I got a frozen turkey, returned and had to explain to the customs on both sides of the border. Since, as a white guy who spoke Swahili pretty fluently, they passed me through probably thinking I was a bit crazy, like most wazungu, dizzy white guys in Swahili.
The Team, all suited up.
Next step. Invite the neighbors on both sides of our house. So I went to the father on the east side and invited him to come to my office. He was a police chief, a very important person to have as a friend.
So, I said to him, “Mohammad, I want to invite you & the family to a special dinner on what we Christians call Christmas day. On one condition: you get drunk, you may not come.” “Oh, yes, yes, asante sana, (thanks, thanks),” he responded.
Offertory with Ray & Claire (whose mom just died today in New Orleans), Barb & Ron.
Christmas Eve I celebrate a late night Mass at the Capuchin sisters complex about 900’ up the south slope of Kilimajaro. I almost live here because the sisters have a guest house with about 15 rooms. I run 10 to 30 day seminars and retreats at their guest house.
Christmas day I travel the 2 hours down from the mountain. It is summer time. I pull into our dirt driveway and park under the canopy. Behind me pulls in an old battered Land Rover. Two guys get out and stagger toward me all buddy, buddy. Yep, one of them is Mohammed.
Welcome back Georgie. So nice to see you again.
I am so disappointed and tell him, “Mohammed, you cannot come, Bwana. We had a deal.” This could have been a tough moment for me if he refused. But, no, he apologized and the two guys drove off in their old Land Rover.
I was a little anxious about him coming anyway, but at 4:00 everybody started coming. I expected maybe 10, but along with his wife and their two delightful little girls, extended family members showed up, a very common East Africa custom.
The minor elevation.
All this took place on our roof, from which you could see Kilimanjaro. We had a partial Arab style house with a flat roof with cinder block railing.
The Epiphany is a giving & receiving good news. The roof top dinner we had was a giving & receiving good news.
What are your epiphanies?
Guess what is coming!